By Bob Strohm
bstrohm@wbcowqel.com
The Crawford County Senior Fair Board had to switch venues for its monthly meeting Wednesday night in order to give everyone a seat. The meeting was move from the Senior Fair Board Office to the Youth Building.
The board heard both sides of the issue from the public regarding moving the 2015 fair to June. More people in the audience seemed to favor the fair staying put in July. The board didn’t vote on the matter wanting more time to weigh its options.
Fair Board Secretary Tom Laughbaum explained the timeline for a decision.
“We will decide before this year’s fair,” Laugbaum said. “So that people at the fair this year know what is going to happen next year.”
Junior Fair Board member Jacob Kocher addressed the Senior Fair Board.
“For show hogs and other live events we get hogs in April, and if we were to get them earlier we could run into a problem with the cold,” Kocher said. “I graduate the first week of June and most of my work gets done the first two to three weeks when school lets out.”
Carl Copeland addressed the Fair Board about the heat being bad on the animals but also said the cold could be worse.
“If you move the fair date to June, you are moving the date of birthing for animals to the middle of winter,” Copleand said. ”And if we have a winter like this past year it could be catastrophic.”
Kathy Weber was for the fair moving to June and explained her reasoning.
“A weakness is competing with venues in July. The Putnam County Fair, which is held in June, does very well,” Weber said. “Sometimes changes are necessary.”
More information was given about the Steve Nace All-Star National Flat Track Racing event being held on May 17. Practice for the event will begin at 4 p.m. with the race starting at 7 p.m. A beer garden will also be on grounds for the event. Prices for the event were discussed, with Steve Nace Racing. It was suggested the event charge $15 per person while kids 10 and under would be free. However no decision was made on pricing.
During the secretary’s report it was announced the concessionaire G. & J. Concessions wouldn’t be able to make it the opening day of the fair, but requested to still be able to hold their position outside of the grandstand. The Fair Board approved giving them a spot, albeit on the perimeter instead of by the grandstand.
The next Crawford County Senior Fair Board meeting will be held at 8 p.m. on April 30 at the Senior Fair Board Office.