WAPAKONETA — The slogan for the Auglaize County Fair is “The Family Fair,” a description fair organizers take to heart.
“This really is a family fair,” Fair Vice President Larry Kill said. “There is something for everybody.”
The fair was officially opened Sunday at a ribbon-cutting ceremony, attended by various members of the fair board as well as the mayors of Wapakoneta and St. Marys and other local officials. Along with cutting the ribbon, attendees also dedicated two new engraved markers at the fairgrounds entrance, one of them featuring the fair’s logo.
“We’ve got these nice pillars out here,” board President Ed Doenges said. “It was a group effort between a lot of volunteers and the fair board to enhance it. The biggest donation came from the Kramer family, and we definitely appreciate it.”
While this year’s fair will be special for all fairgoers, with events such historical demonstrations, a cheerleading contest, harness racing and more, there is another special element to this year’s fair, with the fruit barn marking 100 years in existence.
“The barn has been used every year,” Kill said. “We have horticulture, canning and baked goods in there, and the building’s still in excellent shape. It is used for the fair as well as storage in the winter.”
The barn is not the oldest building on the grounds, but it is the oldest still in regular use.
“We hope it will be around for many more years,” Kill said.
Music lovers will also want to make their way to the fair this year, with scheduled performances from the Beer Barrel Boys, the Earthquakers and Midnight Special on tap, along with the T-102 Country Star Playoffs Finals taking place Wednesday.
Kill said that one of the biggest events of the fair may not necessarily be at the grandstands, but at the Gospel Tent, with noteworthy Southern gospel singer Guy Penrod set to perform Saturday.
“We’ve had people from Cleveland and Cincinnati calling us about that,” Kill said. “It will definitely be full.”
The fair will run through Saturday, with 60,000 expected to be in attendance.
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