THE MOFFS Governor likely to revisit farm family

Taft will cut the ribbon to officially open the fair.
By IAN HILL
VINDICATOR STAFF WRITER
CANFIELD -- Another visit from Gov. Bob Taft is likely next week for the Moff family. This time, however, Taft probably won't milk the Moffs' cows.
Last year, Taft spent a night with the Moff family in the dairy barn at the Ohio State Fair. The Moffs raise cows at their farms in Columbiana and Canfield.
Taft also helped the Moffs with their chores at the fair, including milking the cows. This year, Taft will cut the ribbon to officially open the Canfield Fair. The ribbon-cutting ceremony will be at 10 a.m. Thursday in the Western Reserve Village.
After the ceremony, Taft will go to the fair education building, where he will read a book to a group of second- and third-grade pupils from throughout the county. The students were given free admission to the fair for reading a certain amount of books over the summer.
Jane Moff said her family will show at least 15 Holstein cows at this year's Canfield Fair. She added that her two sons and husband recently spoke with Taft at the Ohio State Fair and that they expected a visit from the governor in Canfield.
Taft spends a night at the state fair each year with a family selected by fair officials. Jane said that last year her family introduced Taft to milking and bedding cows.
"He was very willing to learn," Jane said.
Time with kids: The Moffs also ate pizza with Taft, and the Moff children asked him to play euchre, Jane said. However, she said the governor's schedule did not include time for a game.
Jane added that her 10-year-old daughter now gets excited when she recognizes the governor on television or in the newspaper. She also has two sons, ages 17 and 14.
Eileen Corson, a spokeswoman for Taft's office, said the governor visits several county fairs as well as the state fair each year.
"It's just a great chance for him to meet up with some farm families," Corson said. She added that the governor knows the Canfield Fair is one of the largest county fairs in the state.
Joe Dickey Jr., president of the Canfield Fair board, said the board is "honored to have our governor." He said the fair ribbon is always cut by a "dignitary." In the past those dignitaries have included the presidents of Youngstown State University and GM Lordstown and the commissioner of the LPGA.
hill@vindy.com