GREENVILLE – The Darke County Fair Board gathered on September 3 at 7 p.m. to address community concerns, review policies, and discuss highlights from this year’s fair.
One of the first topics raised came from a community member questioning the fairness of the box seat policy. He noted that while some families have been able to pass seats down to children, he was not permitted to do the same for his daughter. Fair Board member Marla Werner acknowledged the concern, admitting the policy needs review.
“We have a lot of work to do,” she said, promising to look into the matter and thanking the community member for speaking up.
Another discussion centered around the legality of the proposed alcohol rule. While the measure did not pass, questions were raised about how it made it onto the ballot in the first place. Werner explained that although the Fair’s constitution includes a ban on alcohol, state law allows members—those who purchase nine-day passes—to petition for changes. She emphasized that the board had consulted legal counsel and state officials before moving forward.
The concerned community member argued, “It says never, which is forever,” and suggested the board seek another opinion.
Dean Neff clarified that, had it passed, alcohol would only have been served in the grandstands during specific hours, not across the fairgrounds. Board member Dave Singer added that approval would have been difficult, as three-quarters of members would need to vote in favor. Werner apologized but noted the board was legally required to honor the petition.
Jayden Hicks stressed the seriousness of the situation, saying, “I fear if we would have ignored it, 11 of us would’ve went to jail.”
The community member eventually thanked the board and concluded her comments.
In other business, Junior Fair Assistant Atlanta Moore presented participation numbers. This year’s fair drew 12,851 entries, including both open and Junior Fair exhibits, with participants representing seven states. Moore also reported that more than 60% of departments saw increased entries.
The board approved updates to storage contracts, requiring propane tanks to be removed before storage or, if removal is not possible, disconnected for safety.
Board members also discussed the success of the motorcycle races, calling them “so awesome” that they are considering expanding to a two-day national event during the fair or hosting a separate national race at another time of year.
The meeting closed with optimism about the fair’s growth and acknowledgment that some policies will require further review in the months ahead.
