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Washington County unique with three fairs: What lies ahead?

By Brad Bauer, bbauer@mariettatimes.com
POSTED: August 22, 2009

Article Photos


It's about as taboo as talking about consolidating schools.

But for the past few years, a tight circle of county fair board members from across the state has been pondering the "what ifs" associated with merging fairs as a way to combat rising costs and stagnant attendance.

So far, the notion remains just talk and no fair in Ohio has folded or merged in more than 30 years, according to Theresa Call, an administrator with the Ohio Fair Managers Association.

"We've had seminars on this topic the past two years," Call said. "I think this is something that could be coming down the road for a lot of fairs. It is a really good possibility, not only for independent fairs and county fairs, but with county fairs (merging with) other county fairs."

Washington County, which boasts three agricultural fairs each year, is one of just six counties in the state with more than one fair, according to the fair managers association Web site.

The 50th annual Waterford Community Fair wrapped up last weekend; the Washington County Fair is set for Labor Day weekend; and the Barlow Fair will be held Sept. 24 to 27.

There's no official talk about combining the local fairs, and those associated with the events say they have no interest in doing so.

"There's no doubt merging would help us out, but it would kill your independent and community fairs," said Steve Tornes, president of Washington County Fair Board. "Any time this is ever mentioned, you might as well be saying bad words. No one wants the thought of it."

Washington County Fair joined the other local fairs this year in not hiring a major musical act. It was just another way the groups have fought to help cut costs in recent years.

"(With a merge), we might be able to go out and find bigger and better talent for our fair, but even with a top-notch band, we can't make our money back even if every seat in the grandstand is filled," Tornes said. "We don't have the capacity."

The backbone of nearly every county and local fair are the hundreds of 4-H projects on display, especially those involving market animals. The three local fairs each feature different animals.

Continued state funding cuts are threatening to close 4-H programs in several counties. Although Washington County's program has been reduced, it is surviving, local officials say. In some counties, levies have been required to keep the programs going.

Without the projects, it could lead some counties to merge fairs.

"That's a real concern and a more likely scenario," Tornes said. "There has been talk about counties joining - even tri-county fairs. But that's all just talk right now."

Tornes said he hasn't been approached by any of the surrounding counties concerning such a move.

That, too, could be a boost to the county fair, which has seen attendance dip from an average of 33,000 about 10 to 15 years ago to roughly 17,000 last year.

Marietta resident Jesse Nutter, 29, said she always loved attending the fair as a child. These days, she says, she "can take it or leave it."

"Unless they have something really big going on, I'm probably not going to go," she said. "It's just gotten so expensive."

Tornes and other local fair officials admit they have struggled with balancing entertainment and admission pricing.

Carolyn Allen, treasurer for the past 30 years at the Waterford Community Fair, said that just a few years ago the fair was on the verge of going under.

"Up until the last five or six years, things were really tight," she said. "We were practically living year to year. Since then we've been able to come out a little ahead."

Allen said a positive attitude among fair board members at Waterford kept the fair alive.

"There's always been good enthusiasm," she said.

In lieu of a top entertainer this year, the Waterford fair offered free rides for children on opening night. The fair posted record attendance, with more than 12,000 people passing though the gates over the weekend.

Allen said the three Washington County fairs are each unique and able to survive on their own.

"I don't think we compete or hurt one another," she said. "Ours is more of a family reunion and geared as such."

Bradley Payne, a board member at the Barlow Fair, said his community fair is also something of a homecoming.

"Our fair is by no means one of these big booming fairs with 100,000 in attendance," he said. "So I think we're less exposed to the cyclical economic downturn we're seeing. We're a small community- and somewhat county-based fair that doesn't really change a whole lot from year to year."

This year, the fair has added one more day to the schedule.

"We've had a lot of requests to extend the fair," Payne said. "It seems each year there is another group that wants to be a part of the fair, or that there's another event the community has requested."

Payne said he would be against merging the local fairs.

"It would destroy the character of our fairs," he said. "One fair would have to be highly commercialized, just because of the size. And I'm not sure anyone has the adequate facilities to take care of something that big."

