By JULIE CARLE
BG Independent News
The Wood County Agricultural Society’s first-time Guns and Purses Raffle went off with a bang last Saturday, selling all 350 tickets and raising funds to help junior fair members and the fairgrounds.
While total proceeds have not yet been announced, those who attended are already looking forward to future events, according to Wood County Fair Manager Laura Westgate.
At the January Wood County Fair Board meeting, First Vice President Tony Violi reported many generous donors stepped up to provide items for the event. More than 60 baskets were donated for prizes and raffles. The guns and purses that were featured for the raffle were purchased by the agricultural society.
The event committee decided to split the proceeds from the event between scholarships for Wood County Junior Fair members and the fairgrounds.
“The junior fair members do so much work to support the fair, we want to show our support for them,” Westgate said.
Additionally, the event benefits the community by being able to maintain the fairgrounds and provide events for youths and families.
Also at the January meeting, prior to the raffle event, John Nissen, second vice president, said the guns and purses raffle event could become “a significant fundraiser” for the organization.
During the 2025 Ohio Fair Managers Association Conference he attended a session by other county fairs that raised $100,000 hosting similar events. One of the fairs makes it a full day, family event, he reported.
“We need to take this seriously,” Nissen said. “This has a lot of potential.”
Camping fees increase
The board approved the recommendation by Fair Director Brock Abke who chairs the camping and parking committee, to increase all camping fees by $50 and eliminate early-open camping for the 2025 county fair.
The general camping lot increased from $200 to $250; primitive camping lots from $126 to $176 and executive camping lots from $300 to $350.
With the elimination of an early entry camping date, the campground will be open to registered campers starting on Thursday, July 24 at 5 p.m.
The camping and parking committee is also considering changes to the golf cart regulations. Recommendations will be discussed at next month’s meeting, Abke said.
Farm to Market exhibit makes progress
Progress is moving along for the Farm to Market exhibition for the 2025 Wood County Fair.
Fair Director DeeAnn Corken said the response has been positive, including the recent $5,000 grant from the Bowling Green Community Foundation. To date, $15,000 of a $40,000 goal for the year has been raised, she said.
She asked if any board members had connections to have some of the concrete or labor donated for the designated area. Nissen suggested the grounds committee needed to meet before any concrete work is done in the area north of the Weston Depot.
With talk last year about moving the Weston Depot from the fairgrounds back to the village, the board had discussed a concern about having concrete in place before the depot was moved. They didn’t want any heavy moving equipment to damage the Farm to Market concrete paths. While there are no immediate plans for the depot to be moved, Nissen wanted the committee to discuss the timing of the concrete before any final plans are made.
In-house Jr. Fair Livestock Sale
The Junior Fair Livestock Sale will be handled in-house this year, Jessica Nagel reported. They will be using Fair Entry for the online platform rather than Final Drive Youth Auctions, which handled the sale in 2024.
The sale of champions will be similar to last year, with the exception that the dairy and goat baskets have been taken out, Nagel said. Those junior fair members can still participate as add-ons in the Fair Entry system. All junior fair youth can participate if they register their projects and their intent to be in the sale by June 1 in the Fair Entry system.
The changes and information about the junior fair livestock sale will be shared online, in the premium book and through the Extension Service Office.
Julie Hannan, junior fair coordinator, said a half-sheet document with all the information about registering in Fair Entry and the sale will be inserted into the junior fair livestock project books available at the Extension Office.
Champion Barn becomes Rabbit Barn for 2025 fair
A proposal to move all the county fair champion livestock winners from the Champion Barn to their home barns for the 2025 fair was approved. The grand and reserve champion animals will be celebrated in their home barns. With the champion animals no longer in that barn, the rabbits will be moved from the existing Rabbit/Poultry Barn into the Champion Barn for this year’s fair.
Tyler Burris, harness racing committee chair, announced the county fair has been approved for a $9,056 matching grant from the Ohio Harness Horsemen’s Association. The funds will be used to upgrade two gates on the fairgrounds.
The OHHA also provided $1,500 for purse money for the 2025 county fair harness races, Burris said.
Also at the meeting, the board:
- Elected Fair Director Brock Abke, Troy Township, to be secretary for the Wood County Senior Fair Board. Secretary-Treasurer Kathy Thomas resigned the secretary position at the December board meeting.
- Announced a second Micro Wrestling event will be held March 22 at the Pratt Pavilion on the fairgrounds.
- Discussed further plans to purchase a banner printer.
- Heard the 2025 Wood County Fair Premium Book is in the works. Print copies of the book will be available by mid-April; it will also be posted online.
