Coronavirus: County fair organizers react to DeWine’s order to take events to junior fair status

Organizers of area county fairs are reacting to Gov. Mike DeWine’s announcement Tuesday afternoon to take all fairs to junior fair status, eliminating games, rides and grandstand events.

DeWine, during his briefing on the state’s response to the pandemic, said he arrived at the decision because regular, safe fairs cannot happen amid the current situation.

Under the order, a 10 p.m. curfew also will be in effect. Livestock competitions and other 4-H and FFA competitions for children and teenagers will continue. Horse racing, without spectators, can continue. The order goes into effect July 31 or later.

DeWine, months ago, expressed an interest in only permitting activities focused on kids, ranging from cows, pigs, chickens and rabbits raised by boys and girls to 4-H projects involving science and art. A panel of fair managers convinced the governor that they could put on fairs that would be safe by keeping people socially distanced.

But then as the fairs began, DeWine heard about outbreaks of the virus. More than 20 confirmed cases were traced back to attendance at the fair in Pickaway County south of Columbus. That was enough for DeWine to switch gears and order an end to most events at upcoming county fairs.

Tuesday night, the manager of The Great Darke County Fair told News Center 7′s Monica Castro there are lot of moving parts that need to be addressed quickly ahead of the 164th edition of the event, which runs Aug. 21 - 29, because of the governor’s order.

The Miami County Agricultural Society is aware of and is saddened by the announcement, MCAS President and Manager Nick Shellenberger said.

“We have worked diligently to plan a fair that the community can participate in in a safe manner. We are awaiting the order which was mentioned today concerning county fairs so that we may review it in its entirety,” he said. “We will be doing everything possible to still put on as much of a fair as possible for our community and especially our youth. We appreciate your support and patience as we work through these challenges.”

The Clark County Fair started Saturday and organizers had already shrank the event to only animal shows. The public was invited and the fair executive director added a virtual component so people could still watch the presentations.

“For first time ever we spent a lot of money and a lot of time live streaming,” Dean Blair, the fair’s executive director, told Castro. “It’s great to see people being able to get out, even if it’s a little different, even if it’s not quite what they would normally get to do.”

Hours before DeWine’s announcement, The Greene County fair board decided to limit this year’s fair to a junior fair only.

Cox Media Group