By JULIE CARLE
BG Independent News
The Wood County Fair Board is considering whether to offer camping or any kind of activities when the total solar eclipse passes through Wood County next spring.
Jeff Klein, director of the Wood County Emergency Management Agency, and Wade Gottschalk, executive director at Wood County Economic Development, recently talked to the fair board directors about the possibility of opening the fairgrounds to visitors when Bowling Green is among the many Ohio cities on the path of totality on April 8, 2024.
The total eclipse will only last about two to three minutes in this area at about 3 p.m. A partial solar eclipse will be visible before and after the total eclipse.
If 2024’s eclipse is anything like the eclipse in 2017 whose closest path to Ohio included Illinois and Kentucky, there could be traffic jams and shortages of hotel accommodations, food, water and gasoline, Klein said.
Wood County’s good infrastructure with access to interstate and toll roads, as well as parking lots and the university, make it possible that it could be a highly sought-after location. The population before, during and immediately after the eclipse could double or triple with an influx of eclipse watchers, he said.
Many organizations who have offered activities or eclipse memorabilia in the past have made a lot of money, Klein added. The fact that the fairgrounds already has buildings, grounds and bathrooms makes it a prime spot.
“We’d love to have you involved. Having the fairgrounds open for campers could benefit the fair and the county,” he said but admitted the opportunity is not without issues and obstacles.
Security could be a concern because most of local law enforcement and emergency management personnel are likely to be dealing with traffic and other concerns at the county level. Allegedly most of the state’s 52,000 porta-potties are already accounted for, Klein said.
Josh Nutter, first vice president who chaired the September meeting, asked for a committee to look into the fair board’s options, possibly in conjunction with the Northwest Ohio Tractor Pullers.
The board approved priorities for its 2024 budget request from the Wood County Commissioners. Last year, the request was for $142,000 and they were granted $68,000 from the commissioners.
This year’s requests include (in descending order):
- Priority #1—$14,000 for the youth development position that helps with the junior fair activities.
- Priority #2—$50,000 for asphalt to pave the section that runs east to west in front of the Home and Garden, Grange and Annex buildings.
- Priority #3—$10,000 to install handicap-accessible doors to the champion barn and junior fair building.
- Priority #4—$30,000 to upgrade utilities and electricity on the fairgrounds.
- Priority #5—$5,000 to enhance the security and surveillance cameras on the grounds and in buildings.
- Priority #6—$6,500 to clean up the area of the winner’s circle to have a nice concrete area in the infield area and for concrete work at the former elephant ears building.
Paul Perry, second vice president, suggested the board consider making move-in day of the fair as a free day that might allow the fair to conduct harness racing on Saturday. He said that other fairs use move-in day as free admission where vendors aren’t required to be open but the fair would open at 4 p.m. for the purpose of the harness racing.
“That would help the entertainment committee immensely,” he said, acknowledging that it couldn’t happen in 2024 because the fair dates request has already been submitted to the state. “But it’s something to think about for the future, to open another night of entertainment at the fair.”
In other business:
- The board heard that the livestock sale raised $411,000, up from last year’s $347,000. As of the board meeting, junior fair members had picked up premium checks valued at about $200,000. There was approximately $15,000 still due from livestock sale supporters.
- The board approved $400 for musical entertainment by Brent Lowery during the Fall Campout Weekend (Oct. 6-8.) Other activities include a hay ride to pick pumpkins, a Halloween movie, pumpkin carving, apple bobbing and pie-eating contest, face painting, crafts, costume contest, and a trick or treat from camper to camper.
- Craig Coe was approved and officially inducted to serve on the fair board in one of the two open seats for District 1. Born and raised in Bowling Green, a city employee and current resident of Middleton Township, Coe said he wants to get more involved and contribute something to the fair and see how everything works from the inside. Chris Shilling applied for the second seat, but he was not at the meeting to be inducted.
- Angie Swartz, representing District 3, turned in her resignation after serving on the fair board for eight years. She indicated she needed to focus on other things, but offered to help as a volunteer during the fair. The board agreed to post the District 3 opening, which incudes Milton, Liberty, Portage, Montgomery, Jackson, Henry, Bloom, and Perry townships and the City of Bowling Green. Applications will be accepted at the Fair Office until Oct. 23.
- Kathy Thomas was approved to serve as Fair Board secretary in addition to her role as Fair Board treasurer.
- Jessica Nagel announced the theme for next year’s fair: “Be A Star of the 2024 Wood County Fair.”
