Iberdrola gives $7,000 to new rabbit barn

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The Van Wert Youth Rabbit Exhibitors and the Rabbit Barn Committee celebrated on Tuesday Iberdrola Renewables’ donation of $7,000 to fund the installation of the electrical system for construction of a new rabbit barn at the Van Wert County Fairgrounds.

The building has housed many different animals over the years, but has been the home of the county fair rabbit exhibits for the past five decades. In recent history, an average of 600 rabbits by 110 junior fair exhibitors move into the barn for the fair. One of the largest exhibits was in 2013, with 114 exhibitors showing 640 total rabbits in the barn.

“We are delighted to help with this new building and potentially have an impact that could last for another 120 years at the venerable Van Wert County Fairgrounds,” said Iberdrola Renewables Project Developer Dan Litchfield. “It was a natural fit for us to help with the electrical system here, as we are in the area to help harvest the wind that howls over everyone’s properties and convert it to usable electricity.

“Each of our turbines can capture up to 2,700 horsepower from the wind and generate about 5 million kilowatt-hours per year, enough for about 500 average Ohio houses,” Litchfield added. “We are hoping to build another wind farm in Van Wert County and would like to see wind turbines continue to proliferate almost as quickly as rabbits.”

The new rabbit barn will take a traditional western prairie shape, similar to many of the other livestock barns on the fairgrounds. The new barn will be 120 feet by 60 feet, similar in size to the present rabbit barn.