The race is on to complete the new Nebraska State Fairgrounds before the fair begins in only 293 days, but fair officials say they're optimistic.

As long as workers and equipment are moving, Executive Director Joseph McDermott isn't worried about the 2010 Nebraska State Fair.

"There is a construction schedule and for the most part they're right on it," said McDermott.

A 250,000 square foot arena and two exhibition buildings are already taking shape.

"Weather might hamper them a little bit, but they're feeling good about where they're at," said McDermott.

Although buildings going up, the state fair has yet to really move from Lincoln to Grand Island. But the fair's director says that should happen before the end of the year.

"I think probably in the next couple of weeks we will start physically moving our equipment to Grand Island. We have some office space leased. My target date is to get that office open by December 1st," said McDermott. "Some time in December we will become residents of Grand Island."

That's when fair officials will start to develop local resources, contacts, volunteers, and vendors.

McDermott says fair programing should be set by early next summer.

"Buildings, it might take right up to August 1st, which is fine," he said. "That's when we would start setting up initially in Lincoln anyway."

The fair kicks off on August 27th.

To watch the progress of state fair construction, click on the link below.