By JULIE CARLE
BG Independent News
The Wood County Beef Producers turn hamburgers and ribeyes into scholarships and support for many junior fair-based initiatives each year thanks to the business they get at the Wood County Fair.
The beef producers’ food stand at the fair is by far its biggest fundraiser of the year for the organization. They also add membership fees of about 150 members into their budget to support youth, agriculture and industry events, said Dave Smith, who oversees the beef producers’ food booth.
Typically each day of the fair, they grill and sell approximately 900 burgers and 200 ribeyes.
Proceeds from the sales go directly back to support local youth. The beef producers offer four $1,000 scholarships each year. Recipients for 2025 are Star Heldman, Grant Belleville, Riley Burtchin and Owen Seedorf.
The organization also goes all in to recognize the junior fair members who exhibit beef projects at the fair, whether they show beef or dairy cattle. They provide halters, neck ties and mulch for the animal pens for each exhibitor, he said.
At the Wood County Fair, the beef producers also help finance the photo backdrop, commercial cattle project, awards for the county-born and raised beef projects and at the junior fair livestock sale.
They also support the Wood County Livestock Judging Team, which is frequently wins at the state and national level, and the Pemberville Fair’s Calf Club. Beyond the county, they are sponsors for the streaming of the Ohio State Fair Sale of Champions, the Ohio Beef Expo and the Ohio Cattlemen’s Gala.
The organization is also known for providing beef to school organization concession stands at no charge. It’s a way to promote and sell beef and give the concession stands more margin for making money, often for band or athletic booster clubs or other groups.
For a couple years after COVID, the beef producers and the pork producers joined forces to combat the issue with finding enough workers to staff their respective food stands.
This year, the pork producers decided to build a new stand on their previous location. With that move, the beef producers added the popular ribeyes back onto the menu, since they had more room to grill two kinds of sandwiches.
“Everybody wants the burgers, but they were asking for the ribeyes back,” Smith said. “We took a poll at the windows last year and asked people if they would be willing to pay 10 to 15 bucks for a ribeye and the response was, ‘No problem. We know where the money’s going.’”
Smith said they got a good deal on the ribeyes from Ivan Belleville of Belleville Market, allowing them to sell them for $10. The ribeyes sold out by about noon today, the last day of the fair.
They weren’t sure how they would be able to staff the food stand throughout the fair, but Smith made connections with various groups who would provide the people to volunteer their time and receive $250 to be used as a club or group fundraiser.
The beef producers have “day sponsors” who pay a fee to be recognized. The day sponsor fee covers the cost of the volunteer group. Smith explained.
On the day of the interview, the Otsego Volleyball program provided 48 people to help for the entire day. It’s a win-win for everyone, he said.
“After expenses, all the money we raise goes back to the youth, and that’s really what we’re doing this for,” Smith said.
