By Bob Strohm
bstrohm@wbcowqel.com
Motorcycle racing won’t be making its appearance at the Crawford County Fairgrounds for a third consecutive year after the Fair Board approved to not hold the races.
Secretary Rebecca Starner said in her report that Steve Nace had offered a June 11 date for the motorcycle racing event. Discussion centered on the fact that weekend in June is very busy with local special events including Relay for Life, the Dutchtown Hatchery Festival and Bucyrus car show. Due to last year’s reduction in numbers from the competition of those events the Fair Board unanimously voted to skip motorcycle races for the year.
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Judges for the 2016 fair will be getting a pay increase. After voting on paying judges $250 for the upcoming fair at the December meeting, a motion was put on the table to rescind the pay scale in order to draw in better judges for the shows. The motion to rescind the pay passed with a 14-3 vote. A motion to pay judges $350 with no mileage was then approved 16-1.
The Fair Board approved the Livestock Committee’s request that the Sale of Champions begin at 9 a.m. on the final Saturday of the fair prior to the regular sale starting. The Fair Board also approved to not make thank you notes to the judges mandatory, however they are still encouraged. The Fair Board also approved the 2016 budget for the Livestock Committee.
President Blaine Rowlinson explained in his report to the Fair Board that Wambold’s animal attraction will not be returning to the Crawford County Fair for 2016 after it was announced at the Ohio Fair Manager’s Convention that the trainer had broken his back. As a result the fair will be bringing in Circus Incredible to take the location where Wambold would have set up.
The Fair Board also booked an illusionist to perform at the stage in the park during the fair. From Tuesday through Saturday Extreme Illusions and Escapes will be performing. On Sunday the Eric Sawyer Band will perform.
The Fair Board approved 4-H club Liberty Leaders hosting a 5K Race on the Sunday morning of the fair.
In Allison Cooper’s report to the Fair Board she unveiled the 4-H theme for the 2016 Crawford County Fair as “Grab the bull by the horns and lasso the fun at the Crawford County Fair.”
The next Fair Board meeting will take place at 7 p.m. Feb. 24 in the Youth Building.