Stark County Fair opens with 4-H kids, critters and concessions
CANTON ‒ Kids, critters and concession stands were abundant Tuesday morning when the Stark County Fair opened its annual weeklong run.
While 4-H members participated in a goat showmanship competition nearby, donkey foals Smoky and Coco listened with their comically outsized ears. Smoky began braying loudly and persistently when a stranger walked by their stall in the horse barn.
Chloe Miller, 12, noted that the donkeys don't get as much attention since her grandmother posted a sign warning visitors not to touch them.
"They like to nip sometimes," said her 17-year-old sister Stephanie Miller.
Stephanie, a Jackson High School senior, and Chloe, a Jackson Middle School sixth grader, are showing goats at the fair. The sisters share one reason for favoring goats over 4-H animal projects that go to market.
"You get to take them back home. You don't have to sell them," said Stephanie. Chloe agreed.
Stephanie will be showing two of her three pygmy goats.
"I just love goats," she said. "They're small and fun to play with, easy to take care of."
Like her sister, Chloe appreciates the goats' playful nature.
In addition to showing one of the donkeys belonging to her grandparents Carol and Terry Miller, Chloe will show three Nigerian dairy goats: Elphaba, and her kids May and Donna, who were born March 12.
While exhibiting at the fair, the Millers are missing four days of school.
Their mother Tiffanie Miller said the girls catch up with their schoolwork on Chromebooks as time allows. Tiffanie, a co-leader of the Country Kids 4-H Club, said it will be open to new members in January. They can be found on Facebook.
George's Lounge offers pop-up restaurant at the Stark County Fair
With agriculture being the centerpiece of the fair, it logically follows that food plays a large part in the activities on the grounds.
George's Lounge has a pop-up restaurant behind the grandstand that will be open every day the fair is open, except Friday, when the restaurant will be open for First Friday at its downtown location, 229 Cleveland Ave. NW. The fair location has seating at indoor tables.
George's manager Rachel Schukert said a staff of three to five people can handle cooking at the fair by focusing on a limited menu of burgers and other sandwiches.
Other food vendors are offering blooming onions, funnel cakes, fudge, Italian sausage, elephant ears, vegetables, cotton candy, hot popcorn, steak on a stick, corn dogs, twisted egg rolls, Asian noodles, nachos, ice cream, mozzarella sticks and boba tea. A stand promising 100% Cajun food offers gumbo, jambalaya, etoufee, chicken sauce picante meatball stew, fricasee, red beans and rice.
Ohio State Beekeepers Association is judging honey
John Grafton of the Ohio State Beekeepers Association visited the fair Tuesday to judge honey.
"This is the sweetest part of the fair," he said.
Grafton used a magnifier to check for crystals, pollen or insect parts in finished products. Another instrument measured moisture levels.
"If you get the moisture level too high, it's going to ferment," said Grafton, who lives in the Steubenville area. "We like it 16% to 17%."
The same drop of honey placed on a toothpick for moisture testing is tasted to determine whether the flavor is appropriate and not scorched.
The fill level in the jars is checked. Grafton said the goal is for the honey to reach the neck of the jar.
"If it's underfilled, you would be cheating your customers if you were to sell this," Grafton said. "Overfilled, you're cheating yourself."
The Stark County Beekeepers Association has a display that includes a hive and a prop that allows people to have their faces photographed with a painting of bees' bodies and wings.
Happening now: Are you ready for the 2023 Stark County Fair? Styx, rides, food and more are coming
The fair runs through Monday at 305 Wertz Ave. NW. Gates open at 8:30 a.m. daily. The fair closes at 10:30 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday and at 7 p.m. Monday.
General admission is $8. Children 5 or younger get in for free. Credit cards are accepted at the gate.
More information about the fair is online at starkcountyfair.com.
Reach Nancy at 330-580-8382 or nancy.molnar@cantonrep.com.
On X, formerly known as Twitter: @nmolnarTR
This article originally appeared on The Repository: 2023 Stark County Fair opens, runs through Labor Day
