Meigs Co. Fair Moves Forward as Junior Fair Only, Schedule Released

Meigs Co. Fair Moves Forward as Junior Fair Only, Schedule Released

POMEROY, Ohio – Decisions were made concerning the 2020 Meigs County Fair at the Meigs County Agricultural Society meeting held on August 3, 2020. The meeting was held in the Rutland Bottle Gas Domestic Arts Building at the fairgrounds.

The Meigs County Agricultural Society (commonly known as the Meigs County Fair Board) unanimously decided to go ahead with the conducting a Junior Fair using a plan focused at minimizing contact while still providing a junior fair experience for youth. Throughout the fair board has been working with the Meigs County Health Department on developing a COVID-19 compliant plan for the fair.

President Wes Karr began the meeting with noting the Meigs County Agricultural Society did receive COVID support funding of $50,000 from the state. This was money that Governor Mike DeWine had promised to send to those fairs that had planned to move forward with modified fairs. The plan had been to have a full modified fair, but with the health order from the state, only junior fairs are now possible. This means the Meigs County Fair will happen, but there will be no entertainment such as the demolition derby, truck and tractor pulls, rides, or carnival games. Instead, there will be a reduced number of food concessions and only Meigs County Junior Fair activities such as livestock judging.

The plan for the 2020 Meigs County Fair includes:

-Admission will be $5 and the only entrance gate will be the cattle barn gate from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. each day. All previously sold season and membership tickets will be honored at the gate for admission or can be redeemed at the Secretary’s Office for a full refund, if unused. Membership passes will still be sold and are available through fair board members and the Secretary’s Office. In order to vote or run for fair board, a membership pass is required. Membership passes are $20.

-The Secretary’s Office will be temporarily set up at the Ridenour Arena and opened from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. each day of the fair. The main Secretary’s Office will be open on Saturday and Sunday before the fair from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

-All camping, reserve parking and pull parking prepaid will be rolled over to the 2021 Meigs County Fair. Anyone wishing to camp for 2020 will pay $175 for the spot you have reserved or from any empty spots by 2 p.m. August 17, 2020. Campers can be set after noon on August 16, 2020 and not before. Check with the Secretary’s Office for questions and availability on camping.

-There will be no reserved parking for the 2020 Meigs County Fair.

-Most of the fairgrounds will be closed. Everything will be moved and consolidated to be centered near the livestock barns.

-Junior Fair still projects will be displayed in the Thompson Roush building. Clubs will not be setting up booths, but projects will be displayed on tables instead.

-Throughout, seating/standing areas will be limited and reduced. This is due to occupancy reductions to be COVID-19 compliant.

-Livestock will not arrive as usual to the fairgrounds. Instead, livestock will arrive the night prior to the judging/show of the respective species.

-There will be no Junior Fair Parade this year. Opening ceremonies will take place on August 17 at the Ridenour Livestock Arena at noon.

-Most awards will be presented during the Junior Fair Awards Ceremony on August 17. Showmanship Awards will be given at the respective shows, other awards such as Clean Stall will be awarded prior to the start of the livestock sale on August 22.

-Harness Racing will still occur at the Meigs County Fair, but there will be no spectators permitted by order of Governor DeWine and the Ohio Department of Health. Harness Racing will be streamed through the Ohio Harness Horseman Assocation (OHHA) Facebook page.

-The livestock sale on August 22 will be conducted with some changes. Buyers will receive cards that have their number and a choice of “A” or “B”. That number will be held up for the auction and through that means the buyer will indicate if the livestock is for resale or processing. Information will be going out to buyers concerning other changes including the option for invoicing instead of paying on site the day of the sale.

-There will be no wood carving auction or other items auctioned during the livestock auction. It will be a stream lined event geared toward less physical contact and reducing as much time from the event as possible.

-No bumps will be announced in the arena at the livestock auction. In the past they have, but with COVID-19 restrictions, that will not be an option this year. Those wishing to bump up the sale price of a market animal will fill out a paper and it will be turned in to the Secretary’s Office and not announced during the sale.

-Those interested in buying livestock for 2020, but not interested in attending should contact a fair board member, or the Secretary’s Office for options. The fair board is working on a process in which a buyer may not have to attend the livestock auction.

-Masks are state mandated and attendees will need to follow state guidelines for wearing masks.

-Those attending need to be mindful of social distancing and are encouraged to utilize hand sanitizing and hand wash stations that will be available at the fair. All events are subject to change and following the most current guidelines and restrictions at the time. Any changes will be published on the fair’s Facebook page, news media, etc.

-Those at high risk with COVID-19 are advised not to attend the fair. The Meigs County Fair Board advises that there are potential risks associated with COVID-19 and will not be held responsible if someone comes in contact with an individual who has tested positive for COVID-19. Although precautions are being taken, those attending the fair do so at their own risk.

-All livestock shows will be streamed live through a partnership with the fair board and the Meigs Independent Press. Those wishing to see family show, but do not feel comfortable attending the fair can still view the activities. The opening ceremony and royalty crowning will be streamed as well.

For more information on the 2020 Meigs County Fair see The Meigs County Fair Facebook page or the website which can be found here.

The following is the schedule for the 2020 Meigs County Fair

Monday, August 17
8 a.m. – Landscaping & Trash Can Contest Deadline
8-9 a.m. – Dairy Arrival – Ridenour Arena
9 a.m. – 4-H Horse Show – Horse Arena
10 a.m. – 12 p.m. – MeMe’s Custom Embroidery T-shirt Giveaway sponsored by Shade River Ag Service for Junior Fair participants
12 p.m. – Junior Fair Awards Ceremony followed by Opening Ceremony & Royalty Crowning at Ridenour Livestock Arena
3 p.m. – Junior Fair Dairy Show – Ridenour Arena

Tuesday, August 18
9 a.m. – Poultry Show – Small Arena
3 p.m. – Junior Fair Beef Shows in Ridenour Arena
Beef Breeding Show
Dairy Steer Show/Showmanship
Dairy Feeder Show/Showmanship
Beef Feeder Show/Showmanship
Steer Show/Showmanship
7-9 p.m. – Sheep and Goat Arrival – Small Arena

Wednesday, August 19
9 a.m. – Sheep Show – Ridenour Arena
6 p.m. – Goat Show – Ridenour Arena
7-9 p.m. – Rabbit Arrival – Small Arena

Thursday, August 20
9 a.m. – Rabbit Show – Small Arena
3 p.m. – Cloverbud Show & Tell – Ridenour Arena
4 p.m. – Cloverbud Graduation – Ridenour Arena
7-9 p.m. – Hog Arrival – Ridenour Arena
7-9 p.m. – Alpaca Arrival – Ridenour Arena

Friday, August 21
9 a.m. – Hog Show – Ridenour Arena
9 a.m. – Pet Show – Small Arena
5:30 p.m. – Alpaca Show – Ridenour Arena
6 p.m. – Showmen of Showmen Contest – Ridenour Arena

Saturday, August 22
10 a.m. – Livestock Sale – Ridenour Arena