Fair board members OK events

The Auglaize County Fair is taking shape with planned events -- with fair board members planning for a full fair for 2021.

Board members met Monday and approved adding tractor square dancing for Monday night of fair week and the Great Lake Timber show for Monday and Tuesday. Although the cost for the timber show was a bit steep at $5,000 for two days, board member Chris Spellmire suggested they “bite the bullet.”

Doenges said they were getting to the point where they didn’t have a whole lot of time left to decide what to schedule for fair week.

Also on the table for Monday night was the possibility of a tug-a-truck show or Buckeye Farm Antiques. Board member Mark Ruppert said the tug-atruck was good while it lasted, but didn’t feel it was popular. Although tractor square dancing was approved, Doenges was unclear about the logistics for that event.

“I am assuming they wouldn’t want to be on the track for that; I don’t know how that would work,” he said.

Board members discussed options on how to save costs on the print edition of the fair book. One idea was to move several pages of rules and constitution

items to their website.

“Can’t imagine anyone reads that constitution; I’ve never read it in 20 years,” Doenges said.

The Auglaize County Fair will move ahead with a virtual reverse raffle and drivethrough meal pick up at the fairgrounds on March 13. Tickets for the event have been sold out for several months.

Treasurer Dennis Dicke thanked board members for allowing him to update his laptop. He informed board members they filed taxes electronically and were in the process of an audit and passed out related paperwork for that audit.

Board President Steve Bushman also encouraged fair board members to seek sponsorships to help pay for the golf cart “taxi” service provided on the grounds during fair week.