By JULIE CARLE
BG Independent News
Wood County Junior Fair members who raise livestock that was bred and born in Wood County will have an extra opportunity to show their animals at this year’s county fair.
Holly Wensink told the Wood County Fair Board at the June meeting that 122 youths have registered to show 263 animals in the first-time, all-inclusive show, specifically for locally bred livestock.
The show, which will be held near the end of fair week on Friday, Aug. 7 at 9 a.m. in the Pratt Pavilion, will include 20 market beef, 33 beef feeders, 17 breeding heifers, 40 market hogs, 15 breeding gilts, 39 market lambs, 10 breeding lambs, 59 market goats and 11 breeding does.
Wensink and “an army “ of volunteers have worked hard to make the show a reality, she said after the board meeting. They have raised more than $6,000 from 45 sponsors who want to support the youth.
The funds raised will provide more than 50 special awards and 67 banners for the youths and breeders. There will be banners for the top five overall in each area, and the breeders of the grand and reserve champions will also receive banners. Wensink is a firm believer that the breeders should be recognized for the work they put in providing local animals to Wood County youths. A photographer will be on hand to take photos, and each participant will get an animal care product for their animal.
The number of entries in the Wood County show indicates there is local interest in the concept. Wensink attended the Putnam County Fair, which hosts its own county-born show, and compared its numbers to Wood County’s. Putnam County had about a fourth of the entries. In contrast, there was a huge response from participants and sponsors in Wood County, she said.
“I think for the first time doing this, we should be proud of those numbers,” Wensink added. The fair board should benefit from “all the grandmas and grandpas and aunts and uncles that are going to come watch during the day that normally does not have high attendance.”
“I put my time and energy into this for the kids,” she said. “If I can make one more kid’s fair better because they won an awesome super prize, then I’ve accomplished something.”
Fair planning continues
With only one more meeting before the opening of the fair, which runs Aug.2-9, the fair board approved additional expenses and provided updates on plans for the fair and beyond.
The Farm to Market exhibit returns this year for the second year after a successful first year, reported Director Deanne Corken. Meijer and Costco each provided $200 in gift cards to purchase snacks for the youths who attend the exhibit. She is still looking for groups to volunteer to help manage the popular attraction.
Funds were approved for three flagpoles at the main entrance. New fair board director Dan Van Vorhis proposed the idea of the flag poles at a previous meeting. With the support of State Rep. Haraz Ghanbari, Van Vorhis has contacted local veterans’ groups and expects the full cost of the poles—$6,000 for the poles and installation—to be covered by sponsorships from those groups.
Upon the suggestion of Tony Violi, first vice president, the board will also pursue having local Boy Scout troops raise the entry gate flags each day of the fair.
Violi also reported the fair has secured five Day Sponsors for this year’s fair: Wood County Veterans & Active Duty Military/First Responders Day sponsored by Wood County Veterans Service Center; Meta Day; Let Abilities Shine Day sponsored by Wood County Developmental Disabilities Day; Bowling Green State University Day, and Perrysburg Pipe and Supply Day.
After months of discussion, new fans have been installed in the Pratt Pavilion, Bob Strow reported. The fans will greatly improve the air flow throughout the livestock section of the building.
Based on registration numbers in Fair Entry, the fair’s registration and ticket platform, approximately 280 rabbits have been registered for the rabbit show. Because the fair does not have enough rabbit cages for that many entries, the board is pursuing borrowing from another county. After Rabbit ID Day on July 7, the rabbit committee should have a better idea of the final number of rabbits expected at the fair.
Additional updates included:
- There are 57 pig sponsors for the Catch-A-Pig contest. The board approved spending $5,200 to cover the cost for 65 total pigs. Sponsorships will cover the total cost, according to Violi.
- Approval to spend $5,000 on concrete for sidewalks to the rabbit barn and on a pad near the grandstand bathrooms for the Wood County Board of Developmental Disabilities’ inclusive restroom it provides at the fair.
- A total of 28 junior fair members are competing in this year’s queen and king contest—17queen candidates and 11 king candidates will go through the interview process on July 12.
- The board approved providing lifetime fair passes to all previous Wood County Junior Fair Queens and Kings.
