Office Hours
Wednesday & Friday: 9AM - 4PM
Phone
419-675-2396
The Hardin County Agricultural Society met Wednesday, November 5, 2025, for their November monthly board meeting. Twelve directors and five guests were present.
Jake McFadden, Board President, called the meeting to order.
Letters of interest for vacant township positions were read from Justin Beale and Abby McElfresh.
Jack McBride and Steve Harpster moved to accept the recommendation from the executive committee to appoint Justin Beale to the Lynn Township Director position and Abby McElfresh to the Taylor Creek Township Director position. The motion passed unanimously. Judi Cronley then swore in Abby to the Hardin County Fair Board.
Tyler Overly and Jack McBride moved to accept the annual meeting minutes with one change. The motion passed unanimously. Tyler and Charlie McCullough moved to accept the minutes from the Re-organizational meeting. The motion passed unanimously.
Sherri Beale, JR Fair Board Advisor, stated interviews for the board will be taking place soon.
Jack McBride, Chairman of the Executive Committee, stated he will be setting a meeting date in November to discuss the 2026 budget for the Ag. Society. Contracts, rental rates, and committee members will also be discussed at this time. The board then voted on 2 new executive directors for the executive committee, as Charlie McCullough and Andrew Scharf are going off of their 2 year term. Grant Mizek and Rob Wilson were nominated to be on the executive committee for the next 2 years. They will join Jack McBride, Jake McFadden, Tyler Overly and Corey Ledley.
It was noted the development committee will have a work session on Wednesday, November 19th at 7pm in the Fair Office.
Rob Wilson, representing the Ground’s committee, stated they will be having a committee meeting before the next board meeting. Winter storage continues and runs through the 2nd Saturday in April for boats and trailers at $15 per linear foot plus sales. Tax. The building is full for campers. Vehicles are $30 per month and can be stored until August 31st at a minimum of $100. Judi stated inventory sheets have all been collected.
Charlie McCullough, camping chairman, stated they will be having a committee meeting this month to discuss rates.
Rob Wilson, Entertainment Chairman, stated he will be setting a committee meeting this month.
Jack McBride, Jr Fair Livestock Sale Chairman, stated Livestock Sale Premium Checks can still be picked up until Friday, November 21st and that they need to be cashed by Nov. 30111t,h e end of the Ag. Society’s Fiscal Year. There are only a few livestock exhibitors who haven’t picked up their checks. The JR Fair Livestock Sale Committee minutes were accepted by the board. It was noted that there will now be a minimum add on bid of $25, but exceptions will be made to businesses doing bulk bidding. Also new poultry pens are being purchased. Charlie McCullough and Steve Harpster moved to accept the goat committee minutes. Sheep and goat committee minutes were approved by the board. It was noted the June weigh in date for goats and sheep is being moved from a Saturday to Thursday, June 11th, 5-Spm. There are still 2 businesses who still need to pay their livestock sale payments and they are Heritage Cooperative and Kalmbach Feeds. Livestock committee chairman were reminded to have a meeting with their committees to discuss their fair book edits soon and minutes need to be turned in for the full board to approve.
Jake McFadden, sponsorship/advertising chairman, stated a meeting needs scheduled this month to go over their budget for the next year.
Rob Wilson gave an update on the fair reverse raffle, set for Saturday, February, 14th.
Under old business:
JR Fair and Open Class money can still be picked up in the secretary office during business hours on Wednesday and Fridays 9-4pm until November 21st. Everyone was reminded their fair book edits for 2026 are due by December 31st, 2025.
Under new business:
Judi went over the November and December rentals on the fairgrounds. Jake discussed the Public Entities Pool of Ohio walk through and their recommendations. Jami Dellifield discussed the Fair Board pay for the fair queen’s expenses before the convention and not after the convention, so they don’t have to come up with the money themselves. Judi will book the queen’s hotel room for January 14th and 15th and pay for their registration costs. The queen will turn in receipts for all other expenses. The next Fair Board meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, December 3rd at 7pm in the Fair Office.