By JULIE CARLE
BG Independent News
Three new directors were recently elected to the Wood County Fair Board. The newest directors elected are Bruce Kidder, Michael Miller, and Dan VanVorhis.
Initially, two seats were open for a vote at the February meeting; however, before the election was held, Fair Board Treasurer Kalen Bloom announced his immediate resignation for personal and health reasons.
The board agreed to add his seat to the two at-large openings that were to be voted on that evening. Five individuals submitted their applications for the open spots.
VanVorhis, a lifelong resident of Wood County, said he and his family, which had the John Deere dealership in Bowling Green had been involved with the fair over the years. He also had a business that was a vendor under the grandstand during the fair. Currently, he is president of the Wood County Fraternal Order of Police, which has allowed the junior fair and 4-H clubs to use their building on the fairgrounds. “I decided I needed to step up and get more involved and keep the traditions of the fair strong,” he said.
Miller, who is president of KWIK Parking in Toledo, has experience working with tickets and gates. He also helped in the barns and grandstand at last year’s fair. He promised he would work hard and show up for work.
Kidder is a retired educator who has “all the time in the world,” to help, he said. He has a construction background and has entered winemaking and woodworking judging at the fair, though he said, “I don’t have any agenda.”
Amy Dauer and Derek Kepling submitted applications but were not elected at this time.
Dauer, who grew up in the Michigan 4-H program, has been a long-time volunteer for the Wood County Fair’s goat committee. She has also been an active partner with Amanda Barndt in the Ring of Dreams Livestock Show for individuals with developmental disabilities. “I would love to support the fair and the agricultural society, and to show compassion for the organization and the community,” she said.
Kepling, a volunteer firefighter, has three children involved in 4-H. He has been involved with the North Baltimore Festival committee for several years, helping with vendors and logistics for the parade. “I want to be here to help out and support the fair to keep it going and make it bigger and better,” he said.
The eight new at-large seats that have been added to the board since December will need to be on the ballot in August when the agricultural society membership votes.
The board plans to establish how long each term will be for those seats. Terms will range from one to three years to balance stability with renewal, ensuring fresh perspectives while maintaining institutional memory.
“To be the most fair,” First Vice President Tony Violi proposed putting everyone’s name in a hat to assign the length of their terms.
New events added
With the 2026 fair a little over four months away, two new event ideas were approved for the schedule.
The first is a pre-fair concert, to be held on July 31, the Friday before the official start of the fair.
President Paul Perry said they plan to book the Skittle Bots, a local band that is up-and-coming and has a following of their own.
The concert would be held during the camper move-in, as a welcome to the fairgrounds event. It will be held in the ride area just inside Gate C and parking will be in Poe Road lot south of the fairgrounds.
“There will be a small admission fee to get in to the area that will be cordoned off with snow fencing,” he said. “So, it will be something to raise a little additional money.
They are pursuing a liquor license for that event since it is not held during the fair dates.
The board approved up to $7,500 to cover the cost of the band, sound, lighting and security.
Final details for the pre-fair concert, including the admission cost and start time, will be announced at a later date.
Fair Director Tyler Burris proposed a new event on Monday (Aug. 3), the second night of harness racing at the fair. She suggested the board add a Wiener Dog Dash to the schedule, at about 8:30p.m., after the horses have finished racing. The event would last only about an hour and would be minimal cost to the board.
In other business:
- Bob Strow presented that the Fair Foundation has nearly $250,000 in its bank account after a March installment payment of $117,372.05. The foundation has hosted two very successful gun shows during the past two months. He also reported the foundation board is looking into costs for ventilating the Pratt Pavilion.
- Deanne Corken accepted a check from the Bowling Green Community Foundation to help cover costs for the second year of the Farm to Market exhibit during the fair.
- Tony Violi reported the fair board’s January gun raffle was very successful, raising nearly $28,000. The board authorized spending $4,600 to distribute one $1,000 scholarship, two $750 scholarships, one $500 scholarship and support for the Junior Fair King and Queen of $500 each and $100 to each of the royal court attendants.
- Holly Wensink announced there will be a county-born and raised livestock show for swine, cattle, goats and sheep on Friday of the fair at 9 am. in the Pratt Pavilion. Wensink is handling obtaining all the awards for the show, and entry will be made via the Fair Entry system once it goes live on April 1.
