GREENVILLE—The Darke County Agricultural Society Board of Directors met Wednesday evening to discuss horse barn sponsors, a 50/50 raffle, and Jr Fairboard’s Stock the Trailer contest. All Board members were present.
The Fairboard heard from Tim Reck about sponsors for the horse barns. So far, Reck has received six sponsors. American Legion Post #140 paid $500 for a spot on barn 1. Gower and Son’s Painting paid $500 for a sign on barn 2. Jim Buchy, Wieland Jewelers, and Sharps Tavern each paid $250 for signs on barn 3. Chris Gilbert, Darke County Veterinary Services, paid 250 for a sign on barn 6. They are hoping to get more sponsors.
Tim Reck also discussed bringing the Darke County Shrine Club back for a 50/50 raffle during the harness racing like they had done last year.
“Last year, they (the Shrine Club) got heckled pretty bad when they were doing the grandstand,” Reck said. “I want to know if they are going to protect the Shriners from getting heckled and just let them collect their money for the tickets. Whoever the employees were out there was harassing the Shriners. I want to make sure that if we partner with them again, they are not going to get heckled like they did last year.”
The board assured that if they worked with the Darke County Shrine Club again for the 50/50 raffle that the Shrine Club members would be protected from harassment and heckling.
The board then heard from Jr Fairboard President Jayden Hicks about the Stock the Trailer Fight the Hunger contest. This is a part of Rural First and Farm Credit Mid-America and a way to give back to the community.
“What they do is each group that signs on with it as we did gets a $500 donation to advertise,” Hicks said. “People bring in cans of food, and they stock this trailer, and at the end of the fair, they weigh the amount of cans on the trailer, and we get it all donated. We take all that information back and give it to Farm Credit. First place in our region gets $5000, second gets $3000, and third gets $1000. It’s a statewide initiative.”
The trailer would be on the east side of the Youth Building. The Jr Fairboard is excited about this contest and hopes our fair will do well.
The fair board also made a motion, and all voted yes to have WTGR the Tiger as the official voice of the fair.
The Great Darke County Fair is from Friday, August 18, 2023, to Saturday, August 26. Due to its close timing, the board is starting two monthly meetings. The next meeting is Wednesday, August 2, at 7:30 p.m.
The Darke County Fair Board meets the first Wednesday of every month at 7:30 p.m. at 800 Sweitzer St., Greenville, Ohio, 45331, in the meeting room across from the fair office. For more information, contact the fair office at 937-548-5044.
