DARKE COUNTY – Directors were in attendance except for Director Craig Bowman and the meeting was a recap of the 2024 Fair. Several reports are still being calculated and confirmed.
Laura Ahrens, Fair Manager, said “Preliminary reports show attendance sales were a little higher this year than last and the last Saturday showed attendance sales of $48,762”.
A final report will be provided In October.
The new Community Education Center building featuring the dog arena during the fair will have finished landscaping and pavement done in the Spring, and they are working on rental packages for the community based on the usage whether that be a wedding, a meeting, Birthday, reunion, etc.
A protest by Tricia Bishop regarding the lack of the judge’s comments on the canned goods was heard and voted 7 to 3 with a motion by Director Heidi May to return her premiums and her canned goods but the Fairboard stood behind the Judge’s decision and the placings. Kat Unger, Department Secretary, shared the rule that’s stated in the fair book.
The basement of the coliseum is looking for new coolers. They are very outdated. Director Christoph Keller made a good point that it is hard on refrigeration to only be used 2 weeks out of a year, and that research needs to be done because it’s hard on coolers, they are not meant to sit all year and then just be turned on during fair. After research is done the Board agreed to purchase 1 new cooler per year over the next 4 years.
Greg Peck asked to have the Mike tent Housed under the Grandstand for 3 years and he will make improvements to that area and now everyone will know the Mike tent is under the Grandstand. The board approved unanimously.
Rick Eldridge, the caretaker, was given a raise with a unanimous vote by the board.
The board agreed unanimously to fence in the Moose lot to help secure that area.
There have been some issues with some advisors regarding their conduct. The board agreed unanimously to have a rule added to the rules and regulations of our Fair that states: “Please be advised that any disrespectful behavior towards the board members will not be tolerated. We reserve the right to discipline and remove individuals from the event if such behavior occurs.”
People bringing their dogs to the fair outside of showing dogs continues to be an issue at the fair, this is something they will continue to work on.
Overall the board was pleased with the turnout and thanked everyone for attending The Great Darke County Fair 2024.
