155th edition of County Fair starts today

DAVE MOSIER/independent editor

Today marks the start of the 155th Van Wert County Fair, and, while this year’s edition is two days shorter than usual, it’s still packed with lots to do, see, eat, and experience.

The fair officially begins today at 5 p.m. with a ribboncutting ceremony in front of Gate 1 that features Fair Board directors and local officials.

Although a number of traditional Wednesday evening events remain, this year’s fair denotes a departure from the norm, which was necessitated by the decision to shorten the fair from seven to five days. There are also some new events this year for fair-goers to experience.

The 4-H Style Revue/Modeling Awards, a traditional Wednesday evening event, is on tap this evening, starting at 6 p.m., while a new event — a tattoo contest — will also be held this year.

A popular event that has always been held the Tuesday after Labor Day will be held tonight, because of the shortening of the fair. The High School Band Show will be held, beginning at 7 p.m., in front of the grandstand (see information lower in this story).

Rides also start up this evening, while a rock band will entertain from 9:30-11:30 p.m. in the Entertainment Tent.

Below are some other highlights from this year’s fair (click here to see the full fair premium book):

Labor Day entertainment

Labor Day at the Van Wert County Fair is always jam-packed with great events, but this year is even more special as the award-winning rock band Kill The Rabbit will hit the stage in front of the grandstand at 7 p.m.

Originally formed in 1994 with members Scotty Hayes, Marc Baker, Doug Elliot, and Dale Bolenbaugh, the group quickly gained a large fan base in Ohio and Indiana.

Local drummer Sheridan Lippi was recruited and the group enjoyed four successful years before disbanding.

After a 10-year hiatus, the original members of Scotty, Mark, Doug, and Sheridan reunited for a one-night-only performance.  The establishment was packed that evening, and soon rumors flew that Kill The Rabbit was back and better than ever.

The seed was planted, but it wasn’t until 2008 that all members were on board and eager to perform together again, with plans to take the band to the next level.

Bob Finger was invited to join the group and was instrumental in composing several original songs. The new Pieces CD credits Finger with 8 of the 10 songs on the CD. Finger unfortunately left the band due to a job promotion, and a decision was made to recruit Tony Gardner and Mike “Patch” Adams, enlarging the group and creating more depth of sound, plus more sonic options.

In August 2010, Kill The Rabbit was crowned champions in the Whatzup Battle of the Bands 7 contest. The band has also recently been voted 2010 Whatzup Readers’ Poll “Entertainers of the Year.” Kill the Rabbit was also winner of Piere’s 2010 Musical Warfare Championship and is the headliner of Piere’s 2011 Whammy Award Show.

The band was invited to play the historic Embassy Theatre and won “Best Hard Rock CD of the Year.” The critically acclaimed original CD recording entitled Pieces can be found at 28 Best Buy locations in the tri-state area.  It just keeps getting better and better for this talented group.

Setting the stage for the featured group will be special guest performers krimsha and SIRFACE, with guest host Jerrdog.

Local rock fans won’t want to miss this exciting and professional show that engages the crowd from start to finish as Kill The Rabbit performs in front of the grandstand at the 2011 Van Wert County Fair on Labor Day. All tickets are general admission and cost $5. Tickets can be purchased at the Treasurer’s Office next to the grandstand during the fair.

Jamie Agler, Doug Germann, and Brad Taylor, Senior Fair Board members, are serving as adult advisors to the 2011 Van Wert County Junior Fair Board.  As always, the Fair Board expects a high number of Junior Fair exhibits and is also looking forward to a well-balanced program for the youths of the county.

Junior Fair

Highlights of the Junior Fair include 2011 Junior Fair King and Queen Coronation on

Thursday, September 1, at 5:30 p.m., followed at 6:30 P.M. by the 4-H Special Awards Show.

The ever popular and well-attended 4-H Style Revue has been moved this year to Sunday, September 4, at 2 p.m., following the 4-H Talent Show. Another fair favorite is the Showman of Showmen Contest held this year on Monday, September 5, beginning at 6 p.m.

The Junior Fair Livestock Auction is always an integral part of the Junior Fair and will be held this year on Tuesday, September 6, at 9 a.m. in the Farm Focus Show Arena following the close of the fair.

With the new fair schedule, the Senior Fair Board has instituted a new policy stating that all Junior and Senior Fair entries may not be removed from the fair grounds before 8 a.m. on Tuesday, September 6. The 2011 Fair will remain open until 10 p.m. Monday, the last day of the event.

The Junior Fair involves more youths than other organization in the county.  The Junior Fair consists of 4-H clubs, FFA chapters, Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, and Buckeye Y. All fair patrons are encouraged to visit the Junior Fair Building to view the various displays, check out the various livestock, poultry, rabbit and horse barns and shows, or find a Junior Fair exhibitor and offer them a compliment for a job well done! These young people are the future of Van Wert County.

