The Hardin County Agricultural Society met Wednesday, March 3, 2021, for their March board meeting.  Fifteen directors and eight guests were present.

Corey Ledley, Board President, called the meeting to order.

Amanda Raines stated 4-H clubs can now meet in person, but they will probably need bigger spaces to hold their meetings – to make then socially distant.

A correspondence from Preston Brien was read, along with a land petition for a ditch repair needing to be done on the fairgrounds property. 

It was noted the 2^nd Paycheck Protection Program was approved and payment has been received.

Rob Wilson, Ground’s Committee Co-Chair stated he is working with a company about resolving the Hood Suppression System in the Hardin Northern Restaurant to bring it back into Code.  Indoor storage will be coming out on Saturday, April 10^th and reminder letters will be sent to those storing items inside.  The application for the Community Foundation Grant was sent.  It was noted the Health Dept. is requesting the fair board to come up with a contract for them using the grounds for their vaccine clinics.  The Community Building will be set up on Tuesday morning at 9am for the Consignment Sale.

It was noted 49 follow up calls had to be made for those not making the fair camping deadline.  There were 5 campers who didn’t respond by any form of communication and they will be losing their camping spot.  There are approximately 30 spots for new campers this year and those calls will be made this month after current campers, who wanted to move spots are called.

The topic of using FairVault for livestock exhibitors is being tabled for this year’s fair. 

Sherri Beale, Jr Fair Board Advisor, discussed their plans for using the Grange Restaurant for concessions during the Consignment Sale.  She also stated the Children’s Pedal Tractor Pull is being moved to Sunday of the Fair at 3pm in the Shelter House. 

Jake McFadden, Sponsorship Committee Chairman, stated sponsorship packets have started to be returned.  The committee would like to thank Michael Angelo’s Pizza for being a new sponsor this year.

The directors agreed to purchase a contract through Tech Soup at $175 a year.  The directors also agreed to go ahead and form a Fair App.  Ticket sales will be able to be purchased through this app, too.  Quest Federal Credit Union has agreed to pay for this sponsorship for 2 years.  A huge thanks to them!  Fair Book final edits are currently underway.

Paul Ralston, Gates/Admission’s Co-Chair, gave an update on using Ticket Spice for gate entry and all admissions during the fair.  Ticket prices will need to be adjusted to cover the fee of using the system.  Directors agreed to go ahead with the new system with Daily Fair Admission prices changing to $10 from $8 and Season Ticket Prices changing to $25 from $20.  A person will no longer be able to purchase a Season Ticket in the office or exchange their daily gate ticket for a season ticket during the week of the fair.  After 5pm on Friday, Sept. 3^rd at 5pm all Season Tickets will have to be purchased online.  If someone only has cash and has no access to a phone during the week of the fair, they will still be able to purchase their daily admission ticket with cash.  This new ticketing system will allow for a more accurate number in daily attendance at the fair.  Current Fair Campers will be grandfathered into this new system for their Season Tickets, since they have already paid for their Season Tickets.  It was noted gate worker contracts will be sent this month.

The board moved to increase all grandstand admission ticketing by $1 to incur the additional fee of using the new system. 

Paul Ralston gave his annual report for the Fair Foundation.  There were $4,734 in donations for the year 2020, with $3,730 coming from 88 Jr. Fair Exhibitors.  There was $16,749.58 made with a 14.46% rate.  Balance as of 12/31/2020 was $135,336.76.  Memorials were made in memory of Earl Thomas, Jim Dulin, Greg Herzog, Richard Barrett, JoAnn Erwin, Shane Kleman, Carol Wince, and Bill Oates.  And an honor was made for Jim & Marilyn Bidwell.  Donations can be made to Hardin Community Foundation – Fair Fund at P.O. Box 317, Kenton, Ohio, 43326.  Paul Ralston was appointed as another Fair Board Director representative to the Fair Foundation board. 

Under old business:

The Annual Consignment Sale will be Saturday, March 13^th, starting at 9am.  Items can be consigned on Wednesday, March 10^th from 4pm to dark, Thursday, March 11^th and Friday, March 12th from 8am to dark.  All clerking will be done in the Community Building, not the Fair Office for social distancing. 

