Board holds June meeting

The Hardin County Agricultural Society met Wednesday, June 5, 2019, for their June board meeting.  Seventeen directors and ten guests were present.

Brad Murphy, Board Vice President, called the meeting to order.

Alesia Martin and Bob & Kelly Carder expressed their interest in hosting an Open Horse Show during the Saturday of the Hardin County Fair.  It would be in memory of Taylor Carder (Taylor’s Way).  The board moved to allow the horse show contingent upon receiving liability insurance and using a waiver. 

Mike Comstock was present to thank the board for their cooperation in allowing the fireworks to occur at the fairgrounds, along with having a 4th of July parade. 

Under correspondence a thank you was read from the OSU extension office in regards to allowing them to have their first beginner livestock boot camp in the show arena.  They had over 60 in attendance and all comments about the event have been positive.

The board approved the strategic plan for the fairgrounds, with the fair board reviewing it on a monthly basis. 

Kelly Buchenroth gave a report on what is happening with the grounds at the fairgrounds.  The grandstand has been power washed in preparation for it being painted.  It was noted when the spray painting occurs the secretary office will have to be closed, which should only be for a day.  A reassessment with the insurance group has started for every building on the fairgrounds.  A workday for the fairgrounds is set for Saturday, June 15th.

Judi Cronley showed the camping rules that have been attached to the offseason campsite agreement.  Craig Stump, Camping chairman, has started working on square footage for camping during the offseason.

Rob Wilson, chairman of the Entertainment Committee, stated ticket sales for Saturday night’s entertainment for the Hardin County Fair with Tyler Rich and Matt Stell go on sale this Friday, June 7th.  All ticket sales are done online at www.www.hardincountyfair.org and if you don’t have access to a computer, you can obtain your tickets during Secretary Office hours on Wednesday and Friday’s from 9am-4pm.  Tickets are $25 for the track, $20 for reserved and $15 for general admission and the concert starts at 7 pm.  The board agreed to have a 42” playback screen (video board) during the Thursday evening harness racing.  The board agreed to purchase cancellation insurance for the concert on Saturday night of the fair and to research having rain insurance, too.  Rain Insurance may also be purchased for Sunday of the fair, for the demo derby.   

Judi Cronley stated a beef judge for Wednesday of the fair is still needed, all other livestock judges have been acquired.  It was noted the sheep weigh-in is scheduled for this Saturday, June 8th from 8am-11am and the goat weigh-in is also scheduled for this Saturday from 10am-11am.  This year’s livestock from the fair will be slaughtered at Jenkin’s Meats, formally Mt. Victory Meats. 

Janie Seiler, chairman of the rides/concession/vendor committee stated there are booth spaced for the 2019 Hardin County Fair available, so if there are groups interested in a booth or ground space, submit an application of interest to the Hardin County Fairgrounds and those applications can be located at www.www.hardincountyfair.org.  Current renters for booth and vendor spots have until June 15th to pay for their spot.

Nancy Rickenbacher and Sherri Beale, advisors for the JR. Fair Board, stated their next meeting will be Monday, June 24th at 7 pm to meet the senior fair board directors.  This will also be a cookout.  The JR Fair board also received $600 from the Hardin County Community Foundation for the COSI exhibit during the Hardin County Fair.

Kolt Buchenroth, Fair Communications Director, talked about the fair yard signs and the board agreed to have 25 new signs made with the fair logo.  The board agreed to update the phone system at the fairgrounds to voice over IP.  The board also agreed to lease a copier from Perry Pro Tech.  The copier will also handle all of the printing from the 5 computers in the office along with faxing/scanning.  One board member opposed the lease option.  The board also agreed to purchase an IPad to be used in the show arena.  

Under old business:

Judi Cronley stated the fair premium book is available online at www.www.hardincountyfair.org and in the fair office.  Judges are still needed for dogs, decorative painting, HS Art, woodworking, photography and crafts for the 2019 fair.  It was announced that the Fairground was awarded $2500 from the Hardin County Community Foundation to help purchase a digital sign for the front of the fairgrounds. 

Under new business: It was announced fair t-shirts have been ordered with the fair logo on them.  The 2019 Commemorative Fair Signs of the Fair Premium Cover have been ordered from Scioto Sign.  New fair directors were reminded to order their shirts for the fair.  It was announced JR Fair entries for the fair can now be entered through the fair’s website at www.www.hardincountyfair.org.  All non-livestock and livestock projects have to be entered by Wednesday, July 31st to show at the fair.  The next board meeting will be Wednesday, July 3rd at 7:00 pm in the Fair Office.