Eric Barrett, with Ohio State University Extension, agreed with Payne. He said Washington County's 4-H program consistently produces around 600 animal projects - among the most in the state. He said it would be impractical to try to get all of those animals at one facility.

"It would make things a lot simpler for us," Barrett said. "But with three fairs, it gives us an opportunity to meet with everyone, recruit for our programs and have time to educate."

Member Comments
View Comments: | 1-25 |26-50 | Post a comment
Beetlejuice
08-24-09 6:55 AM
Who set Freddie off???

asknot
08-24-09 4:58 AM
Who have you had these talks with? Not me. I think someone misseda dose of their med's!

asknot
08-24-09 4:55 AM
Past the point of know return=freddie

asknot
08-24-09 4:05 AM
Einstein, I was making fun of your posts! And rest assured, pretty much every on here knows you don't know squat!So ride high on your narcissism.

asknot
08-24-09 3:16 AM
never took engineering! took a long nap this afternoon on my way back from bristol. and don't need to work till tomorrow night. i'm good. Ask your buddy in your head to tell you another made up story!

asknot
08-24-09 2:42 AM
weird, he's only 36! Try again

asknot
08-24-09 2:31 AM
I don;t know who you think i am, but I guarantee you don't know him longer than me. I met him when he moved here! Nice try whacko!

asknot
08-24-09 2:29 AM
wow, you are either nuts, mean, or childish. Good night "old timing/engineer/teacher/Dr./mentor/pastor/vet/mechanic/ etc.

asknot
08-24-09 2:19 AM
what in the world are you talking about? My son is none of your business, and he is here. I've worked at the same job for 6 years, with 1 other one in between, and not looked for another in awhile. And pretty sure you know nothing about what your claiming! I'll ask my boss, who's been my friend for over 20 years, why he's spilling his guts to a person who makes up names, personality's, life history etc. And I'll pop another water!

asknot
08-24-09 1:57 AM
First, huh? Second, what? Third, I have a job!

asknot
08-24-09 1:50 AM
I know where that's from, just shocked you picked out the least misspelled word, teach! Don't toke! Don't pop whatever pills you do. Don't drink that much. Every now and then I do, but few and far between.

asknot
08-24-09 1:45 AM
freddy, come on man! That post was a mock of your previous posts, exaggerated a bit. drop the toking thing. I don't smoke weed, i get randomly drug tested for work too often, and I have a son. How much I lost is none of your business. And I don't know your name!

asknot
08-24-09 1:39 AM
of all the words, you picked "reed"? sound it out big boy.

asknot
08-24-09 1:32 AM
Is that a threat? Or are you imagining fake conversations again?

asknot
08-24-09 1:31 AM
I was down around 60%, now about 35%!

asknot
08-24-09 1:28 AM
You win $5 Freddy!YEaHH id sux when peeple tipe alls mest up sos its heard to reed issnt it?

asknot
08-24-09 1:21 AM
OK Freddy, you got me. I mistyped a word. Want to count your mistypes and add them to your misspellings? $5 says i whiinn! there i floated ya a freeeebbbeee! 2

asknot
08-24-09 1:05 AM
Are you saying people with an appalachian education are dumb? And you thought you were hated before now!

asknot
08-24-09 1:02 AM
Freddie, it's your english! A copy and paste post from you. Also, who's Shakesphere? Come on brother, if you're going to throw insuklts about education, put a little time in! LOL! Thanks again for ruining what used to be good debates!

Finallap
08-23-09 9:31 PM
70 here

wildflower
08-23-09 8:39 PM
btw finallap 66 here and you

wildflower
08-23-09 8:37 PM
Freddy (lol) I said never btw as finallap asked did you graduate from Marietta high and what year. you are way to young for me lol.

Finallap
08-23-09 7:10 PM
Cornpone: Did you graduate from Marietta High,and if so what year

Beetlejuice
08-23-09 6:02 PM
quote: "....he seems to have a lot fearful"

What the ???????????????????

Beetlejuice
08-23-09 5:02 PM
Maybe freddie is really Lily-O-Valley. Has anyone noticed that you never see an Obama sticker on cars anymore?

Everyone happy with Change?

lol

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