by James Coulter
Polk County’s new venue for competitions, auctions, and other agricultural events will move forward with its design phase now that the Board of County Commissioners (BoCC) has approved allocating $1,572,400 for the project’s master plan and design.
At their meeting on Tues. June 3, 2025, the Polk County Commission unanimously voted to approve an agreement with The Lunz Group, LLC, for architectural & engineering services for the Polk County Agricultural Center Complex.
Commissioners voted to approve a one-time expense of $1,572,400 to have the Lunz Group develop a master plan for the Polk County Agricultural Center Complex. The funding will be allocated from the county’s General Capital Improvement Fund.
Under the agreement, Lunz Group will be responsible for the development of a master plan, design, cost estimate, and bidding and construction administration. The overall design phase is expected to be completed within two years.
The amenities to be designed for the Agricultural Center, as explained in the agenda item memo, include an event arena, livestock barn(s), paddock area(s), trailer parking, and a maintenance & operations building.
“The new agricultural center complex is intended to celebrate Polk County’s rich heritage as an agricultural community while embracing future generations by providing educational opportunities, showcasing agricultural events, and enhancing the quality of life for Polk County residents through economic impact,” wrote Procurement Analyst Tabatha Shirah.
Polk County Agricultural Center Complex will be located on state-owned land between Bartow and Fort Meade. It will replace the county’s current agricultural event venue, The W.H. Stuart Center, which was built in 1971 as part of the UF/IFAS Extension Polk County office.
In August 2024, the Polk County Commission voted to allocate $21 million for the center’s creation. One month later, in September 2024, they released a Request for Proposal (RFP) “to hire an architectural firm to master plan and design the facility,” as reported by Central Florida AG News.
Commissioner Rick Wilson expressed his excitement for the project to begin moving forward. He stated how the final product will be a most valuable asset to the county and its residents, especially those who work in agriculture.
“This has been a lot of work for a lot of people,” he said. “I have been after this since I became a commissioner…It has been a great undertaking and it really feels good to be able to see this finally. We are going to start moving a little dirt before long and putting something up. I want to thank everyone involved. This is Polk County. And it is going to be a nice facility for generations to come.”
