VW Fair Board sets public meeting

Van Wert Fair Board news

The Van Wert County Agricultural Society’s Board of Directors (Fair Board) will be holding a public meeting at 10 a.m. Saturday, March 9. At that time, the directors and fair manager will be available to answer questions from Agricultural Society members and the general public on all matters related to the fairgrounds and the annual Van Wert County Fair.

Society members and the public are encouraged to ask questions and provide input on fairground operations and events. This is an opportunity to inquire about exhibiting, concessions, entertainment, and volunteering related to all events during the 2013 Van Wert County Fair. A short informational presentation about the society, the Fair Board and the upcoming county fair will be presented at the beginning of the meeting.

The meeting will last as long as necessary, up to three hours, to allow all those in attendance to ask questions. This open door meeting will be held in the fairground’s Administration Building’s Extension Meeting Room, located at the north end of the building on the fairgrounds. Advance questions about the meeting may be emailed to vwfair@bright.net or called into 419.238.9270.

The Fair Board would like to provide this information about the Society in advance of the meeting: The Van Wert County Agricultural Society is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization, governed by the Ohio Department of Agriculture, Office of Fairs. A board of 15 directors elected by its membership governs the society. Board membership is comprised of one director from each of the 12 county townships, one representing the county villages, and two from the city of Van Wert. The fairgrounds is comprised of 104 acres and 50 buildings, while the daily operation of the society is conducted by a fair manager hired by the Fair Board. The fair manager’s hours fluctuate, based upon the season, with the most hours assigned for the months leading up to, during and after the fair.

Agricultural Society membership is obtained each year by purchasing a membership ticket, which also provides members’ entrance to the county fair. This is the advance fair ticket that can be purchased as a season (non-membership ticket) or a membership ticket, known as a membership certificate. The membership ticket permits the purchaser to vote for individuals running for a Fair Board director’s position and any other society issues on the ballot. The season ticket does not have voting privileges.

Voting for directors occurs only once a year, on the last day of the county fair in the Fair Board office. Constitutional changes are voted on at the annual meeting, which is held the second Saturday in November. Both tickets carry the same price of $18 for admission to the fair, which is equal to a $3 per day admission price. The 2013 fair will run six days, from Wednesday, August 28, through Monday, September 2.