FRYEBURG – When the Fryeburg Fair opens for its 155th year Oct. 2, trustees and officials will unveil the new Livestock Show Arena, the largest and most expensive building ever constructed there.

The 80-by-180-foot cattle show barn is the first steel structure built on the 180-acre fairgrounds, which has more than 100 buildings. The building will cost an estimated $500,000.

“We feel very lucky that we are able to even consider a project like this,” General Superintendent Roy Andrews told trustees at the spring meeting, when trustees unanimously approved the project. “This is the most expensive single project we’ve ever done.”

Andrews and his son, David Andrews, the building and grounds superintendent, have been working closely with Livestock Superintendent George Weston and his assistant and son, John Weston, who handles 4-H activities.

The clear-span building, located in the livestock camping area, is displacing 40 campsites. Livestock owners will remain in livestock camping, but helpers will be distributed into the general camping population.

The new building will alleviate most of the scheduling strain for both 4-H and open competitors while freeing up Woodward Pavilion for dairy showing. Officials who previously had to crowd 4-H showing into one day on the final weekend of the fair can now spread the show schedule over two days.

The spacious building, which can seat 500 people, will also host the popular 4-H Beef Steer and Market Lamb program. Judging is held Monday of fair week while the sale, the oldest continuous one in New England, is held on Friday. It will also free up the pulling ring for the busy horse and oxen pulling schedule. Some of the show steer judging may be held in the arena, depending on weather.

While the new facility will solve many of the scheduling problems, Andrews admits it may create others that officials haven’t anticipated.

“It’s going to take a couple years to iron this all out,” Andrews said.

The winning bidder on the project was Budel Construction Corp. of Rochester, N.H. Owner Bud Meader also has a large hitch of draft show horses. Clyde Watson Inc. is the local earth-moving contractor. Hersey Seating of Berwick is providing the bleachers and roll-out seating.

Like many of the fair’s buildings, the arena is expected to host a number of summertime events.

This year’s fair runs Oct. 2-9.