By JULIE CARLE
BG Independent News
Thirty years ago, a group of Wood County men and women saw a need for new pens for the swine department at the Wood County Fairgrounds and decided to do something about it.
The old wooden pens were in poor shape and in dire need of an upgrade. The committee planned a reverse raffle to raise the necessary funds, all with junior fair members in mind.
They called the event the County Livestock Action Project, familiarly referred to as CLAP, like the applause, not the STD.
That 1996 reverse raffle was such a success, that they were able to purchase the swine pens, and wash racks and holding pens.
Initially led by Denny Asmus, Gary Britton, Dale Brown, Karen Brueggemeier, Bill Buchman, Dan Frobose, Kevin Sautter, Ron Snyder, and Fred Vetter, the committee figured after two or three years, they would have raised enough money to discontinue the event and quietly dissolve the group.
Somehow that didn’t happen. There were always more projects needed that would help junior fair members in all the livestock barns, which was always the bottom line for the group—to make sure the livestock kids were supported.
Fast forward to 2025. There has never been a year without a CLAP reverse raffle, though in 2021, they had to do it virtually because of the pandemic. The 2020 event was held the week before everything shut down, recalled Amanda McDowell, a member of the current 12-person committee.
Each year, between $15,000 and $17,000 have been raised, which is over and above the $10,000 grand prize and other money prizes awarded throughout the event.
The success comes from the support of the community, McDowell said: the people who believe in the value of youth raising and showing livestock at the Wood County Fair; the businesses both local and corporate that provide donations and items for the raffle baskets; and the junior fair youth who volunteer their time to help at the event.
Today’s next-generation committee is comprised of members Justin Barndt, Nick Eckel, Rachel Eckel, Travis Harrison, Taylor McClenathan, Amanda McDowell, Kip McDowell, Erin Nietz, Dave Nietz, Kaye Racheter, Shane Vetter, Sara Weaver and Lindsay Ziegler. Together they plan the annual event and decide where to allocate the funds raised.
No longer are the projects decided in advance of the event. “We think about how to spend the money, but we don’t know ahead of time,” McDowell said. “We try to look for things the youth need or maybe what the fair board isn’t able to provide.”
It might be as basic as wheelbarrows, fans and scoop shovels, or larger projects such as loading chutes, electrical upgrades or rubber mats for the pavilion aisleways.
The mats were “a decent investment but it was needed,” said Rachel Eckel. The mats keep the pigs and cattle from slipping, and the junior fair exhibitors and visitors safe when walking through the pavilion. “It was an enhancement for everyone,” she said.
The projects are approved at various times of the year. The project might be when a committee member notices a need. Sometimes proposals will come from Jim Blackford, the fairground’s maintenance supervisor, fair board members or someone involved with a livestock department at the fair.
One year a local Boy Scout asked for funding to support his project of putting new windows in the poultry barn. “It was something we needed at the fair, so we approved it,” said Kaye Racheter.
Last year, the rabbit department asked for help with materials to make rabbit show cages to prevent rabbits from jumping out. The committee decided for a little more money they could purchase new metal holding pens. “We heard they worked great,” McDowell said. “That’s the stuff we try to do.”
“We try to keep with the intended purpose to provide for the different livestock species’ facilities and not steer away from that,” Eckel said.
Plans for 2025 raffle on March 8
The 2025 CLAP Reverse Raffle on March 8 at the Wood County Junior Fair Building will offer many of the same activities and games that keep people coming back year after year, Eckel said.
The reverse raffle is the big draw, with a chance to win $10,000. They are selling 297 tickets in advance. Three tickets will be held back for the night of the event that will be auctioned for additional chances to win the grand prize.
Bingo games will be held and a variety of casino games will be set up around the perimeter of the event space.
New this year will be a corn hole tournament. Teams can sign up the night of the event for $20 per team. The winning team will split 50/50 with CLAP the total amount raised by the tournament’s entry fees.
The wooden horse race and a whole battery of casino games are also part of the evening’s activities in addition to the big raffle. The horse race is an interactive event that allows guests to pool their money to bid on one of six stick ponies. Once all the horses have been auctioned, the “riders” get to roll the giant dice to move along the “track.” The horse that makes it to the finish line first is the winner and gets half of the pot.
Returning for the second year are a baked goods auction and Bubbles and Bling, “which was a huge hit last year, selling out before the raffle,” Racheter said. “Last year, we provided champagne and disposable flutes with numbers on the bottom. The lucky winner won a beautiful diamond necklace.” The Bowling Green jewelry store has agreed to provide another jewelry item for this year’s Bubbles and Bling.
The number of local businesses that have agreed to provide items for door prizes and raffle baskets continues to grow, said Lindsay Ziegler, who joined the committee last year to help with the donations. Some of the donations include passes for two rounds of golf with a cart at BG Country Club, Northwest Ohio Tractor Pullers cooler filled with goodies, a visit to Gillig Winery in Findlay, Pedal Bar ride and gift cards and baskets to area restaurants, hair salons and other local businesses.
At the end of the evening, there will be a drawing for big prizes including a pizza oven donated by D&D Landscaping and Bluetooth speakers donated by Legacy Farmers. CLAP is still accepting monetary donation, raffle items/baskets and bakery items. Reach out to Ziegler via the group’s facebook page.
Tickets are $100 per person, which provides a meal catered by Deet’s BBQ, dessert, and entry in the reverse raffle. Additional meal tickets are $30 per person. Also, individuals can purchase a meal ticket if they don’t want to participate in the reverse raffle but would like to attend and participate in the games and other activities. There is no cash bar; it is a “bring your own beverage” event.
The Junior Fair Building doors will open and meals will begin starting at 5:30 p.m. and the reverse raffle will begin at 7:15 p.m.
To purchase tickets, contact a committee member, email the group at 1996clap@gmail.com or send a message via the County Livestock Action Project Facebook page .
“Watching the people have fun that night and to see people getting together, laughing and supporting the kids, just fills your heart,” Racheter said.
“We like to be able to give back to a program that we all have been involved in,” said McDowell. “It means a lot to see the kids who have benefited come back and purchase tickets because they know how important the work is.”
