DARKE COUNTY – The Darke County Fairboard held its regularly scheduled meeting on March 4, 2026. All directors were in attendance, and guest seating was again filled to capacity. President Marla Werner opened the floor for guest comments and non-agenda items. Despite a full house, none were presented, and the board moved on to the agenda.
Jr. Fair Coordinator Petitjean updated the board on the Jr. Fair Pageant planning process and reviewed upcoming dates. The caretaker reported on the status of routine maintenance while informing the board that there are no current safety concerns.
Secretary Heidi May reviewed a lengthy list of items, including the status of the fair book, the list of department supervisors, cleaning fees and contracts for the Community Center, upgrade possibilities for the Community Center, and phone service options for the Beef and Dairy barns. She reported that more than 1,000 tickets have been sold for the Dylan Scott fair concert.
During May’s report, the process of board elections was discussed. After confirming consistency with the constitution, the board voted to increase the petition fee to $25, which will be due when potential candidates pick up their petition. The board also discussed the possibility of increasing the requirements for candidates but made no decisions on those matters. The board also approved a motion to fund the ATM for upcoming events.
During Treasurer Curtis Yount’s report, a motion was heard and passed to move funds from the Spille CD to an account at Merchants Bank in order to obtain a better return.
Rental contracts were presented and all were approved.
Ted Finnarn introduced himself to the board and community as the new legal counsel. Finnarn stated that, as a long-time supporter of the fair, he looks forward to serving in this position. He gave a brief overview of his goals to help improve the constitution, bylaws, policies, and procedures, as well as offering recommendations for community outreach.
During the director reports, Glen Moore announced a new department secretary for the Fine Arts division. Chandra Hunt has been secured for this position and Moore reported that she has fresh ideas for the department.
Director Singer brought a request from the goat department to add open show classes, which was approved. He also moved to alter the fair schedule by moving the Tuesday night tractor pulls to Monday night, which would in turn require moving the band concert to earlier in the day. Discussion followed concerning the effect this would have on the band concert, and the board ultimately voted in favor of the change in a 7–4 vote.
Director Jayden Hicks reported that after last meeting’s guest concerns involving the racehorse barns, he met with the horsemen and had a positive discussion.
Hicks explained, “We had a great meeting with the Darke County Harness Horsemen last Sunday. We, as a board, have a good relationship with the Harness Horsemen. It’s hard because we have people who come and speak on behalf of their committee and do not represent them. And like I said before, we have a good relationship with them.”
President Werner announced that the gazebo entertainment for the fair is booked and the schedule is full. She informed the board that
Cook and Bell have been approved by Dylan Scott as an opener. The board voted to also approve this act.
Werner brought a request from the poultry department for approval to install fans for ventilation. The department has done the research, discussed the project with Bender Electric, and would like to move forward. They also asked if the board would contribute to the installation cost. The board discussed the request and ultimately approved the project, agreeing to contribute $1,000 toward the installation cost.
In old business, the board voted to approve the list of department secretaries. The board also discussed purchases needed to complete this phase of the Community Center. Director Hicks explained that there were plans to purchase another 100 chairs, along with carts, to round out what was originally planned by the late Director Christoph Keller. The board approved the purchase of up to $3,500 for an additional 100 chairs and two carts. After the discussion and vote, Director Hicks told those in attendance that this would have brought a smile to the late Keller.
Hicks is also continuing work on possible updates and changes for Gates 3 and 7 and hopes to have options ready for the board to consider at the next meeting. He noted that he is working on several possibilities to present, but that any changes should be a full board decision.
In a new business, a discussion was held regarding the need for consistency in how the board pays judges. Due to the complicated nature of the issue, the board agreed to address it in a separate work session. The contract with Bender Electrical was presented and accepted. Director May also presented several Community Center projects she is working on, including pricing electronics and kitchen upgrades.
The board entered executive session and, at the conclusion of that session, adjourned the meeting with no further discussion.
