Tab: Williams County Fair story

With a history rich in agriculture, the Williams County Fair features dozens of 4-H and Junior Fair participants, culminating with the Junior Fair Sale on the last Saturday of the fair. Animal exhibits include a large variety of livestock, including rabbits, sheep, chickens, pigs, cows, turkeys, horses and goats, which are housed in the three-year-old goat barn, the newest barn on the fairgrounds.

And once you've toured the animal exhibits, the food vendors and other exhibitors are located all along the midway, featuring everything from pork chops on a stick to leather wallets. And Poor Jack's amusement rides are again located in a dedicated area on the south side of the fairgrounds, along East Main Street.

And while the fair promises all the traditional, family-friendly sights, sounds and tastes of a county fair, a more somber event takes place right next door and is timed to coincide with this year's fair. The Tribute Towers—Remembering Our Fallen, is a traveling photographic war memorial honoring our country’s military fallen from the War on Terror, and will be on display during the fair at the county veterans building next to the fairgrounds.

"I think we have a little bit of everything for the whole family. We've worked hard and I'm really looking forward to this year," said Matt Kennedy, President of the Williams County Agricultural Society. 

Kennedy saluted both the senior and junior fair board members who have worked all year to get ready for the fair. The work includes everything from booking classic rock bands to scrubbing and cleaning animal stalls.

"We really have to salute the Junior Fair Board. They've helped tremendously,' Kennedy said.

The fair booked a pair of classic rock bands to perform on the fair's opening night, Saturday, Sept. 7, in the grandstand. The featured band — cue the cow bell — is Blue Oyster Cult, best known for their 1976 song “(Don’t Fear) The Reaper.” They'll perform after opening act Rare Earth, whose hit “Get Ready” peaked at #4 on the Billboard chart in 1970. 

“People have told us they want (classic rock). We thought this was a good fit,” fair board member and entertainment committee chair Dave Page said in announcing the concert last December.

Tarry Eicher, of Montpelier, is coordinating the Tribute Towers—Remembering Our Fallen exhibit. Eicher is a Gold Star mother who lost her son, Marine Sgt. Michael P. Hodshire, of Montpelier, to an improvised explosive device in Iraq in 2005. The exhibit features 31 panels inscribed with with pictures of over 5,000 veterans — including Eicher’s son — who have died since 9/11.

Admission to the exhibit is free and there is free admission to the fair for all veterans on opening day, Sept. 7, courtesy of a donation from the Montpelier Eagles Aerie #2246.

Other fair features include:

• At 4 p.m. on opening day, Saturday, Sept. 7; County Fair King and Queen Coronation; classic rock concert at 7 p.m. in the grandstand; 

• Sunday, Sept. 8, beginning at 1 p.m.: Flat Track motorcycle racing, in the grandstand infield;

• Monday, Sept. 9, beginning at 6 p.m.: the county "Battle of the Bands" band show in front of the grandstand;

• Tuesday, Sept. 10, beginning at 10 a.m.: the cheerleading competition, in front of the grandstand;

• Wednesday, Sept. 11, at 6 p.m.: Harness racing, at the grandstand;

• Thursday, Sept. 12, beginning at 6 p.m. at the grandstand infield: the 4H parade and youth night events;

• Friday, Sept. 13, at 6 p.m.: Demolition Derby, in the grandstand infield;

• Saturday, Sept. 14: The Junior Fair Livestock Sale begins at the show barn at 9:30 a.m.; the Dirt Drags are at 1 p.m. in the grandstand infield.

Kennedy, along with his wife, Amy, are also county 4H advisors. He said he has fond memories of the fair when he was a kid and said the fair board works hard to insure the current generation — both young and old — enjoys those same great memories.

"As a kid, I remember it was a big thing to go to the fair. The livestock, the food, the games, like pop the balloons with a dart and you win a prize. And seeing all the vendors ... It seemed like I got a new wallet every year," Kennedy said with a laugh.

"The fair is really a community event. It's a great place to go to see people you know that you might not normally see, and visit with your friends from other parts of the county," he added.

For event tickets and more information on the fair, visit the fair office at 619 E. Main St., Montpelier; call the Fair Office at 419-485-3755, or the Ticket Office at 419-485-4456; email to: [email protected]; or log on to: www.wcofair.com.

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