GREENVILLE – The Darke County Fairboard held a special meeting on June 17, 2026, at 7 p.m. All directors were in attendance except for Director Dean Neff. The short meeting focused on preparations for the upcoming fair as well as routine maintenance issues.
During the public comment portion of the meeting, a question was raised concerning the availability of free passes for couples who have been married for 50 or more years. The board informed those in attendance that the passes are still available. Qualifying couples must come to the fair office together and present their IDs to obtain their passes.
The board addressed the sinkhole problems near Gate Four. One sinkhole has been fixed; however, a new one is beginning to emerge and the drainage tile needs to be repaired. The board discussed solutions and ultimately asked Director May to gather additional information regarding the necessary repairs and obtain more estimates. The current estimate is more than $15,000, but the scope of the work included in the estimate remains unclear.
The Junior Fair reported that it recently held a workday to begin improvements to the restroom near the rabbit barn. Members stated they would like to power wash the building one more time and then it should be ready to paint.
Former Junior Fair King Waylon Keller sent a proposal requesting that the board consider granting lifetime passes to Junior Fair royalty. The board discussed this request and will consider it further at a future meeting.
Decisions were made concerning older machinery. The board voted to repair the Massey Ferguson tractor and voted to sell the Allis-Chalmers tractor. The board will determine the price of the Allis-Chalmers tractor at the next meeting.
Director Jayden Hicks reported that the website has been updated. The public should now be able to view updated events and access the current fair book.
Director May reported that the new office hire is in her second week and adjusting well to her new role. She also reminded board members to complete their fraud training and Sunshine Law training.
The Fairboard also shared the flyer for the upcoming “Fireworks, Food, and Fun” event, which will be held at the fairgrounds on July 5, 2026. Festivities begin at 4 p.m., with fireworks scheduled to start at dusk. Activities include food trucks, face painting, cow bingo, a bounce house, and more. Free parking will be available at Gate 6, and there is no charge for admission.
The board entered executive session and returned later to adjourn with no further business. The next regular meeting is scheduled for July 1, 2026 at 7 p.m.
