ATTENTION ---Fair Kings & Queens!

For those of you who are fair kings and queens this year for the Ohio fairs, I sent you invitations to my fair (the last fair in Ohio!).

I mailed them to all of the Senior Fair Boards, they should be passing the letter along to you. But if you have not already received it, please contact your senior fair board or email me at ohiofairsqueen10@gmail.com for more information.

Please include your name, title, and what county you are from. RSVP by Friday, October 1st!

Thanks!
~Heather

My Apologies

I would like to extend my apologies to everyone for not keeping my blog entirely up-to-date. Due to my extensive traveling to the wonderful fairs of Ohio and dedication to my school-work, I have fallen behind in my blog. I PROMISE to update it as often as I possibly can, and I will not quit my blog until it is finished.

Thank you for understanding!

~Heather

Ross County Fair

Visited: August 10 My 40th fair visit!

Athens County Fair

Visited: August 10

Scioto County Fair

Visited: August 10

Hartford Independent Fair

Visited: August 7 & August 12

Auglaize County Fair

Visited: August 5

Wood County Fair

Visited: August 5

Medina County Fair

Visited: August 4

Columbiana County Fair

Visited: August 4

Preble County Fair

Visited: August 3

During the OFMA convention in January, I met the 2009 Preble County Jr. Fair Queen, Brandi. We talked throughout the convention and afterwards stayed in contact. Brandi showed goats and hogs while she was in 4-H. Later in the summer, she invited me to visit her fair. When I arrived, Brandi showed me her fairgrounds and introduced me to many people, including the 2010 Preble County Jr. Fair Queen, Jade. She was showing her sheep. I was intrigued by the fact that, at Preble County, they showed their sheep on a giant piece of outdoor carpet in a barn, rather than mulch or sand. They said that it worked out really well for showing. I was also treated to dinner at a church booth on the fairgrounds by Duane, the fair manager. It was a fantastic home-cooked meal! I also viewed the grand champion display booth that was Dr. Seuss themed.

Greene County Fair

Visited: August 3

Past OFMA President, Keith Sheridan, greeted me cheerfully at the Greene County Fair. The Senior Fair Board was very kind to me, also. In addition, I met the fair's queen, Megan. Keith drove me in the golf cart from place to place throughout the fair. The center of the fair is beautiful; it is laid out in a circular fashion. There is a center where benches surround a garden and from there buildings are placed around the outer edges of the circle. Sadly, in 2000, a tornado ripped through the fair and demolished most of the buildings. The entire fair had to be rebuilt. Keith told me about a calf scramble that the fair hosts. It was started in 1981, and 16 exhibitors compete for 8 calves. Each exhibitor must write an essay to qualify for the event, and the winner has the chance to win a $5,000 scholarship!! I was introduced to the audience at the market goat show by Keith. We also visited the 4-H building where the table-setting contest was taking place.

Pike County Fair

Visited: August 3

The fair's motto this year was "Know it, Grow it, Show it". I really enjoyed, Kayla, the Pike County Fair Queen showing me around the fair. From the moment I met Kayla, I could tell that she "lives and breathes" 4-H. She dedicates lots of her time to the county 4-H activities. As we traveled through the fair, I got to see the wonderful new OSU Extension office that was recently built on the fairground. I was told that the most popular animal to show at the Pike County Fair is a hog. They have nearly 500 hogs shown at the fair! During the fair, there is also a "pie" scholarship awarded to a 4-H'er. Kayla said they host an annual car show at the fairgrounds as a fundraiser for the 4-H program. I would like to congratulate Kayla on being crowned her county's fair queen!

Galia County Fair

Visited: August 2

After showing my dog at the Ohio State Fair, I rushed off to the Galia County Fair down on the river. The fairgrounds had a beautiful setting, which I was told sits on 250 acres. I was ecstatic to meet up with Brittany, Miss Galia County 2009, at her fair. I had met Brittany at the OFMA convention in January. We clicked instantly and have developed a friendship since then. I was told by Brittany that the Galia County Fair is "junior fair" only. They do not have any "open class" entries. I was, also, told that they are the largest "only" junior fair. While I was there, I caught up with one of the other queens that I had met at the convention, Alaina. She was the 2009 Muskigum County Jr. Fair Queen. Together, the three of us watched the Little Mister and Little Miss contest, taking place on the main stage. There was over 60 kids participating! Afterwards, I had a delicious stromboli from my favorite stromboli stand, that I often saw at the fairs - The Italian Eatery. Alaina and I, then, watched as Brittany was on stage during the queen pageant. There were 13 contestants; the fair regarded these contestants as the "princesses". The princesses were dressed in formal gowns and each princess had to answer one random question on stage. In the end, five girls were named to the court. The new queen, Lindsay, was crowned at the end of the pageant. Lindsay was also voted Miss Congeniality by the other princesses.