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The chatterbox: County fair favorites |
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Friday, 01 August 2008 |
By MARY BARGDILL
Staff Writer
WAPAKONETA — Carnival rides, cotton candy, games and tractor pulls — a little bit of everything is available to entertain visitors to the 2008 Auglaize County Fair. With so much to offer, it is difficult to tell which events turn out to be the biggest crowd pleasers.
Exhibitions that attract just the right mix of spectators and competitors are the best, Auglaize County Fair Manager Fred Piehl said.
“Demo derbies — it packs the grandstands,” Piehl said, adding that tractor pulls are another favorite. “It’s gone over extremely well.”
Piehl said the Gospel Tent and circus has attracted growing crowds as well. Years ago, it was common for a circus to set up at a county fair. It is a tradition that was brought back to the Auglaize County Fair in recent years because of its popularity.
“It seats 1,000 people — that tent will be full every time,” Piehl said, adding that the circus and events in the grand stand and Gospel Tent are free.
“For the dollar value, there is nothing else you can have where the whole family can come to enjoy,” he said.
Of course, if it were not for the 4-H and FFA members who dutifully bring projects to the fair each year, there would be very little to see. Livestock shows, fine arts exhibits and crop judging help to round out activities for visitors to watch as well as participate in.
For Anessa Hesse of St. Marys, the highlight of the county fair is a combination of work and fun.
“”Seeing people I hadn’t seen in a while and showing animals,” Hesse said.
Piehl said that it was too early to know how many people visited the fair, attendance at the 2008 Auglaize County Fair has been good so far.
“It’s really been good,” Piehl said. “Right now we’re very satisfied, and we had nice weather.”
Piehl said that while it might seem strange, one of the best indicators of a busy fair week is the amount of trash that is left behind by visitors and vendors alike.
“When those dumpsters are overflowing I know we had a good day,” Piehl said.
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Last Updated ( Wednesday, 06 August 2008 )
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