Free Entertainment

One of the busiest areas at the Van Wert County Fair is the free Entertainment Tent located on the midway, directly across from the Agricultural Building. Ann Marshall, fair director in charge, has put together a great slate of entertainment for folks of all ages.

A new event under the tent this year is the first annual “Who Has The Best Tattoo in Northwest Ohio” contest. Entries for this event will be taken, beginning at 5 p.m. today, with judging to follow, from 6:30-8:30 p.m. Four knowledgeable judges will judge five categories of colorful tattoos.

Rounding out the first evening will be music for young and old to enjoy.

Thursday, September 1, is designated as Senior Citizens Day at the Fair and the Entertainment Tent will be buzzing with activity as the 60 and over crowd begins the day at 10 a.m. with coffee and doughnuts, as well as entertainment from the group Crossroads. The highlight of Thursday’s events is the ever popular Junior Fair King and Queen Coronation Ceremony at 6 p.m. Chosen from the top 4-H/FFA members in Van Wert County, one young man and one young woman will be crowned to reign over the 2011 Junior Fair activities.

Immediately following the coronation ceremony, there will be a 4-H Special Awards program honoring the best of the best in the 4-H community, starting at 7 p.m. The evening will again be brought to a close with music to enjoy until 11:30 that night.

Friday, September 2 — the 2011 Fair will honor and welcome all veterans and military personnel.  Musical entertainment for this special Veterans Day program in the Entertainment Tent will be provided by the Rockford Quartet and Janel Duquette.

As always, ham and bean soup and cornbread will be the special menu for the day. A surprise may be in store for all who attend, so don’t miss a minute of this day.

At 7:30 p.m., folks can kick up their heels as they dance to the Fifties and Sixties music of Crossroads.

Those who like quick moving defensive action, or just want to see something different, won’t want to miss the martial arts demonstration at noon on Saturday, September 3, at noon. At the opposite end of the interest spectrum, another new event at the fair will be held at 1 p.m. as the Fair Board hosts a Diaper Derby. Area parents will be proud to enter their cute little crawler in this family oriented event and all grandmas, grandpas, aunts and uncles will want to come and cheer for their favorite little speed demon.

Singing a mix of country, soft rock, and pop, Janel Duquette and Greg Michaels will perform from 3:30-4:30 p.m. Saturday.  Following this talented musical pair, the Van Wert Community Concert Band will play for fair-goers from 5-6 p.m.

Featured on Saturday evening at 7 and 9 will be the young talents of 15-year-old Connor Rose. Connor will perform with his band, entertaining the audience with non-stop country and classic rock.

Between Connor’s two performances, 10-year-old Van Wert native Samantha Duquette will sing her way into the audience’s hearts. Samantha has been performing since the age of 4 and is looking forward to her fair performance.

Sunday, September 4, begins at 1 p.m. in the Entertainment Tent with the 4-H Talent Show. The ever-popular 4-H Style Show will immediately follow at approximately 2:30 p.m. with more talented 4-H youths modeling beautiful creations.

A special treat for fair-goers in the Entertainment Tent on Sunday will be the Jimmy Jukebox Karaoke Show, from 4:30-6:30 p.m. Janel Duquette and Greg Michaels will again perform until 9 p.m., with the evening closing out until 11:30 p.m. with the rock  music of Atlantis Invasion.

Rounding out the Fair on Labor Day, the Entertainment Tent will present some of the  area’s most talented and agile young girls as students of Kim Hohman’s DanceWorks dance for the audience at noon, with Pam’s School of Dance tripping the light fantastic at 1:30 that afternoon.

The audience will have a special treat at 3:30 p.m. on Labor Day as Glenn Parks wows the crowd with his banjo picking. Glenn specializes in music from the Jazz Age, mixed with some new tunes, and still enjoys playing western and gospel.  The end of Labor Day, as well as the end of another 2011 Van Wert County Fair will conclude with Melvin Mullins performing his one-man show at 8 Monday evening.

All in all, the week of August 31 through September 5 in the Entertainment Tent at the Van Wert County Fair has something for everyone to enjoy.  And it’s free.

Chainsaw Carving

The full throttle art form of chainsaw carving will again be displayed at the Van Wert County Fair on Friday, September 1, through Labor Day.  The Bear Hollow Wood Carvers are leaders in chainsaw carving, traveling to events across the United States.

Bear Hollows’ featured carver is award-winning sculptor Jason Emmons. In 2008, Emmons was among the first artists to be juried into the Indiana Artisans group. The 85 artists selected are described as Hoosiers who are recognized for careful attention to detail, knowledge of a craft and an entrepreneurial spirit. Emmons is also one of four members of the Echo Outdoor Power Equipment National Carving Team and he has competed in three Echo Cup Championships and in 2009 won the Championship Cup.

