After closing the Lorain County Fair on Aug. 24 because of storms that led to flooding at the Wellington site, a day later, officials had to clean up again after straight line winds caused more damage.
However, the setback didn’t stop the show from continuing Aug. 25.
Through a huge outpouring of community support that continues on the fairgrounds, tents were picked back up, merchandise laying on the ground was collected and the paths were cleared for another day, according to Kim Meyers, a fair board director who also serves as the media relations spokesperson for the board.
“We’re all volunteers here,” said Meyers, who’s also a member of the Ohio Fair Managers Association. “We love the fair. It’s truly American.
“It really tore our hearts up to have to close it yesterday, but in hindsight, I think it was a good decision. We hated to do it.”
The fair board and family, 4-H members and their advisors, FFA (Future Farmers of America) members and their advisors worked alongside the community at large as they spent the day Aug. 24 cleaning the debris from the massive storm left the night before, Meyers said.
Some of the food vendors served the crew food as they spent the day preparing to reopen their beloved fairgrounds, he said.
“We even had support from other companies,” Meyers said.
Large implement dealers brought cranes and tractors to pull out stranded trailers and vehicles from the flooded parking lot on the western end of the grounds used for parking.
Moving forward, the fair board decided to utilize alternative parking areas of schools and businesses to accommodate the crowd expected to arrive throughout the weekend, typically the most heavily attended days, Meyers said.
The fair board also decided to cancel the NTPA Grand National Tractor Pull because the track can’t accommodate the large tractors, which is another disappointment for many as people from other states normally come to compete in the event, he said.
In its place, the fair board will host a county tractor pull where smaller tractors can safely use the track, Meyers said.
The Combine Derby, another crowd favorite, remained scheduled for 7 p.m., Aug. 26.
“Right now, we think we can do it … depending on whether we get any more torrential rains,” Meyers said.
The popular Demolition Derby also is scheduled for Aug. 27, he said, but it depends on the weather.
Another large event, the Junior Fair Auction, that was rescheduled due to the fair’s closure took place Aug. 25.
Emma Lewis, a 16-year-old 4-H member who started participating in 4-H at age 8, was preparing to sell her male lamb at auction Aug. 25 by grooming him with a specialized shampoo as to not damage his sensitive skin.
Lewis said she named the lamb San Antonio when she got him to show as a market lamb.
As the moments ticked by and the auction got closer, Lewis said she was “a little excited and a little sad” at the same time knowing San Antonio had to be sold to market.
But, Lewis’ other lamb, a female named Phoenix, will go home with her and will be bred to bring the family more animals to show at the fair.
“They’re a lot of work, but it’s a lot of fun,” she said.
In years past, Lewis said she also showed cows at the fair.
At the dairy cow auction earlier in the week, a new record may have been hit, with $30,000 in sales for 2023, said Bill Spreng, who serves as the fairground’s veterinarian among other roles.
Putting the grounds back together was truly “a team effort,” Spreng said as he sat in the auction barn getting ready for it to begin.
