GREENVILLE — After a week of heavy rain, long days and plenty of extra work, the Darke County Fair Board is ready to welcome visitors Friday morning for the opening of the 170th Great Darke County Fair.
Fair Board members have been putting in 14- to 16-hour days preparing the grounds, working around standing water, placing campers and completing the countless details needed before the gates open for the nine-day fair.
The celebration officially gets underway Friday with an 8 a.m. ribbon cutting.
“We’re as ready as we can be,” Fair Board member and secretary Heidi May said Thursday. “The water has held us back a little bit, but we’re getting through all that and getting everything done to the best of our abilities. We might have a couple hiccups along the way, but we are all working together as a team.”
May said fairgoers arriving Friday shouldn’t notice the behind-the-scenes challenges created by the wet weather.
“They’re not going to notice any of that,” May said. “Everything is going to be ready to go.”
The persistent rain created additional challenges throughout the fairgrounds, particularly with camper placement. Board members and volunteers have worked long hours to get campers situated while navigating wet areas.
May singled out several people who have stepped in to help with the effort.
“Dean Neff has been nonstop on the telehandler. He’s doing great,” May said. “Apolo Perez has helped with camping this year. He stepped up his game. Curtis Yount went out yesterday to help with camping also.”
May said the group has worked together to assist Fair Board President Marla Werner with getting campers situated on the south end of the grounds despite the wet conditions.
“The north end is shaping up really well,” May added. “All the livestock barns are set up. The kids are starting to move in today. That’s always exciting.”
Visitors will find plenty of familiar fair favorites this year, including pig races, a petting zoo, 4-H activities, food, grandstand entertainment and the numerous horse events held on the south end of the fairgrounds.
There also will be something new for some of the fair’s youngest visitors.
The Fair Board has transformed a 30-by-30-foot space into a kiddie playland designed for children ages 5 and younger.
May said the idea came from recognizing that some young children are too small for many of the midway rides but still need an opportunity to have fun and burn off some energy.
The area will include toys, a sandbox, a corn pit, bicycles, a basketball area, sand tables, bouncy balls, and other activities.
“We want to try it out this year and see how it goes,” May said. “Bring your kids, come sit down and let them get out of their strollers and stretch their legs for a little bit.”
Parents and guardians must remain with their children while the children use the play area.
Another addition is a dog show near the Community Center.
May encouraged visitors to explore the entire fairgrounds, including the livestock barns filled with 4-H exhibitors and the south end where horse pulls, miniature horse pulls, pony events and horse shows will take place.
“We would love for everybody to come out and enjoy our Great Darke County Fair,” May said. “We have exciting things going on. Lots of activities and food. Come and see all the 4-H kids, and don’t miss the grandstand events.”
After a rain-soaked week that demanded some extra hours and teamwork, May said the Fair Board remains focused on the moment everyone has been working toward.
“We’ll be ready,” she said. “Tomorrow by 8 a.m.”
