A healthy round of congratulations needs to be extended to several key people. First and foremost is local attorney Don Dunn, the chairman of the Grand Island Area Chamber of Commerce board of directors. Dunn stepped into the leadership position and artfully maneuvered through the maze-like process to put together the master plan to bring the State Fair to Grand Island. He was the person who met with all of the constituencies, including UNL Chancellor Harvey Perlman, Sen. Phil Erdman, University President J.B. Milliken, Gov. Heineman, and many state senators. His vision and determination created a window of opportunity that may have quickly closed had not Dunn been the point person of the effort.

Chamber president Cindy Johnson and former mayor Jay Vavricek were also integral in assembling the plan to bring Nebraska's annual end-of-summer party to the region. Several other key individuals involved included current mayor Margaret Hornady, Ken Gnadt, the former two-term mayor, and Sen. Ray Aguilar.

It should not be forgotten that the principal reason for Grand Island to be in position to even present a plan is the presence of Fonner Park and the Heartland Event Center in the city. The cooperation of these two facilities was instrumental in developing an agreement that would house the State Fair in a manner that would save Nebraska taxpayers, the State Fair board and the city of Grand Island over $100 million. Hugh Miner Jr., the president and CEO of Fonner Park, was pivotal in making the deal come together.

In Lincoln, perhaps the biggest government officials who saw the potential for a Grand Island bid were Gov. Heineman and Bayard's Sen. Erdman, who chairs the Agricultural Committee of the legislature. Without their patience and thorough openness, the idea of moving the fair out of Lincoln would not have had a chance.

There are thousands of details to be worked out, and there will be much gnashing teeth and crumpling of paper before financing, design and programming are worked out. But for the weekend, let Central Nebraska bask in the accomplishment of a job well done. The heavy lifting can start Monday.