153rd Jefferson County Fair bringing positive changes (2024)

KING AND QUEEN — Candidates for the title of 2024 Jefferson County Fair king and queen include, from left, seated, Bayleigh Gump, Lindsey Best, Caleb Miller, Carly Long and Alayna Starr; and standing, Rachel Jarman, Aubrey Duggan, Hannah Randolph and Natalie Lucas. Madison Zeroski also is a candidate.-- Contributed

SMITHFIELD — Sporting the theme “Change is Good,” the 153rd Jefferson County Fair will bring a handful of positive changes, offering a bit of something for everyone, according to fair Chairman Roy Hildebrand.

“Everything’s got to change to stay new,” Hildebrand said, noting the theme’s origin with the Ohio Fair Manager Association’s recent convention.

Located at 1505 Friendship Park Road, the 2024 fair will kick off with opening ceremonies at the Rosza Pavilion Monday at 5 p.m., during which the gates will be open and admission will be free, though rides and most food vendors will not be in operation.

The fair will be in full swing Tuesday through Sunday, with gates opening each day at 8 a.m. and closing at 10 p.m. Rides will open each day at 2 p.m.

Returning will be the fair’s midway, lined with food vendors, amusem*nt rides and games.

PRINCE AND PRINCESS — Candidates for the title of 2024 Jefferson County Fair prince and princess include, from left, seated, Connor Best, Robert Smith, Noah Graham and John Wilson; and standing, Madison Krzys, Kaitlynn Poole, Gabriella Boyuk, CharLaya Trimiar, Avaya Mitchell, Amelia Ault, Leila Sudvary, Regan Wilson, Johanna George, Quinn Handzus and Skylar Hendrix. Grace Miller and Delia Wetherell also are candidates. -- Contributed

For entertainment, the fair will offer some classics and new additions, including a cheer competition and off-road dirt track races Tuesday, a four-wheeler bump ‘n’ run autocross Wednesday, a bull riding and barrel racing rodeo Thursday, truck and tractor pulls Friday and Saturday and a demolition derby Sunday.

A number of performances will occur several times each day during the day, including Team Zoom trained dog show, Funny Balloon Guy and Mr. Puppet. There will be laser tag daily, and Thursday through Saturday will have an equipment rodeo, where individuals have the chance to operate heavy farm equipment and win prizes.

Other notable events include the baked goods auction Tuesday at 3 p.m. and the livestock sale Saturday at noon, according to fair Treasurer Debbie Hukill.

Added this year was a newly poured concrete pad, where the cheer competition will take place, Hildebrand said. The fair will also have two newly designated days, specifically meant to welcome individuals who wouldn’t normally be able to take part in the fair, he said.

On Aug. 10, Edison Local School District student Mimi Ault and the Special Olympics are collaborating to bring individuals with disabilities to the fair’s show ring, where they’ll get to show a lamb, a hog or rabbits free of charge.

On Wednesday, the fair will be open for free to children and adults who are clients of the Ohio Department of Developmental Disabilities. Hildebrand said he expects as many as 75 individuals to attend through that offering.

“We’re happy to have them,” Hildebrand said. “Everybody in the county ought to have the opportunity to come to the fair.”

Admission is $15, which grants access to all the rides and any evening entertainment. Anyone under 2 or over 70 is allowed in for free any day, individuals with a Golden Buckeye Card through the Ohio Department of Aging get in for free Tuesday and veterans get in for free Saturday.

The fair wouldn’t be complete without the Junior Fair, which includes exhibits from Future Farmers of America, Scouts, independent exhibitors and 4-H.

Angie Allison, 4-H educator for the Ohio State University Jefferson County Extension Office, said Junior Fair members with projects like cooking, woodwork or photography have already completed their competitions and will have booths set up at the fair for visitors to view.

The fair will also have plenty of livestock activity, with 4-H youths participating in companion or market livestock competitions. Animals, which the youths raised themselves, range from large animals like cows or pigs to small ones like chickens or guinea pigs.

Additionally, four Junior Fair members will be crowned the fair’s king, queen, prince and princess during Monday’s opening ceremony.

“The Junior Fair provides our young members with a tremendous amount of leadership opportunities,” Allison said, “and it really places a spotlight on the county and the world’s youngest food entrepreneurs. … They learn not only the work ethic that goes into raising an animal properly to bring it to market, but they also learn how to take care of the environment, they learn about business.”

Kids also benefit from the livestock auction, where their animals are sold to the highest bidder. Allison noted that many participants invest in their future by saving the money for college expenses or for a first car.

The number of individuals who support the fair is too great to list, ranging from county departments to private citizens, Hidlebrand said, adding, “We couldn’t do it without these people.”

Hildebrand said the commitment of the fair board is what allows the fair to “come off flawlessly.”

Sadly, Hildebrand said, the fair community is mourning the loss of some of its biggest supporters, including Larry Mosti, who was in charge of fire and EMS coordination; Eddie Mercer, who served for years on the fair board; Bill Koniski, who cut grass on the fairgrounds; and Rick Rine, the fair’s sitting vice president who died within the last month.

“All these people that we’ve lost this year will be missed,” Hildebrand said. “They were a big part of this fair.”

Mosti is being honored as this year’s grand marshal for the fair, Hukill said, adding that Mosti’s family and any EMS providers of firefighters are invited to join in the fair’s parade Saturday at 10 a.m.

Information about the fair and a schedule of entertainment can be found on its Facebook page and at https://thejeffersoncountyfair.com/.