Royal opening day: Weber, Twining will reign over Ashland County Fair this week

ASHLAND − Seventeen-year-old Baylee Weber, a Hillsdale High School and Ashland County-West Holmes Career Center student, knows how to fill up a day at the Ashland County Fair.

Crowned Junior Fair Queen just following the opening ceremony on Sunday, Weber, surrounded by well-wishers, said she would be showing a market turkey later in the day.

Reigning alongside her to carry out traditional fair duties - passing out ribbons and awards, giving tours to visiting royalty from other county fairs, attending events and educating fair-goers about the fair - will be Reed Twining, a 16-year-old Hillsdale High School student who was crowned as king.

Interviewed on the stage of the Cheyenne Spidel Memorial Pavilion by Ashland Mayor Matt Miller, each had the opportunity to comment on a unique accolade.

Weber talked about her membership in the Kindness Club, which she said is designed to "help everyone spread kindness throughout the school and help everyone feel welcome."'

Twining said his "courage in the classroom" distinction was awarded to him because he "likes to participate, be engaged and help others."

"It's always nice to recognize virtue," Miller told the duo.

Stacy Spidel Koch, Junior Fair royalty coordinator, had good things to say about the newly crowned king and queen and their court.

"They're all very next-level youth," Spidel-Koch said, "very involved and passionate about agriculture in their community."

"We always have a really good group of kids," she said, who are "very active in 4-H and FFA."

Compliments for the Ashland County Fair itself were plentiful during the opening ceremony, with Ashland County Sheriff Wayne Risner calling it "probably one of the best fairs in the state of Ohio." Risner commended the board of directors for what it has done and for their "vision for future expansion."

Important for the community to have a good county fair

Ashland County Commissioner Mike Welch, in his 21st year in the position, said, "I have witnessed so many vast improvements that this fair has made." Crediting the "forward thinking" responsible for progress, he added, "We know how important it is for a community to have a good county fair."

Miller asked attendees to take special note of Claremont Avenue and "its four lanes right out front here."

The highway project contractor was requested to "stripe it and move to the other side," Miller said. "We had promised two lanes open in front of the fairgrounds. We've got four lanes open in front of the fairgrounds.

"You know we love the great Ashland fair," Miller said.

"People from all around love our fair. It's not too big. It's not too small. It's just the right size," he said, in addition to being able to boast a clean atmosphere and friendly people.

State representative Melanie Miller discussed Ohio's investment in county fairs, assisting them in continuing to thrive and make needed improvements. Miller said she would continue to advocate for county fair funding in the state budget.

Parade of Bands

One of Sunday's highlights was the Parade of Bands in the Grandstand representing seven school systems. It has been a tradition since 1961.

Leonard Salvo, retired Ashland University band director, led the Ashland University band and the Ashland High School band in the performance opening, accompanied by the Honor Guard.

The annual Women's Skillet Throw, held in the Coliseum, also drew a crowd.

"It's just a fun thing to do every year," said Chanda Snyder of Jeromesville about sending the flat cast iron skillet flying.

"My husband told me to sign up," said Kelsey Puster of Ashland.

No practice necessary, each of the ladies said.

Manning the secretary's office later in the evening was Ashland County Fair board president Marty Wesner, praising the well-attended first day of the fair.

"The Midway is full," Wesner said. "There's a line at the ATM and lots of lines at vendors."

"It's all going pretty well," he said.

This article originally appeared on Ashland Times Gazette: Ashland Fair begins with ceremony, royalty crowning, Parade of Bands