Hardin County Agriculture Society Releases Minutes of July Board Meeting

The Hardin County Agricultural Society met Wednesday, July 8, 2026, for their July monthly board meeting.

There were 15 directors and 9 guests present. Jack McBride, Board Vice President, called the meeting to order.

Jacob Johnson from Drylane Construction stated the first livestock building will start to be built right after the ending of this year’s fair. Directors made the motion to move $35,000 of the Consignment Sale income to the capital improvement fund and increase the credit card limit from $15,000 to $25,000. Jr. Fairboard members stated they have received a grant for $750 for flower pots and received $900 from the Boots and Buckles 4-H club from their t-shirt sales. They stated thank you cards have been sent to those donors.

Jack read notes from absent Board President . On July 6th the first dirt was moved for the 1st Jake McFadden livestock building. Ag Land Drain Tile started installing a 30” culvert and new catch basin from the East end of the current sheep barn to the ditch in the East parking lot. This project will be built with the previously received money from former state representative Jon Cross, money generated from the Fair Reverse Raffles and other donated money. It was also noted that Ohio Senate President Rob McColley has secured $750,000 in the state budget for future fairground projects. Dennis Hinton will be setting 2 temporary poles on the South side of the Machinery Building to provide electricity for camping and vendors. He will also be building 110v. outlet panels for the tents and vendors. He will put conduit and wiring in both of the new utility sheds and the new harness racing announcers stand. He will also be installing electricity in the Caretaker’s new garage. JB Network will be onsite in the next couple of weeks to repair fiber and the PA system. He also noted there will be a Kiosk from Fairs.com in the Fair Office this year, for guests to make their orders that way. Directors made a motion to pay a WDC invoice for $11,290, which is for the bidding process expenses and civil engineering. It was noted that the next Development work session is scheduled for Wednesday, July 22nd.
Directors accepted Kolt Buchenroth’s letter of resignation and approved the special board meeting on 6/26/26.

Rob Wilson, Chairman of the Ground’s Committee, stated there doesn’t seem to be a water leak by the gazebo. Since the last board meeting, the county got all of the concrete and brick crushed. That crushed material has been moved to level out the old rabbit barn area and vacant machinery building area. Jerry McBride repaired the Goshen Barn that was damaged by the Tornado. Projects that are still to be finished are the garage doors for the new caretaker garage, landscape around that garage, gutters and downspouts, fence around horse arena, roof of the secretary/fair office and announcer stand in infield. Directors agreed to replace the fence at the main gate to 6’ high. This new fencing is to help alleviate the problem of people jumping the fence to get into the fair and directors agreed to use $5,000 to repair other fence issues. It was noted the new utility sheds will be delivered on July 13th. These sheds will house the JR Fair Board this year and the ribbons and trophies. It was noted a bracket is loose on the grandstand and a figure will be obtained to get that fixed by the next board meeting. Fire extinguishers and kitchen hoods will be inspected soon. The regular fair work day is scheduled for Saturday, August 22nd, starting at 8:30am (this is the work day with JR Fairboard) and an additional work day is scheduled for Saturday, August 29th.

Charlie McCullough, Camping Chairman, stated all camping sites for the fair have been paid. Ohio Good Sam RV group is camping this week. The electric upgrade to 2 rows in the East camping lot will be done in the next 3 weeks. It was noted fair campers can pick up their hang tags and wristbands for the fair starting Monday, August 3rd.

Tickets for the Saturday night’s fair concert with Aaron Tippin with Craig Cagle as the opener, are on sale by going to the Fair’s website. The contract for Pony Rides has been signed. Insurance for the Concert is still needed. Ads have been playing on the radio stations. A livestock judge for the 2026 fair is still needed for Dairy Beef Feeders. Directors agreed to not opt out of any of the livestock optional rules for this year’s fair. It was determined that dairy beef feeders and goats will have additional testing done for the fair this year. Rabbit Tattooing is scheduled for Saturday, August 1st starting at 9am. Steve Harpster said the sheep and goat weigh in on a Thursday evening went very well. All poultry, except turkeys will have a pullorum test done on August 18th from 9am-12pm. Turkeys need to be tested at the Veterinary’s office. Livestock scales will be tested in the beginning of August. It was noted all hogs have been tagged for this year’s fair. Applications for vendors & concessions are still available on the fair’s website and many have started to turn them in. Sponsorship applications are also available on the fair’s website and have been coming in. It was noted the 2026 Hardin County Fair Book is available on line and hard copies are available at the office. Directors agreed to fix 2 panels on the digital sign for $1580.

Under old business: Jake McFadden will be meeting with UNOH to finalize the details with them about manning the fair gates this year. Judges are still needed for Hay/Grains and antiques. 52 chairs have been purchased and received from the money received from the Hardin County Community Foundation. Under new Business: A report for fair grounds rentals for July and August were read. Boots and Buckles 4-H club donated $900 to the SR Fair Board from the t-shirt sales to help with tornado damages. The Alger First Methodist Church is currently holding a fundraiser for tornado damages and information about that can be obtained by looking at the fair’s website. It was noted vendors mostly are in single booths this year. At the end of the fair this year, everyone that has anything in the Machinery Building is being asked to take everything out, as that building is being totally torn down for a future building. The Fair office will start to be open Monday, August 3rd and be open Monday -Fridays from 9-5pm. Open class entries can start to be made on August 1st and can be made until Friday, August 28th. The JR Fair Prince and Princess contest ends this Wednesday, August 15th and 50/50 tickets will start to be sold on August 16th and sold through August 8th. The Emergency Management Meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, August 19th at 6pm. Jr Fair Exhibitors will have a season/youth pass, just like adults purchase through the fair’s website and in the office. They will receive their pass from their FFA Advisor, HS Art Teacher, FCCLA advisor and 4-H. Exhibitors will have a chance to save the ticket on their phone or print it off. If anyone wants a clear badge holder to put their ticket in, they can be obtained at the Fair Office for free.

The next monthly fair board meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, August 5th, 2026 at 7pm in the Arts/Crafts Building.

Minutes of meeting submitted