WAPAKONETA —Auglaize County Fair Director Fred Piehl is knocking on wood that the weather will continue to cooperate all week long for the fair.
Sunday “was about the best weather we have had in four years for a day at the fair,” Piehl said. “If the weather stays in the 80s during the day and the 60s toward the evening, we will have a great turnout.”
Piehl said they were hoping to surpass the 60,000 mark in fair attendance this year,and that number could be hit if Monday is any indicator. Large crowds turned out in the grandstand for the king and queen coronation and child’s tractor pull.
Jonathan Vogel, of St. Marys, and Amanda Lemkuhl, of Minster, were crowned fair king and queen during the coronation ceremony.
Vogel said his family has had several other fair kings and he was more than happy to carry on the family tradition. Vogel will be a freshman engineering student at Ohio State int he fall.
“I have had a brother and a cousin get selected as fair king so I am happy to continue that,” Vogel said. “I am really happy about it and it feels good that the judges selected me.”
Vogel is the son of Don and Dorine Vogel.
Lemkuhl said she was excited about her selection.
“It is such an honor,” Lemkuhl said. “I am hoping I can do a lot for 4-H as queen. I am really excited.”
The child’s tractor pull turned out more than 80 participants from ages 3-10 and legions of fans, mostly moms, dads and grandparents cheering the on. Four-year-old Henry Bensman was more than ready for the competition. He wasn’t quite ready to predict a win but he said he was going to try his best.
“I did it before and I won a trophy,” Henry said. “I am hoping I can win another one.”
Local band Shelby County Line also performed in the grandstand and the gospel tent was packed to capacity. Piehl said vendors also seemed to be doing well.
“You can tell if the vendors are doing well by the amount of trash we have,” Piehl said. “We had a lot of trash, and the vendors seem very happy.”
The fair continues through Saturday.
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