Office Hours
Wednesday & Friday: 9AM - 4PM
Phone
419-675-2396
The Hardin County Agricultural Society met Wednesday, August 5th, 2026, for their August monthly board meeting. There were 14 directors present and 15 guests present. Jake McFadden, Board President, called the meeting to order. Joe Sherman, County Commissioner, stated open bids for an event center on the fairgrounds are set for August 6th at 1pm. Jennifer Ramge, Revitalize Kenton Board Member & Kenton Historic Courthouse Dist. Coordinator and Business Alliance Assistant, presented a proposal to the Fair Board about the Fairgrounds being a host to a newly formed coon dog trial competition. The event would be held inside the fenced in area of the fairgrounds to help keep it under control. She would like the fairgrounds to be the camping area and flea market with two other locations off site for the dog competitions and water competitions. All revenue would be donated to the Fairgrounds if an event can be held at the Fairgrounds. She would like volunteers from the whole county to be on a committee to help organize the event. The other issue with having the event at the Fairgrounds, is the lease that the Fairboard has with the Commissioners and that would need to be changed to have alcohol on the fairgrounds. Amanda Raines, OSU 4-H Agent, stated their office will officially move to their new location on Sept. 17th.
Amanda Raines and Sherri Beale, JR Fairboard Advisors, stated award/sponsorship money continues to come in and their next regular meeting is scheduled for Sunday, August 23rd. They also stated they have received a grant for plants that they are trying to figure out what to do with.
Groundbreaking for the first livestock complex will be set for a day in September. Construction for the building will be shortly after the fair and the next Development Work Session is set for Sept. 23rd.
Jack McBride, Executive Chairman, stated it has come to their attention about a JR Fair exhibitor that has had a recent medical condition and can’t be at the fair. That exhibitor wants another 4-H member to show his/her animal and sell it. Steve Harpster and Kirk Cameron moved to approve the Executive Committee’s recommendation of allowing this to happen. The board unanimously approved the decision. Directors agreed to pay JR Fairboard the PEP Insurance amount for contents in the JR Fair Board Office that were destroyed from the tornado. That amount came to $3,519.40. Jake McFadden, Board President, approved the judges for the 2026 Hardin County Fair. Discussion was discussed about a current off season camper and what he needs to be told. He will have until August 15th to pay for June, July and August.
Rob Wilson, Chairman of the Ground’s Committee, stated the fire extinguishers and kitchen hoods were inspected this week. One of those inspections was a 10 year inspection on the Grange Rest. Hood, $1,000 is needed to improve this hood to its working condition for an inspection. That work will be done before the fair. The Pork Producer’s Kitchen hood did not pass inspection and if it doesn’t get professionally cleaned before the fair, it can not be used. There will be a pre fire department inspection before the fair to help alleviate the real fire inspection during the fair. It was noted Silvercreek will be spraying the grounds on Sept. 2nd and livestock barns will be sprayed on Sept. 3rd. The gutter project is almost complete, from work needing done after the tornado. The perimeter fence that was approved to be upgraded last month has hit a snag with someone driving through the fence earlier this month. The horse arena fence has now been replaced and concrete has been poured for the announcer stand in the infield. The stand will be completed next week. A landscape project was completed around the caretaker’s house and new garage. Donations were received from Kirby Sand and Gravel for stone in the amount of $1320, Resource Mulch donated $750 of mulch and paid for the delivery of it ($250), Dylan Sheperd, SOS donated $500 worth of plants, Ron and Rhonda Pees donated $400 worth of plants, helped pay for stone delivery, lights, fertilizer, soil, manure and weed barrier plus labor work – totalling $1240, George and Penny Secor donated $1000 worth of plants and Rob and Lori Wilson spent countless hours with the project along with help from some JR. Fair Board members. Total cost for the project was $14,660 – all donated. A huge thanks goes out to Rob and Lori Wilson for organizing this project. The utility sheds have been placed in their spots for the fair and interior work has been completed by board member Kirk Cameron. Directors were reminded that fair work day with the JR Fairboard members is Saturday, August 22nd starting at 8:30am and another fair work day will be Saturday, August 29th.
The Ohio Good Sam RV group had 85 campers camping last month and have signed their contract to come back next year. The East camping lot electric upgrade will start next week. Fair campers can pick up their hang tags and wristbands for the fair in the fair office during business hours.
Tickets for the Saturday night’s fair concert with Aaron Tippin with Chris Cagle as the opener, are on sale by going to the Fair’s website. Directors agreed to pay $2,345 for concert cancellation Insurance for the Concert, which covers $80,000. The contract for Pony rides has been signed. Cheerleading competition judges are needed. Day passes for those performing at the gazebo has gotten very high for some groups. Directors decided to ask groups performing with a large number of kids to provide the Fair Secretary with a list of children with their ages, to make sure the correct amount of day passes are given. Only those performing at the gazebo with ages 9 and up and who don’t already have a pass through 4-H, etc. need a day pass. The fairboard has received a verbal agreement for concert entertainment for next year. This may be announced during this year’s concert.
Rabbit Tattooing was last Saturday and 52 rabbit meat pens were registered. Poultry pullorum testing will be on August 18th from 9am-12pm in the Shelter House. Turkeys need to be tested at the Veterinary’s office. Livestock scales will be tested August 19th. Livestock exhibitors will have from August 30th to Sept. 5th to fill out their DUNF papers on line. This is mandatory for livestock exhibitors.
Applications for vendors & concessions are still available on the fair’s website and many have started to turn them in.
2026 Hardin County Fair Books are available on line and hard copies are available at the office.
Old Business:
Everyone was reminded the Fair Office is now open Monday – Friday from 9am-5pm through August. Open Class entries can be made on line or by coming in to the Fair Office to have assistance with making them until Friday, August 28th. The Prince and Princess Contest with selling their 50/50 tickets is going on until the end of this week. And if anyone in the public wants to purchase a 50/50 ticket, they can do so in the Fair Office until August 15th. JR Fair exhibitors should be receiving their Youth/Season Pass from their advisor soon. The Emergency Management Meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, August 19th at 6pm in the Grange Restaurant. Fraud Training is still needing to be done by several board members.
New Business:
A report for fair grounds rentals for August and September were read. Just a reminder season tickets go up in price starting Friday, Sept. 4th to $35 a ticket (a $5 increase). Box seat holders can pick up their tickets now and vendors/concession’s can pick up their ticket packets now, too. The Hardin County Ag. Society has been awarded $750,000 for capital projects related to agricultural societies from Senate Bill 450. The next monthly fair board meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, September 2nd, 2026 at 7pm in the Community Building.