Van Wert County Fair kicks off

VAN WERT - The 152nd Van Wert County Fair kicked off Wednesday and will continue through this week and into next, concluding Wednesday. It promises talented 4-H'ers, good food and positive changes.

The county fair has always been about children.

"That's what makes a fair," said Tom Osting, president of the Van Wert County Fair Board.

Jerry Helm, of Convoy, spent the afternoon watching the tractor pull and then visiting his grandchildren who show dairy feeders and goats. He said that as a retiree it was a great way to "enjoy the afternoon."

Brenda Leeth, of Middlepoint, was helping her sons, Nick, 13, and Austin, 10, weight in their dairy feeders. Animals must meet certain weight requirements in order to be eligible to win.

Leeth enjoys the fair because 4-H "teaches your kids responsibility because they've been taking care of the cows since May. And to see their excitement when they do well and it all pays off in the end."

Morgan Miller shows pigs and her horse and is on the Junior Fair Board and in the running for fair queen. She said her favorite part of 4-H is showing her animals.

"It's a lot of work and then getting to see friends that I haven't seen in a while," Miller said.

The start of the fair also had food venders readying lemon shakeups, funnel cakes and cotton candy. There were many fair food standbys but also food unique to each county fair supplied by local clubs and groups.

Judy Sampson and Gloris Ford have the Phi Beta Psi taco stand ready for customers. Like many unique food stands, Phi Beta Psi is at the fair to raise money for a cause; their cause happens to be cancer research and to help local cancer victims.

Ford helps because it gives her "good feelings just to give a little bit of yourself."

After 30 years in the same location at the fair the ladies see many return customers.

"We don't always know their names but we recognize their faces," Sampson said.

Countless hours of background work goes into making the fair a success for 4-H'ers and venders.

The people who work with the Van Wert County Fair Board spend at least six weeks, working eight hours every day, to get the fairgrounds ready for the fair.

Perhaps the biggest change is the lower prices at this year's fair.

"We've lowered the prices. You've got to do what you've go to do but you have to keep the gates open, too," Osting said.

For example, a wrist band is only $10 for access to rides all day.

Other improvements include a new 6-foot privacy fence in the camping area, more free entertainment, tractor and truck pulls and Christian comedian Mark Lowry.

The weather for the week hints at rain on Friday but brings sunny skies and reasonable heat for the rest of the week.

"The weather looks beautiful as far as temperatures are concerned. I never turn down a little shower - it cleans the streets and fields," Osting said.