Roping and riding: Rodeo fills up grandstand at Ottawa County Fair
OAK HARBOR — A night of roping, bull riding and barrel racing translated into a packed grandstand Thursday, as the Ottawa County Fair hosted the Rafter M. Rodeo.
Zak Avers, Ottawa County's fair board president, said the high attendance numbers for the rodeo continued a trend this week of better-than-average turnout at most of the fair's events.
Avers estimated between 1,800 and 2,000 people attended the rodeo.
He said it was the first year Rafter M. Rodeo had held a show at the fair.
The Ottawa County Fair has hosted other rodeo companies in the past, including the Broken Horn Rodeo for three years.
"We try to change it up to keep it fresh for our audience," Avers said.
Ottawa County's 58th Annual Fair got underway Monday with 4-H animal judging, an evening Grande Parade and the crowning of the fair's Jr. king and queen.
Avers said harness racing that was postponed Monday took place Wednesday morning, with a couple of track records set at the event.
He said Wednesday evening's Autocross also produced a good crowd.
The fair's midway filled up Thursday night, with visitors also going to see the band Haywire after the rodeo, Avers said.
Friday highlights included livestock sales in the morning and the Twisted Metal Demolition Derby at 7 p.m.
Avers said the demolition derby is usually one of the most well-attended events at the fair.
Veterans get free admission to Saturday's fair, with antique tractor pulls at 11 a.m. and OSTPA tractor pulls scheduled to begin at 7:30 p.m.
The Ottawa County Fair concludes Sunday with Red-Neck Garden Tractor Pulls at noon and a draft horse show that starts at 11 a.m.
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This article originally appeared on Fremont News-Messenger: Ottawa County Fair grandstand fills up as crowd turns out for rodeo
