The Richland County Fair opens to the public this Sunday, but the fairgrounds are already abuzz with activity and excitement. Preparing for an event as large as the fair is no small task. Countless volunteers donate thousands of hours, many of them working on fair activities all year long.
Dick Hagerman and Bob Hoover have been friends for more than 50 years, 45 of them as co-workers, but today they were volunteering by setting up a tent for the pony barn. Hagerman once worked for the fair, he did the electrical work on the grounds for 40 years; but now retired, he is happy to volunteer.
Hoover proudly shared that he volunteers 10 months of the year to build and plan for the Christmas Wonderland, which is held at the fairgrounds during the holiday season. “It’s a lot of work, but when you see the look on the kid’s faces it’s worth it,” he says.
Arden Fitch, a volunteer with the Olivesburg chapter of Ohio State Grange, was helping to set up a booth in the Youth Building. The grange is a family fraternity and the oldest agricultural organization in the country.
Their booth is an important tool to attract new members. Jean Taddie of North End Community Improvement Cooperative, NECIC, wanted to encourage folks to step off the midway and explore all the hidden gems the fair has to offer.
“People don’t know we’re here, but the Nature Park is a wonderful earth-friendly place.” It is surprising to find a neatly manicured garden nestled among horse barns and funnel cake trailers. The Nature Park has a building filled with exhibits from local naturalist organizations such as the Audubon Society, NECIC’s Community Garden Project, and the Health Department’s Creating Healthy Communities Program.
The 163rd Richland County fair runs from August 4-10 at the Richland County Fairgrounds located at 750 N. Home Rd. in Mansfield. Admission for adults is $5, children 12 and under are free. Membership tickets are $20, as are season tickets. Discount days for senior citizens and homemakers offer admission for $1.
Monday is Senior Citizen Day, Wednesday is Homemaker Day. Thursday is Armed Services Day and active military, as well as veterans are offered free admission that day only. Grandstand entertainment is offered daily with grandstand admission for $8.
For more information visit www.richlandcountyfair.com
