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CONTACT: Tom Borgman
Marketing Manager
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tborgman@lesterbuildings.com

Lester Buildings and Minnesota Vikings Dedicate Vikings Pavilion at Winter Park
October 16, 2003

Lester Prairie, MN

Lester Prairie, MN- Lester Building Systems and the Minnesota Vikings officially dedicated the Vikings Pavilion at Winter Park on Wednesday, October 15. The pavilion was built by Lester (completed in early 2003) as part of a unique, multi-year marketing partnership signed with Vikings - believed to be a first in the NFL.

The Vikings' Radio Network broadcast team of Paul Allen and Joe Senser, ex-Viking and Pro-Bowler, were on hand as celebrity emcees.

Late in 2002, the Vikings designated Lester Buildings as the Official Builder of the Vikings Pavilion at Winter Park. In return, Lester received a multi-year marketing package - at the time, believed to be a first of its kind in the NFL. The new pavilion was constructed adjacent to the outdoor fields at the Vikings practice facility. It was the first new structural addition to Winter Park since 1991.

The Vikings Pavilion is now used for team and corporate outings, coaches clinics and miscellaneous community events. Vikings sponsors also have access to the facility for their own company events and customer appreciation needs.

"The Vikings Pavilion is another creative way for the Vikings to extend itself into the community," says Mike Kelly, Vikings Executive Vice-President. "We are always looking for new ways for our sponsors and fans to feel closer to the team and what better way than to have them at the facility with us watching practice. We were looking for a reliable, established Minnesota company for the project. We approached Lester Building Systems to gauge their interest, and with their long-time ties to the state, we quickly came to an agreement."

The Vikings Pavilion is 36' wide x 84' long x 10' high and has open-air sidewalls and endwalls. The roof features special architectural-style laminated beams below and standing seam metal roofing on top.

Lester buildings are primarily sold into the light commercial, equestrian, suburban, agriculture and livestock building markets. The company has grown to be one of the nation's 'top five' suppliers of pre-engineered wood frame buildings, with building sales in over thirty states from the Rocky Mountains to the East Coast. Established in 1947, Lester recently announced that its management group intends to purchase substantially all the assets of the business from its parent, Butler Manufacturing Company. The acquisition is scheduled to close in late 2003.