2014 Fair reviving Farm Focus program

VW County Fair information

Farm Focus, a non-profit field research and clinical trial program sponsored by Van Wert County, the Marsh Foundation School Farms, and Ohio State University Extension, started as a plowing match and turned into a two-day farm show held each year on an individual farm somewhere in the county.  For 30 years the masses attended Farm Focus to see agricultural exhibits, educational speakers, and machinery demonstrations.

During its prime, the Farm Focus Committee had more than 200 volunteer members; however, with changes in agriculture, the show was discontinued and reduced to random field days when there was a need to highlight new technology or educate farmers on research plots or trials conducted on 300 acres of the Marsh Foundation School Farms.

Those who access the Farm Focus web page today would find the message “due to budget cuts within Ohio State University Extension, the Farm Focus program manager position has been eliminated, resulting in the field day cancellation.”  That message was written in 2009.

This year at the Van Wert County Fair, an effort is being made to revive Farm Focus. On Wednesday and Thursday of the fair, vendors and speakers will be offered to speak about GMOs (Genetically Modified Organisms), new farm technology (to include two drone demonstrations), aquatic ecosystems, and other topics centered around the Farm Focus type topics some people remember from years past.

A full list of speakers can be found at www.vanwertcountyfair.com and partners nicely with the fair’s Lunch Ticket Program, which allows admission to the fair from 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday to enjoy speakers and demonstrations during work hours.

Fair patrons will be asked to pay $5 at the gate when they arrive between the above hours, but the money will be refunded if they leave before 2 in the afternoon to head back to work.

The fair starts this Wednesday, August 27.