The Darke County Agricultural Society Board of Directors held their regular monthly meeting on Wednesday, May 1.
10 Board members were present from beginning, the 11th joined at the Executive Session.
Tina McGillvary, the new Family and Consumer Sciences Educator, asked for a $4K budget for the Friday Sampler. The Board approved an amount of $1500 which was already put into the budget earlier.
At 7:57PM the Board went into an Executive Session until 8:35PM.
The Board discussed the purchase of a new Skid Loader since quite some time. According to Director Christoph Keller, the bid from Koenig for a John Deere 324 Skid Loader was $58,979.94, the trade in value $47,000 with a difference of $11,979.94. The Board approved the purchase of the Skid Loader, but not to trade-in. The current skid loader will be sold after the fair directly at a higher price than the trade-in value.
Director Marla Werner shared that the Board was considering buying an AED unit since some time and that it now came through with the help of a grant from the Wayne Hospital Foundation and Midmark. The Board had to cover only one third of the total costs of $1200. The Wayne Hospital Foundation also donated 10 first aid kits ($187/ea.).
The Board also discussed the possibility of naming a Darke County Fair Supporter of the Year. Marla Werner had already a person in mind, who for many years was very active in the 4H-community and has been the Junior Fair Coordinator for many years: Rhonda Williams, a former 4-H Youth Development Educator. The Board unanimously agreed to nominate Rhonda Williams.
Also discussed and approved was the increase of the Fair Manager’s salary.