GREENVILLE — The Great Darke County Fair closed Saturday night with a bang, completing nine successful days filled with youth exhibits, agricultural traditions, live entertainment, racing and community celebrations.
The closing-night schedule featured a miniature horse pull, an unusually large draft horse pull and the Smash It Demolition Derby. The draft horse event attracted 18 two-horse hitches — about double the number normally entered for the final-night pull.
The Smash It Demolition Derby filled the grandstand, infield seating and track area in front of the grandstand, providing a high-energy conclusion to the fair.
The successful run followed a challenging week of heavy rain leading up to opening day. Darke County Agricultural Society board members, employees and volunteers worked through the difficult conditions to have the fairgrounds ready and the attractions in place when the gates opened.
Four board members — Apollo Perez, Russ Skaggs, Marla Werner and Curtis Yount — worked their final Great Darke County Fair. Their last fair began with a Friday morning ribbon-cutting ceremony attended by a large crowd and numerous local and state dignitaries.
Country music artist Dylan Scott headlined the Sunday night concert, filling the grandstand and track seating. The performance received enthusiastic reviews from those attending.
Motorsports also proved popular throughout the week.
The Darke County Tractor Pullers Association presented 185 hooks during its Monday night pull before a large grandstand crowd. The National Tractor Pullers Association followed Tuesday night with 85 powerful runs.
Motorcycle racing drew another strong crowd to the grandstand on the second Friday night. The Smash It Demolition Derby then brought motorsports fans back for the fair’s packed closing-night event.
Harness racing remained a centerpiece of the fair with four successful days of racing. Featured events included the $30,000 John Robinson Pace, the $40,000 Jim Buchy Trot and the $40,000 Gene Riegle Memorial Open Pace.
The races honored individuals with strong connections to Darke County and its agricultural and harness-racing communities while attracting large crowds to the grandstand.
Wednesday’s Veterans Day activities brought military veterans from throughout the area to the fairgrounds. Darke County Veterans Services distributed 500 T-shirts to veterans, while local businesses and supporters provided 710 free meals.
The meal was organized by Eric Fee and Grace Fee Dearing of Tribute Funeral Homes with help from local sponsors and volunteers.
Children and families took center stage Thursday during the Family Fun Free Event, Touch-a-Truck, Giveaway, and Entertainment program. More than 100 bicycles were given away as part of the day’s activities.
Throughout the nine-day fair, FFA and 4-H members exhibited livestock and displayed projects representing months of preparation. Horse shows and other equine activities filled the south end of the fairgrounds for much of the week.
Those youth programs remain at the heart of the county fair experience. They give young people opportunities to develop responsibility, confidence, leadership and agricultural knowledge while sharing their work with the community.
From the opening ribbon-cutting to the final demolition derby, the fair offered something for nearly every age and interest. Concerts, harness racing, tractor pulls, motorcycle racing, horse events, veterans’ activities, and family entertainment complemented the livestock shows, exhibits, food stands, and midway attractions.
Most importantly, the fair demonstrated what can be accomplished through cooperation. Board members, employees, volunteers, exhibitors, sponsors, and community supporters overcame the rain and worked together to deliver another memorable Great Darke County Fair.
