Hardin County Ag Society Meeting Includes Accepting Check from Wyandot County Fair Board

Hardin County Fair Board President Jake McFadden, (left), accepts check from Wyandot County Fair Board President Nick Derr 

There were 15 directors and 12 guests

Jake McFadden, Board President, called the meeting to order.

Nick Derr, Board President of the Wyandot County Fair Board, along with 7 of their members presented the Hardin County Ag. Society with a check for $12,000. This money was recently raised at their Fair Reverse Raffle for the Hardin County Fairgrounds Tornado Support.

Joe Sherman, Hardin County Commissioner, stated the insurance adjuster said Hardin County should be the poster child for a natural disaster. Everything is being taken care of so well. Joe said it has been a collaboration with the whole county to make the situation better.

Thanks so far to Crates Excavating, Lester Miller Construction, T & R Construction, Still Water Metal, Denny Hinton and crew, Mid Ohio Energy, AEP, LandTech, Michael Guyton, Micah Burkholder with Sunlight Windows, Blaze King with King Plumbing & Heating and Don Hull Tree Service.

Correspondence was read from the Naus’, who donated money to feed the workers and all involved in the rebuilding efforts. A note from the Wood County Ag. Society, and a letter requesting donations for a Bike Safety Day being held at the Kenton Nursing & Rebab. Center on Saturday, May 30th from 10am to 12noon.

Judi Cronley, Board Treasurer, stated she was still in the process of moving accounts from one bank to another.

A BWC Audit was done in the last month, with no findings.

Sheri Beale, advisor from the Jr. Fairboard said the Jr. Fairboard is working on forming their committees. It was announced that Dailah Preston is the board’s President, Vice President is Gabe Trachsel, Secretary is Milee Seabrook, Treasurer is Treysen Eibling and Community Service Chairperson is Hailey Miesse. Their next Board Meeting is Wednesday, June 3rd at 5pm, followed by a joint meeting with SR. Fair board at 6pm.

Jake McFadden gave an update on the original building project of Barns. Two Buildings for barns will be going to bid this week. Both buildings will be built in the North area of the current barns. Board members agreed to purchase 2 utility sheds, one for the housing of ribbons and trophies and the other one for the JR Fair sale office. The size of the buildings will be 12×24 and one of the buildings will be an office for the JR Fair Board Members this year, since their office was totally destroyed. The cost for the buildings is $20,000 plus electric and countertops. These buildings will be ordered now. Jake also stated a drawing for the Machinery Building is being drawn up. Another damaged building with the tornado was the ground keeper’s garage. Insurance will pay for the current structure to be repaired at a cost almost at the price of building a totally new garage. Board members agreed to build a new garage at a price not to exceed $40,000. The building will be purchased from Stillwater Metal with T & R Construction building it. The garage will have 3 garage doors, which will be purchased from LandTech. Board members agreed to give Rotary and the Cattlemen the insurance money for their items damaged in the tornado. The special board meeting minutes from April 15th was approved.

Rob Wilson, Chairman of the Ground’s Committee, stated there is a new water leak by the gazebo that needs to be taken care of. Since the last board meeting, the roof was replaced on the Youth and Ag Center, hardware replaced for a door on the Arts/Crafts Building, a new roof and hot water heater replaced in the beef restroom, a new roof and 2 sides of the Cattlemen Restaurant was replaced, a door has been added to the Machinery Building that was affected by the tornado, the shop wall and garage door is currently being repaired. Fixing the fence around the horse arena and a new announcer’s stand for harness racing will be built soon. Damages for the grounds will go past what insurance pays, therefore a relief fund has been established, with many donations coming in. A huge donation was given from Invenergy for $10,000 and Ohio Harness Racing for $36,000.

Charlie McCullough, Camping Chairman, stated there are 5 new campers that still need to pay for their new camping sites. There are currently two sites still available for someone to camp in this year with water and electricity. Judi noted she has submitted the temporary camping permit to the Kenton Hardin Health Dept. for the Ohio Good Sam RV group to camp in July for a week. Work on updating two rows of electricity in the East Campground is still in the works for this year’s fair.

The only entertainment contract that needs to be signed is Studimo. Saturday night’s fair concert will be Aaron Tippin with Craig Cagle as the opener. Those tickets will be going on sale soon.

Livestock judges for the 2026 fair are still needed for Dairy, Beef Shows, and Dairy Beef Feeders. The fair veterinarian contract for the 2026 fair has been signed. The Dairy Beef Feeder weigh in and tagging is scheduled for Saturday, May 16th from 8-10:30am at the fairgrounds. Goat and Sheep weigh in and tagging is scheduled for Thursday, June 11th from 5-8pm – a new day and time of the week.

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 will be available on line this month with hard copies available sometime in June.

Under old business:

Jake McFadden is working on the contract with UNOH to man the gates of the 2026 fair. Judges are still needed for horses, dogs, Hay/Grains, all of Cultural and Culinary Arts and antiques. The board’s Cyber Security Plan was approved. A pastor for the opening ceremony of the 2026 fair has been secured. Judi is still waiting on payments for 4 box seats and they have been given a reminder to pay.

Under new Business:

Judi gave an update on fair grounds rentals for May and June. Information about a T-Shirt Fundraiser for Tornado Relief, being organized by the Boots and Buckles 4-H club was announced. T-Shirts can be purchased on the Fair’s website or by going to the Boots and Buckles Facebook Page. T-Shirts will be on sale until May 29th.

Shipping is available for an additional fee, but everyone is encouraged to just have their shirts delivered to the fairgrounds with you picking them up there. A pick up date and time for the shirts to be picked up at the fairgrounds will be announced closer to when the shirts are ready. Joe Sherman, Commissioner, asked permission from the board to decorate the gazebo on the grounds for the 250th celebration of the United States. He was given permission.

The next monthly fair board meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, June 3rd, 2026 at 7pm in the Community Building.