Under new business:

The OFMA District 1 & 2 Spring Meeting will be held at the Wood County Fairgrounds in Bowling Green, on Saturday, March 17^th at 10am.  Judi needs know who wants to attend by Friday, March 12^th.  Judi noted box seat payments need to be received by the end of this month.  Judi is currently working on the IRS 990, which is due April 15^th, 2021. Fair judges will be due by the next board meeting.  The next Fair Board meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, April 7th at 7pm, in the Arts/Crafts Building. 

The Hardin County Agricultural Society met Wednesday, January 6, 2021, for their January board meeting.  Seventeen directors and eleven guests were present.

Corey Ledley, Board President, called the meeting to order.

Paul Ralston, representing the Hardin Community Fair Foundation, stated they need another fair board director to represent the board.  They would also like the fair board to submit a request for a project to be done this year.  The interest from their balance is what money will be used for the project.

Brad Murphy discussed the new committee assignments.  A motion was made to add a refundable deposit of $20 for the Shelter House.  All other rental rates will remain the same for the year 2021.  There has been interest from a renter, only wanting to rent the gazebo for a wedding.  After discussion, a motion was made to charge Gazebo use only at $25, if the gazebo is used with another building rented with it, the gazebo use would be free.  Unused grant money was discussed and Craig Stump moved to cut a check back to the grantor.  That motion never received a second motion.  The Fair Board moved to table the topic for further discussion.  Brad Murphy will talk to the grantor.  Names on box seats were discussed.  A motion was made to have Judi Cronley contact box seat owners who have personal names on them and suggest they change them to a family name.  Discussion was held about having box seat renters, sign contracts.  A contract will be reviewed at the next board meeting for approval.  A motion was made to nominate Doug and Susan Frederick as the 2021 Hardin County Fair Honorees.  It was noted a strategic planning meeting will be held with the executive meeting first.

Pete Fout, Ground’s Supervisor, stated the touch free fixtures for the restrooms have been installed.  Ideas for Community Foundation Grants were discussed and the ground’s committee will look into the projects further.  A ground’s meeting will be scheduled soon to discuss this further. 

It was noted that the fair camping letters will be sent at the end of this week by email, with only a few mailed to those who don’t use email.  Campers should start looking in their emails for those letters and rent for the 2021 Hardin County Fair will be due by Friday, February 12^th.

Steve Harpster gave a report on the flooring in the sheep barn.  The project is coming along well and donations for the project can be given.  It was noted there are still 3 livestock exhibitors who haven’t cased their sale checks.  They have until Jan. 13^th, 2021 to cash those checks.  Jack McBride, Livestock Sale Committee chairman, gave a report on their meeting held in December.  The committee moved to have this year’s fair a partial/terminal show.  There were many questions brought up and Jack will research them further and get back with the board.  It was noted buyers need to know their options as well.  A motion was made that all light and heavy weight animals weighed on Monday before the fair, will go back home.  It was noted only grand and Reserve Champion animals will be present at the sale on sale day.  No other animals will go through the sale, just the exhibitor will go through the sale.  Dale Cockerell, Beef Chairman, stated there were 31 Dairy and Beef steers that were weight last Saturday.  Jack McBride discussed the virtual call held with the State Veterinarian earlier this week.  There are no new rules for the year 2021.  There is a couple more virtual calls scheduled this month from the state, one dealing with livestock sales and ODA annual health forms. 

Sherri Beale, Jr. Fair Board Advisor, stated they will be purchasing a child size picnic table with grant money.

Jake McFadden, Sponsorship Committee Chairman, stated they will be having a meeting Jan. 13^th to discuss the sponsorship packet.

Kolt Buchenroth stated the 5 refurbished laptops were delivered and the Show Works program is being installed on them. 

Changes to sections of the fair book are due by Friday, Jan. 8^th.  A motion was made to have the Annual Consignment Sale on Saturday, March 13^th.  Discussion will be held with the health dept. on how the sale can be accomplished safely. 

Under old business:

Judi Cronley gave an update on the virtual district meeting held in December. 

Under new business: It was noted the OFMA Annual meeting is scheduled for this coming Saturday, with Jack McBride as our delegate on the call.  Roger Crowe, Hardin County Commissioner, stated he is on the fair committee for another year.  The next Fair Board meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, February 3rd at 7pm, with hopes of having the meeting in the Community Building.