Fair board holds April meeting

The Hardin County Agricultural Society met Wednesday, April 2, 2025, for their April monthly board meeting. 15 Directors and 8 guests were present. 

Jake McFadden, Board President, called the meeting to order. 

Catherine Scharf, representing Hardin Leadership, spoke about a 4 question questionnaire that they would like everyone to fill out. It will be emailed to all directors and staff soon. 

Correspondence was read from Patti Casteel, Jason Jones, KCS Principal, Dina & Steve Eaton, Kenton Little League, and Steve Gossard, Veterans’ Service Commission. 

Last month’s minutes, the financial report, the Society’s 990 form for the IRS and paying the Society’s bills were all approved by the directors. 

Amanda Raines and Sherri Beale, JR Fair Board Advisors, stated their fundraiser during the consignment sale was not as good as in the past. They have interviewed 23 new members for a total of 40-45 members to their board this year. Jack McBride and Abe Decker moved to have fair committee meetings with them before each of the June board meetings from 6-7pm. Motion passed unanimously. Committee chairmen were told to invite all committee members to these joint meetings. Meetings will be on June 4th and June 25th – which is actually the July board meeting date moved up 1 week because of the holiday. 

The executive committee’s meeting minutes from 4/2/25 were approved. Items approved were to purchase a new truck with leftover money from the DoD grant and the society to match that amount – total being $28,000. Office employees will each receive a pay increase this year and Kolt Buchenroth’s revised contract. 

The board was presented with 2 plans for the location of the new building(s). Andrew Scharf and Dan Beale moved for the location to be on the East side of the fairgrounds. Motion passed unanimously. The next Development work session will be on Wednesday, April 16th at 7pm in the Fair Office. 

The ground committee’s meeting minutes from 4/2/25 were approved. Items approved were choosing a person to mow, accepting Land Tech’s proposal for spraying around buildings and paying to have the generator fixed in the Community Building. It was noted a grant for receiving a new generator for the Community Building needs researched. Randy and Steve have done some repairs to the 4-H horse barn. People who had winter storage at the fairgrounds were reminded their items need to be picked up on Saturday, April 12th. Jake McFaddentold directors a grant for water fountains has been received. 

Judi is waiting on a few new fair camping renters to pay for this year’s fair. 

 It was noted the Fair’s concert entertainer will be announced on Tuesday, April 22nd with tickets going on sale that Friday, April 25th. Harness racing contracts will be sent this month with a note about the time change from 7pm to 6pm. 

The Horse Committee meeting minutes were approved. The State of Ohio Dept. of Agriculture poultry proclamation for Hardin County was reviewed. There will be a poultry clinic on Saturday, April 19th at 10am in the Show Arena. No live birds will be there. It was noted the Vet contract needs to be updated and sent for 2025. The Dairy Beef Feeder Weigh in and tagging is scheduled for Saturday, May 17th from 8-10:30am. 

Concession/Vendor applications can now be filled out on the fair’s website. This year there will be a total changeover from vendors being in the Youth Ag. Center to the Machinery building. All Fine Arts will be located in the Youth Ag.Center. 

Fair sponsorships are currently being received. 

Jake McFadden gave an update on the Fair Foundation. The committee met last month and a new slate of officers will be formed this month. Judi gave a final report on the Consignment Sale. The sale this year was very successful. Directors agreed to move $20,000 from the Consignment Sale to the Capital Improvement Fund. 

Under old business: 

Final edits are being done on the 2025 fair premium book, with it going to print this month. Judges for the fair are needed with contracts going out soon. 

Under new business: 

Judi gave an update on rentals for April and May. Box seat letters were sent this week with money being due at the end of the month. Judi and Jake gave an update on the Spring District meeting they attended. Andrew Scharf and Jack McBride moved to go into Executive Session to discuss personnel. Motion passed unanimously. Session began at 8:24pm. Regular board meeting reconvened at 8:33pm. The next monthly fair board meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, May 7th at 7pm in the Fair Office.