Fair Board meeting provides dialogue

From VW County Fair Board information

A public meeting held by the Van Wert County Fair Board this past Saturday for the purpose of getting comments and suggestions about future fairs was successful, with a number of comments and suggestions made by the approximately two dozen people who showed up.

Some of the questions and comments include the following:

• Try to schedule the Junior Fair shows so there is not a conflict.
• More changes are needed in the Fine Arts Department.
• Will shortening the fair by two days affect vendor revenues?
• Try to cut down on traffic congestion at the south end of the fairgrounds during the fair.
• Are both horse tents on the west side of the grandstand necessary when they are only used one day?
• Ask those who rent horse barns to help with maintaining the buildings.
• More community participation and attendance needed at fair events.
• Have organizations “adopt” a fairgrounds building, similar to the Ohio Department of Transportation’s “Adopt A Highway” program, to help with maintenance of the facilities.

Also as part of the meeting, Fair Board members presented information supporting their belief that expenses will be cut if the fair is shortened, as planned this year. By cutting two days of the fair, the cost savings for security, fair parking help, gate personnel, departmental workers and rentals could be an estimated $20,000, while cutting back harness racing days could save approximately $30,000 in 2011.

Fair Board President Dave Evans, along with Fair Manager Paul Oechsle, said the board is working hard to maintain one is known as one of the best fairs in the state, and hope county residents will continue to support one of the county’s premier annual events.

Two members of area rock band, Kill the Rabbit, Marc Baker and Sheridan Lippi, also attended and presented a check to Evans that represents the proceeds of a benefit concert that Kill the Rabbit and four other bands staged in the Junior Fair Building. Approximately 250 people attended the concert, which was held on a weekend when the county was hit by a bad snowstorm.

Those who were not able to attend the meeting, but have comments or questions, can call the Fair Office at 419.238.9270.