Ashland County Fair will be spruced up when it opens Sept. 17
Ashland County Fair has been a busy place getting ready for the fair scheduled for Sept. 17-23.
Many improvement projects have been approved by the fair board and are underway. The board continues toupkeep the buildings and grounds.
The biggest project is construction of a sheep pavilion between the sheep barn and grandstand. For many years the breeding sheep program had a show under a tent, not always in good conditions due to weather. The pavilion will replace the tent by the grandstand where benches were placed for people to sit and people watch, enjoy some yummy fair food or just take a moment to rest.
New gatehouses have been built at gates 3 and 4. This is the last of six gatehouses built to improve thebuildings through which visitors enter the fairgrounds. Each gatehouse is a different color to help people remember which gate they entered through.
Drainage units were installed by the hobby building and grandstand, an epoxy floor put in by the maintenance office and a concrete pad for pop machine by the Coliseum. Several buildings are getting a face-lift with siding: pavilion end of sheep barn, both ends of the goat barn, Claremont Avenue side of the Ashland building and a new door built and installed on the dairy barn.
A new roof is scheduled for the one shed row side of the Coliseum, the seating area in the Coliseumwill be painted soon and Lakeside Cabins is working on building a new auxiliary building.
4-H clubs, garden clubs and businesses help care for the flower boxes on Claremont Avenue. Other beauty and flower projects include mulching of trees along Claremont Avenue; completing inside gardens; stone installed around the library reading area; a new slide at the playground to replace broken one; and new or improved gardens by the rabbit and goat barns, the side of the Green building and five trough gardens that will be placed invarious locations during the fair.
The Buckeye Barn Committee has been working on a history display and pegboard was installed. The committee has selected three more families to honor for their part in the history of the fair. Be sure to check out the Buckeye Barn during the fair. The office has recently completed the first makeover of paint and new countertop. Phase II will be carpet, coming soon. Flea market proceeds are being used for the project.
The Market Steer Committee raised funds to upgrade electric in the beef barn. The Sheep and Swine Committee ran a successful OH Pig Show in June and raised funds to purchase new holding pens. The fair received a grant from Samaritan Hospital Foundation to install a 911 phone and first-aid items in Timken Campground as required for health department inspection. A grant was also received from PEP Insurance for additional security cameras.
While all these improvements are ongoing, the fair continues to put on events, shows and activities. Visit ashlandcountyfair.com for information on horse shows and sales, gun shows, rummage and craft shows and more. Upcoming shows include:
AMA Vintage Motorcycle Race, July 22
Community yard sale, Aug. 3-5
E3C4P3-Journey Tribute/Best of Times-Styx Tribute, Aug. 5
The Perrys/High Road, Aug. 6
Flea market and craft, Aug. 12, Oct. 14, Dec. 9
Back-to-school movie, "Jungle Book," Aug. 12
Ashland County Fair, September 17-23
Gun raffle, Oct. 7
For those interested in entering domestic or livestock shows at the fair, books are available at the office and posted on the fair website. Entry deadline is Aug. 19. The office will be open 8 a.m.-noon that day. Regular hours are 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Monday-Friday.
This article originally appeared on Ashland Times Gazette: Ashland OH County Fair grounds get new construction, more improvements
