Visitors to the 166th Morrow County Fair which begins Aug. 29, will find visible improvements made to the grounds during the past year.

Brandon Strain, president of the board, said the organization received a $50,000 Ohio Department (ODA) matching grant, which financed a new roof, new vents and new lighting in the show arena.

“We placed a new sidewalk leading to the junior fair building, and placed lights on the first stretch of the grandstand,” said Strain.

In addition, the goat barn has a new vented roof and concrete will be poured on the floor of the pavilion behind the small stage.

Parts of the outback camping area, at the rear of the grounds, will now have electricity available, said Strain.

A joint effort with the Cardington Rotary Club, the agricultural society board and the grant will help fund the placing of siding on the (race) horse barns inside Gate B, said Strain, serving his second year as president.

Strain said there will be more harness horse racing this year with the starting time on Monday being 6 pm and on Tuesday at 4:30 p.m.

A new attraction this year will be hypnotist on the small stage, a wood carver and COSI will set up in the Junior Fair building.

Karaoke will be offered Tuesday through Sunday at the Youth Building

“We are pleased that Gompf Monuments and Gompf Funeral Service is sponsoring all of the small stage entertainment, “ said Strain.

Other sponsors are Expolinc, First First Federal Bank of Ohio in Mount Gilead and Peacock Water – the Junior Fair Livestock Sale.

Cornerstone Cafe has the food contract for the dining hall.

The Dog Show will be held at the pavilion on Thursday where the Kids Pedal tractor pull will be held Sunday.

“We will have a Hall of Fame induction Tuesday night when a 200-year-old farm and its owners will be recognized at the Youth Building about 6:15 p.m.,” said Strain.

Special Days at the Fair will be Senior Citizens Day on Aug. 30, when all persons age 62 and above will be admitted free from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Veterans Day on Sunday, September 4, when veterans with proper military ID will be admitted free from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Sponsors of the Day this year include Morrow County Commissioners, Discount Drug Mart, Blackstone Insurance Agency, Inc, Ramco Rental, Inc. Touchstone Energy Day by Consolidated Electric Cooperative, Burkhart Farm Center, Incl, Poet Bio Fuel Refining and Cardington Yutaka, Inc.

There will be grandstand attractions every night.

Passes can be purchased at the fair office and they are $25 for a season pass; $15 for a youth ticket and daily gate admission is $6 for those over six years old. There are pit passes for the infield (Gate B $6; and the same gate on Monday, Sept. 7, is $10. Children under six, parking andgrandstand are free.

Midway rides are not included with any pass or daily admission. They may be purchased from Otterbacher Amusements at the midway. Membership certificates are $3 and allow the holder to vote in the annual director’s election in November.

Entry to the fairgrounds can be made at Gate B for the pit area on the day of the event only or for handicapped parking All others must use Gate C or the Back Gate D.

Strain said he is very appreciative of the help and support he has received from board members and those who work in the fair office. On their behalf he invites all to come and enjoy the variety of shows and programs offered at the Morrow County Fair which runs through Labor Day.

Angela Dendinger | The Sentinel Brandon Strain, president of the Morrow County Fair Board stands in front of the newly vented goat barn roof on the Morrow County Fair grounds. This is just one of several improvements made on the grounds this past year.
http://aimmedianetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/29/2016/08/web1_Brandon-Strain-goat-barn-in-background.jpgAngela Dendinger | The Sentinel Brandon Strain, president of the Morrow County Fair Board stands in front of the newly vented goat barn roof on the Morrow County Fair grounds. This is just one of several improvements made on the grounds this past year.

By Evelyn Long

The Sentinel

This year’s capitol improvements are made in addition to those made in 2015:

Four sets of aluminum bleachers purchased for the infield (used); one set of aluminum bleachers purchased for the horse arena (New); bleachers installed in the small animal arena (used); the Midway Food Stand had a new vent installed and a new roof top was installed on the harness racing barn and the speed office was cleaned and rehabbed for better use of the building The junior fair restrooms were upgraded as were the junior fair building restrooms this year.