The Washington County Agricultural & Mechanical Association, which puts on the Washington County Fair every year, received $106,831.54 in grant funds from the Ohio Department of Development as part of Ohio’s County and Independent Fairs Grant Program. (File Photo)
MARIETTA — The Ohio Department of Development awarded a total of $10 million in grant funds to 94 county and independent fairs this week, including giving the Washington County Fair more than $100,000.
According to an Ohio Governor’s Office media release, Gov. Mike DeWine, Lt. Gov. John Husted and Ohio Development Director Lydia Mihalik and Ohio Department of Agricultures Director Brian Baldridge announced the recipients of $10 million in grant funds on Monday as part of Ohio’s County and Independent Fair Program.
According to the release, the Washington County Agricultural & Mechanical Association received $106,831 in grant funds.
There are 94 county and independent fairs in Ohio and all of them applied for and received funding of up to $106,831.54, the release said.
The County and Independent Fair Program was established to support county and independent agricultural societies with improvements including upgrades to electrical and sanitation systems, machinery and equipment, ADA accommodations and grounds, the release said.
“Investing in Ohio’s county and independent fairs means investing in some of Ohio’s most beloved traditions,” DeWine said in the release. “These improvements will ensure that our fairgrounds remain safe and accessible for everyone.”
Husted agreed with DeWine that investing in improvements for fairs is important.
“Innovation is prevalent across all of agriculture, and we need to make sure this is reflected in our county and independent fairs,” Husted said in the release. “We are investing in what is the heart of many of our rural communities and making vital improvements that will improve the fair experience all across Ohio.”
According to Washington County Fair Board President Ron Offenberger, the grant funds will be used to fix the old roller skating rink building, which houses the fair’s concessions, some vendors and the flower show.
“The roller skating roof was in dire straits,” Offernberger said.
He said replacing the current shingle roof, which is about 30 years old, with a seam metal roof will take almost the whole grant.
“It’s very appreciated by us because we would’ve had to borrow money,” Offenberger said about receiving the grant funds.
He said that if the fair board hadn’t received the grant they might have not used as good a metal roof or even went with another shingle roof.
“(A new roof is) what we really really needed,” Offenberger said.
According to Mihalik in the release, the grant funding helps make fairgrounds accessible and safe.
“Ohio’s county and independent fairs are a longstanding pastime and are deeply embedded in the heart of our communities,” Mihalik said in the release. “By funding necessary improvements, we’re ensuring fairgrounds are safe, accessible, and enjoyable for all, allowing families to keep making memories for generations to come.”
Baldridge said in the release that the grant funds will uplift and improve every fairground across the state.
“Our local fairs are truly a place of agricultural tradition and celebration,” Baldridge said. “People from communities everywhere come to visit and learn about agriculture because of the quality of programming at our fairs.”
Offenberger asks that people support the Washington County Fair by attending. It runs Sep 2-5.
To learn more about the fair go to https://www.washcountyfair.com/.
Michelle Dillon can be reached at mdillon@newsandsentinel.com
