Fair board holds August meeting

The Hardin County Agricultural Society met Wednesday, August 6, 2025, for their August monthly board meeting. 19 Directors and 8 guests were present.

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

A thank you to the fair board members from the Clover Buds was read.

JR Fair Board has decided there is just not enough time to get the champion board sign done for this year’s fair.  They wrote thank you’s to people who are sponsors for ribbons, trophies, stall signs and monetary.  Their next meeting is scheduled for Sunday, August 17th from 6-8pm in the Community Building.

There will be a Development Committee Work Session on Wednesday, August 20th at 7pm in the Fair Office.

Rob Wilson, Ground’s committee chairman, gave the Ground’s Committee report. The new gazebo has been started.  Fire extinguishers and kitchen hoods have been checked.  The Community Building’s air conditioning unit fan motors needed to be fixed.  New mulch has been laid in the show arena.  The Arts/Crafts and Beef Restrooms are having new floors done.  The lawn mower needed to get fixed.  4 new bleacher sets have been purchased and have arrived.  Tents for the fair go up on August 28th.  The grounds are being sprayed on Wednesday, August 27th and the barns are being sprayed on Thursday, August 28th.  Set up day for the Arts/Crafts Building will be next Wednesday, August 13th after the Emergency Management Meeting.  The next scheduled work day is next Saturday, August 16th – starting at 8:30am.  The fair board directors agreed to purchase 3 – 40 foot storage containers from Conex for $6300.  The new cattle, goat, sheep and swine gates will be stored in them.  

It was noted Judi is waiting on one new fair camper to be paid.  The new camping area is almost complete and the signs for the new camp site numbering system will be placed soon.  Race Track Director camping can now be hooked up to sewage directly.  Fair Campers can now pick up their wristbands and hangtags during Fair office hours. 

Tickets for the Diamond Rio and Confederate Railroad Fair Concert continue to be available for purchase by going to the fair’s website at www.hardincountyfair.org.  Tickets are $25 for general admission and $35 for the party pit section. The cheerleading competition back up site has been secured with Kenton High School.  There are currently 25 groups signed up for the cheerleading competition. 

Judi noted there are copies of individual sections of species from the fair book available for pick up in the secretary office.  Otherwise you are to read your section online.  Rabbit tattooing was last Saturday and one rabbit exhibitor did not show up.  There will be 41 rabbit pens.  Amanda Raines stated livestock exhibitors will have a whole week to fill out their DUNF forms on line.  August 23rd – August 30th.  Amanda and Judi will check the forms for mistakes on Sunday, August 31st.  If changes need to be made to the forms, exhibitors will make them on Monday, Sept. 1st during weigh-ins.  Jack McBride stated the weigh scales have been checked and certified.  Kolt Buchenroth stated he is sending all livestock exhibitors from last year, the information on who purchased their animals – for thank you’s to be made. 

It was noted only digital sponsorships are now being accepted.

Kolt Buchenroth stated that the ground’s PA system is ready for the fair.  Under the new State Budget Bill, there is now a statement that auditors will be looking for during their audits.  That being each society has to have a cyber security system in place.  Fair Board Directors agreed to hire a local photographer for the 2025 Hardin County Fair.  Photographers need to submit a proposal if they are interested in being the photographer.  Those are being accepted through the fair’s website.  Kolt also stated each exhibitor for the 2025 fair received an email with the entries they made and the exhibitors were asked to to check them over and send any changes to the Help Desk by midnight on August 8th. 

There are still copies of the 2025 open class Hardin County Fair Book available in the office.  The full version, including JR Fair, is available on the fair’s website.

Under old business:

Fairboard directors accepted the transfer of the ground’s generator from the Health Dept. to the Ag. Society. It was noted Judi can still not update the digital sign.  The Emergency management meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, August 13th at 6pm in the Grange Restaurant.  The Prince and Princess Contest ends this Friday, August 8th.  Open Class entries started August 1st and run until Friday, August 22nd.  The audit for 2023 and 2024 has been completed with no findings. 

Under new business:

Judi gave a report on August and September rentals at the fairgrounds. It was noted the Fair Office is now open Monday – Friday from 9am-5pm until the fair.   Directors agreed to pay emergency services $200 for an all day event and a grandstand event for the 2025 fair.  Judi will be sending contracts to the 3 ambulance districts who signed up to work at the 2025 fair.  It was noted Season tickets can be purchased for $30 until Thursday, August 28th and after that date, the price increases to $35.  The next monthly fair board meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, August 27th at 7pm in the Community Building (which is one earlier d/t the fair).