|
|
|
|
Monday, 06 August 2007 |
Weather, events help make fair week successful
By KRISTIN REICHARDT
Staff Writer
Warm, clear and sunny skies and well-received new events combined with traditional elements to create a successful week for the 155th Auglaize County Fair, a fair official says.
“It went terrific,” Fair Manager Fred Piehl said Sunday during a telephone interview. “Everything went very smoothly.”
While temperatures rose into the high 90s during fair week, Piehl said a lack of humidity and cooler evenings in the beginning of the week helped keep attendance up.
Official attendance figures are unavailable until later in the week, but Piehl estimated a 20 percent increase for the first three days of fair. He said those figures are not comparable because the first three days of fair week in 2006 were the week’s worst days.
“I think for sure the weather was on our side,” Piehl said. “I do not remember the last year we were able to go through a whole week of the fair with no rain.”
The 2006 fair began with three days of temperatures in the 90s and mild humidity, which led to some stress and concern regarding keeping animals and people safe.
“This year, the first three days it was pretty warm, but it cooled down in the evenings,” Piehl said. “The humidity wasn’t too high. We had real nice crowds.”
Other advantages of this year’s fair included new events and features, including an air-conditioned lounge with big-screen TVs brought in by Budweiser, a new swine show arena, a truck pull, and a Kid’s Day sponsored by Minster-based Dannon Company.
“The biggest thing was the new show ring for the swine,” Piehl said.
The new ring, built over the site where the swine showmen showed in a tent previously, allowed for greater airflow through the arena and a greater capacity for people, both showing and observing.
“It used to be if you went into the sale (at the end of the week) if you weren’t the first person in you couldn’t get in,” Piehl said. “It was a major improvement. We had a lot of compliments on it.”
Other improvements made before fair included updating and adding electrical capabilities and replacing century old water lines, which Piehl said proved crucial to replace this year.
“If we hadn’t done the water and electrical, that would have been a challenge,” Piehl said. “We still have challenges, but they were nothing compared to if we hadn’t done the improvements.”
The growing community support, financially and in attendance and participation, also largely contributes to the fair’s success.
“I would say the fair is the biggest event in the county that brings a little bit of each community together,” Piehl said. “It’s a big team effort. It’s not just one person, it’s not just a handful of people.”
Piehl said he and other members of the fair board are encouraged by continued strong improvement in the Junior Fair by county 4-H clubs, FFA clubs and FCLA clubs.
“We base everything on the Junior Fair Board, no doubt about it,” Piehl said. “The kids are the fair.”
As the number of participants in the Junior Fair continues to grow, Piehl said that creates more small animal projects and more non-livestock projects.
Involvement in the Junior Fair remained consistent with past fairs, Ohio State University extension educator Beth Miller said on Saturday, with slight increases in livestock entries.
“Market hogs are always our biggest project, rabbits are a big area,” Miller said. “The horses saw probably the biggest increase.”
Approximately 15 new horses participated in the Junior Fair horse program this year, with approximately nine specific horse clubs and 4-Hers bringing horses from general livestock clubs, Miller said.
Approximately 1,500 participants competed in the Junior Fair, a combine total from the 4-H clubs, FFA clubs and FCLA clubs.
The new swine show ring was “great,” Miller said.
“I would say definitely the open air is a good thing compared to when we shoed in the pavilion,” Miller said. “I think any time we can make improvements to benefit the kids as far as the ease of showing and giving them the opportunity to show better, any time we can do that it’s a great thing.”
The youth and their animals also handled the heat well this year, Miller said.
“Anytime you’re in a different environment, the heat’s always a factor, but I think we work with the kids through the year on how to deal with those stresses and I think the kids did a great job overall in caring for their animals and dealing with those stresses,” Miller said.
With no problems or glaring areas that need improvement, Miller said Junior Fair Board members are always looking for fresh ideas and opportunities to improve the facilities and other aspects of the Junior Fair.
“Nothing’s every perfect, but I think for the most part things went very well,” Miller said. “Overall, it’s been an absolutely great fair.” |
|
Last Updated ( Tuesday, 07 August 2007 )
|
|
|
|
