Fifty-four individuals or organizations were recognized at the 91st Ohio Fair Managers Association annual convention at the Greater Columbus Convention Center for outstanding service to their local fairs. Of  this group, six received the Director’s Award for Innovation and Excellence for their progressive ideas and actions to improve and strengthen their fairs. Ohio Department of Agriculture Director David T. Daniels presented each winner with a certificate. Those chosen for the special honor (denoted by an asterisk below) received plaques.

The award recipients were: 

Local residents earn accolades for support of Ohio fairs

Adams County - Jack McCoy Family
Allen County - Allen County Sheriff's Mounted Posse*  
Ashland County - Jean Stauffer
Ashtabula County - Bob Spellman (posthumous) *
Attica Independent -Dennis Heiser and Thomas Willman
Auglaize County - Elizabeth Miller
Brown County - Joe Kovach
Clermont County - Greg Simpson
Columbiana County - Alan W. Cope
Coshocton County - Jim Overholt*
Crawford County - Robert Zaebst  
Fayette County - Wayne Arnold
Franklin County - Gary Dever
Fulton County – Fulton County Jr. Fair Board
Gallia County - Janet Browning
Geauga County - Greg Thomas
Hamilton County - David (Joe) M. DaGiau
Hardin County – Bill and Connie Oates
Hartford Independent - Melvin McInturff (posthumous)
Henry County - Marilyn Hershberger
Hocking County - Scott Vermillion
Huron County - Richard Wiles
Jefferson County - Pat Ambler
Lake County - Lake County Fair Ladies Auxiliary
Logan County - Errol Snapp
Lorain County - Tim Buchs*
Madison County - Madison County Jr. Fair Sale Committee
Mahoning County - Donald Snyder, Jr.
Marion County - Larry Demorest
Medina County - Charles “Charlie” Siman
Mercer County - Robin Link
Miami County - Randy and Paul Wheaton
Monroe County - Tim Price, Carl Davis and John Pyles
Montgomery County - Betty Wingerter
Muskingum County - John Morrow (posthumous)
Preble County - Rob Morgan
Putnam County - Marge Knueven*
Ross County - James M. Caldwell
Shelby County - Tim Everett
Stark County - Darrell Zantene
Summit County - Ronald  Papes
Trumbull County - Paul G. Aaron (posthumous)
Tuscarawas County - Dave McCleary*
Warren County - Tari Maddox
Washington County - Paul Barth and Richard Henthorn
Wayne County - Mary Ann and James L. Marty
Williams County - Gertrude Studer  

Ohio’s 94 county and independent fairs and the Ohio State Fair support the local economy and help educate the public about the importance of agriculture and the many necessities it provides, including food, clothing, shelter, fuel and energy. In addition to setting and approving the dates for the independent and county fairs, the department is responsible for helping to assure the safety of amusement rides, for monitoring livestock shows to help assure honest competition, and for coordinating animal health efforts with designated local veterinarians.  

For more information on Ohio’s fairs, including a listing of fair dates for the 2016 season, visit www.agri.ohio.gov.

Source: ODA