The Darke County Agricultural Society Board of Directors held their regular monthly meeting on Wednesday, January 8 with 10 of the 11 Board members present. Jayden Hicks was absent.
Amber Schlechty talked during the Public Comment about the revenue the Darke County Agriculture Society is losing in the open shows. She compared the entry fees with the payouts and also talked about the expenses for judges which could be reduced by changes in the open shows.
Jason Blackburn, who is holding events at the Fairgrounds since several years and so far paid 6-figures on fees to the Darke County Agricultural Society asked again for having a Demolition Derby during one of his annual events. It was denied previously, because Board Members are concerned that it would be a competition to the Fair’s Demo-Derby. Blackburn argued that the Greenville Farm Power of the Past is hosting a Tractor Pull way closer to the Fair’s own Tractor-Pull event and it’s not considered a competition and that his Demo-Derby would attract a different audience. The Board wasn’t able to make a decision and tabled this for further discussion in a work session.
The Home and Sport Show asked for the approval for selling alcohol at the event, although they haven’t made the decision yet whether they would really offer alcohol. At that point they plan looking into it and are checking whether it makes sense and is beneficial going through the whole process, before making a final decision. They asked for permission from the Board before they go forward. The Board approved the motion to allow the Home and Sport Show to sell alcohol.
The rabbit committee requested to add a new class, the “roaster class” for the junior fair rabbit department, to which the Board agreed. Usually the junior fair board approves the class first, but since their January meeting was canceled due to weather and their next meeting isn’t until February, there is a timing issue because the breeding needs to begin by Jan. 18.
During the Director’s reports, Treasurer Bowman addressed some posts at Social Media in which people post that vendors would spend Thousands of Dollars to have a spot at the Fair. Bowman explained that a foot costs $32, which means a 16-foot-spot is $512 for the whole fair, which are $57 per day.