GREENVILLE—The Darke County Agricultural Society Board of Directors met on Wednesday evening to discuss swine barn donations and the Jr. Fair. Nine board members were present, with President Greg Pearson and Jason Manning absent.
While taking comment from the public, the board heard from Tri-Village junior Regan Brewer regarding her donation to the construction of a new swine barn.
Brewer, Country Kids 4-H Club member, pledged half of her winning Grand Champion Market Hog sale to the construction of a new swine barn.
She presented the board with a check for $1,600 in December 2019.
“Since then, a lot has happened,” she said. “The fair board has a made a decision to go in a different direction with the funds pledged during that campaign. I don’t fully understand all of the decisions that were made, but I do understand that I gave money for a specific purpose and that it is no longer the plan to spend the money I earned toward a new swine barn.”
Brewer asked the board to refund her donation, so that she can put the $1,600 toward her college education.
Vice President Jim Zumbrink, who led the meeting in Pearson’s absence, said the board would like to consult with their legal counsel on next steps regarding the refund.
Director Brian Rismiller thanked Brewer for presenting to the board, and asked her to come back to their next meeting, where they will have more information for her.
“That was nicely put together,” Rismiller said. “Thank you for coming in, and presenting yourself the way you did. For her sake I’d like to see that on the agenda for the next meeting. If we need to do an agenda, I want to make sure we follow up with her.”
The board passed a motion to add Brewer to the next meeting’s agenda.
Next, the board heard the Jr. Fair Report from Jr. Fair President Jayden Hicks.
Hicks informed the board that the Heart of Darke Livestock show Facebook Page is now live.
See Heart of Darke Facebook Page here.
The Heart of Darke Livestock show will be an inclusive show on the Monday during the fair for kids of all abilities.
The show is often called Heart of the Champion show in other counties in the state, like Sandusky and Wyandot.
Hicks and GraceLynn Harter of the Jr. Fair Board have been working along side jr. fair boards from other Ohio Counties who have similar shows.
In addition, Hicks shared that while working recently at the Jr. Fair building with Treasurer Marla Werner, they both noticed the building was looking a bit worn.
They both presented to the board an idea for a mural contest to spruce up the side of the building.
“Me and Marla were at the greenhouse the other day, and we were discussing pressure washing the side of the Jr. Fair building,” Hicks said. “When that came up, we discussed a mural project. We would make the contest out to Darke County youth, they could submit a mural that was related to the fair, and we would set up some kind of criteria.”
A possible criteria discussed included artwork related to what makes up the Jr. Fair, such as Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, FFA, 4-H, We Are The Majority, and maybe even a special slogan.
Werner discussed having youth submit their artwork, then instead of painting it, having Wintrow Signs & Designs blow up the artwork and display it on the side of the building.
After a brief discussion, the board passed a motion to supply the paint for the side of the building, sponsor the contest and sponsor the canvas for the side of the building.
The Great Darke County Fair is Friday Aug. 18, 2023 to Saturday, Aug. 26. Due to its close timing, the board is starting two meetings a month. The next meeting is Wednesday, June 21, 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.