Emmons will be carving many unique and popular pieces. Fair-goers will be able to view the artistic process during each morning at 11, in the afternoon at 2 and 5, and again at 8 in the evening. The artistry and imaginative skills of this famed carver is a joy to watch.

As a very special treat, the original pieces that are carved by Emmons will be offered to the highest bidder during a high-energy auction on Labor Day, starting at 8 p.m.

The bleachers are always packed to capacity as local individuals go head to head for the privilege of owning an original carving from the fair.

Band Show

The Van Wert County Fair Board is proud to present the Annual Parade of Bands at the 155^th Van Wert County Fair. The Parade of Bands will take place in front of the Grandstand on Wednesday, August 3, at 7 p.m.  All seats for the band show are reserved, with grandstand box seats $4 apiece and grandstand incline seats $3.

Popular radio personality Rick Miller of WDOH Lite Rock 107.1 will announce the show and the Lincolnview Band Boosters will again provide programs for the event. The Fair Board is grateful to CNT Networking and Technologies Ltd., for co-sponsoring this exciting show. Each marching band will be presented a beautiful plaque commemorating its participation in the 155th Van Wert County Fair.

The Parade of Bands, one of the most popular shows of the fair, will feature outstanding high school marching bands from Van Wert, Mercer, Paulding, Putnam, and Defiance counties. In recent years, the Parade of Bands Show has filled the grandstand to capacity, so it’s important to purchase tickets early to guarantee a good seat.

Farm Machinery Displays

The Van Wert County Fair has always been proud of its fine machinery display and again this year is looking forward to a fine show furnished by the machinery dealers of our area.  Since agriculture is the leading industry in our county, farm machinery plays a very important part in our daily lives. Director Michael Patterson, representing York Township, is in charge of this very important part of the Fair.  He invites you to visit the machinery on display. Patterson is extremely appreciative of the cooperation of the various dealers in the area making this display possible.

In addition to new machinery, there are many old gas engines and antique tractors that will be on display and in operation during the 2011 Van Wert County Fair. These pieces of antique farm machinery have proven to be an exciting addition to the exhibit provoking fond memories of farming of yesteryear. Patterson will also be in charge of this area.

For additional information, contact the Van Wert County Fair Board Office at 419.238.9270.

Cheerleader Competition

The 155th Van Wert County Fair will again feature a Cheerleading Invitational in front of the grandstand on Saturday, September 3, beginning at 10 a.m.  This will mark the 25th year for this event, which features cheerleading squads from all over the area. Starting off the day will be the Little Leaders Division, followed by the Junior High, Freshman/Junior Varsity, and Varsity divisions, respectively.

Squads from Van Wert, Paulding, Allen and Mercer counties, as well as other squads from northwest Ohio and northeast Indiana, will be competing for top honors, trophies, and ribbons.  This cheerleading invitational is one of the premier summer competitions offered in northwest Ohio. Event coordinators Caressa Evans and Betsy Welker are looking forward to hosting another competitive invitational.

All seats for the Cheerleading Invitational are reserved. Grandstand box seats are $4 and grandstand incline seats are $3. Tickets can be purchased in advance at the Fair Board office or on the day of the competition.  In the event of bad weather, the contest will be moved to Lincolnview High School on Middle Point Road.

The 2011 Van Wert County Fair Cheerleading Invitation is co-sponsored by the Van Wert County Fair Board and Greve Chrysler, Jeep, Dodge Inc., which present trophies to the first place winners.

Demolition Derby

The Van Wert County Fair Board is pleased to announce that the annual Demolition Derby will be held in front of the grandstand on Sunday, September 4, at 7 p.m. Daredevils from the Van Wert area, northwest Ohio, and northeast Indiana always make this annual event a crowd pleaser!

The lawn mower heat will again be featured this year. As always, the demolition derby will offer two regular car elimination heats to determine the field from the championship event where an overall 2011 Demolition Derby champion will be crowned.

In addition to the regular car heats, the Fair Board will again be sponsoring a mini-car contest at the Demolition Derby. To enter, the car must be no longer than 99 inches and have a 4-cylinder motor. Another special event again this year will be the minivan class held in memory of former director Frank Snyder, as well as a full-size pickup truck derby. A stock class will also be featured and is generously sponsored by Straightline Body and Paint.

Entries for this event can be made at the Van Wert County Fair Office at 1055 S. Washington St. in Van Wert, during the hours of 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. daily until all the classes are full. The entry fee is $40 after August 28. The 2011 rules and entry form may be viewed at www.vanwertcountyfair.com; select “Grandstand Events.”

The demolition derby will be under the direction of United Demo Derbies of Ohio City. For more information, call Dick Mottinger at 260.437.6104.

Reserved grandstand box seats and incline seats will be available for $6. Pit passes will again be offered this year for $15; however, pit passes are only available to those 14 years old and up.  Tickets can be purchased at the Fair Board office, which is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, and Saturday from 9 a.m. until noon.