The Darke County Agricultural Society Board of Directors held their regular monthly meeting on Wednesday, December 4 with all Board members present .
Family and Consumer Sciences Educator Tina McGillvary talked about the annual Friday Sampler at the fair and asking for an increase in her budget for the Friday Sampler. In 2024 she had a budget of $1,500 of which she spent $1,258.35. For the 2025 event, she plans to invite a featured speaker from Missouri and asked for a budget of $2,500 because of the higher costs of the event. The Board approved the higher budget.
The Lisko Family Midway presented the Board a proposal for the amusement rides at the fair.
The Admission issue was also discussed at the meeting. A motion was made to increase the daily admission to $9, but with additional free events to the public as well as an additional “low admission”-concert. Another motion was made about the weekly pass, which should be $25 when purchased latest by July 31 and after that $30.
The Grandstand events for 2025 will be like following:
- Friday with 2 free events: in the morning the Cheerleading contest and in the evening the harness racing
- Saturday: harness racing (free)
- Sunday: Service offered by Community of Faith Greenville Campus Church, in the evening the Travis Tritt concert (paid admission)
- Monday: Band Spectacular (free)
- Tuesday: afternoon tractor pulls (free) and evening tractor pulls (paid admission)
- Wednesday: Veterans ceremony (free) and in the evening an additional (low admission) concert: Cook and Belle
- Thursday: free Family Fun Giveaway event (with family-friendly activities), in the evening and the evening the Riegle Race (free)
- Friday: Motorcycle Race (paid admission)
- Saturday: Derby (paid admission)
The Board also approved the expenses for the Queen’s and Jr. Fair Coordinator’s expenses for OFMA
Next meeting: January 8, 2025, @ 7:00 pm.