155th Meigs County Fair officially opens

ROCKSPRINGS, Ohio – A brief rain shower did not dampen the start the of 155th Meigs County Fair as royalty was crowned following the Junior Fair parade.

Numerous clubs and organizations representing the Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, 4-H, FFA, and more made their way round the race track and past the crowd at the Grandstand. This year’s theme chosen by the Junior Fair Board is “Ridin’ Rockin’ & Livestockin’ at the 155th Meigs County Fair.”

Winners were announced later in the ceremonies as to the winners of the parade by category as follows: Walking Unit, the Boy Scout Troop 235; Horse Unit, Rough Riders 4-H Club; Riding, Where the Blacktop Stops 4-H Club; Float, Busy Beavers 4-H Club.

The 2018 Meigs County Fair Royalty was crowned. The Queen candidates were Gabrielle Beeler (Gabby), Raeven Reedy, Oliva B. Yost, Katelin JoAnna Ferguson, and Mattison Finlaw. Raeven Reedy was named First Runner-up and Mattison Finlaw was crowned queen. The Livestock Princess Candidates were Hannah Jackson, Raeann Schagel, and Melinda Darlene Lawson. Raeann Schagel was crowned Livestock Princess. Austin Rose was crowned Fair King and Matthew Jackson was crowned Livestock Prince.

Roma Sayre with Home National Bank presented the fair king and queen with a $500 scholarship.

Dan Short with Ohio Valley Bank also presented scholarships.

Also recognized during the opening ceremony was James Bailey. Bailey passed away on Feb. 11, 2018 but was recently interred at Artlington National Cemetery. Rep. Jay Edwards read a proclamation concerning Bailey’s service to the country. His military service included: instructor for Radar Fundamentals, Communications Advisor to the Saudi Arabia Air Force. He served as a Jupiter Missle Inertial Guide and worked on the guidance system for Friendship 7, the spaceship that put U.S. Astronaut, John Glen into orbit. He was also an advisor to the Italian Air Force on the Jupiter Missle. Ret. Chief Master-Sgt. Bailey was the recipient of the following ribbons and awards: WWII Asiatic/Pacific WWII Victory Ribbon, National Defense Service Medal, Good Conduct Medal with 5 loops-represents 18 years of military service, American Theater Ribbon, American Defense Ribbon, Air Force Outstanding Unit Award, Air Force Longevity Service Award with 2 Bronze Oak Leaf Clusters. Badges include: Missile Man Badge, Sr. Missileman Badge and Master Missileman Badge. Bailey was a life member of the Tuppers Plains VFW Post 9053, Feeney-Bennett Post #128, American Legion, Middleport and the DAV #053, Cheshire. Members of James Bailey’s family were present along with some of the bikers that escorted the body to Arlington.