Fair board looking to draw crowds

Admission is free for the fair's first day.
By MONICA BOND
VINDICATOR TRUMBULL STAFF
BAZETTA -- Start the engines: The Trumbull County Fair Board hopes to lure people to the grandstand this year with an array of motor vehicle events.
"We've noticed anything with noise or speed fills the grandstand," said board president Richard Roscoe.
Exhibit and booth set-up begins today, and domestic arts, canned goods, fine arts and photography entries are taken from noon to 3 p.m.
The fair will kick off Monday with harness horse racing at 12:30 p.m. in front of the grandstand. Admission is free, rides and concessions will complete their setup, and livestock will arrive, Roscoe said.
There also will be harness racing at 12:30 p.m. Tuesday.
The second annual Miss Trumbull County Fair Beauty Pageant will be 4 p.m. Tuesday. Twenty Trumbull County residents age 15-18 will compete for a $1,000 savings bond, sponsored by Roscoe Brothers Inc. of Gustavus and Bud Rogers of Bud's Towing.
Automotive events
Tuesday evening, the opening ceremony and parade of colors will follow the school bus race, 6:30 p.m. at the grandstand. Roscoe said there will be three main heats, a powder-puff heat, and a feature heat, in which winners of the previous heats will compete.
"Some have replaced motors, they've maybe added a truck motor, and they've taken all the glass out," he said.
The virgin car demolition derby is 6:30 p.m. Wednesday.
"It brings in a little more money in the purse since the cars have never been in a demo derby before," Roscoe said.
The American Tractor Pullers Association will have 17 big rig and diesel 4x4 trucks at the fair for the tractor pull 6:30 p.m. Thursday.
"They aren't stock, they're modified. They have some real beauties," Roscoe said.
Friday will feature the Ruff Truck Competition at 6:30 p.m. Vehicles will maneuver through an obstacle course, cones and mounds, Roscoe said. It is open to all vehicles.
"Those speed humps are big -- if they hit them fast, they might go flying through the air with their front wheels," he said.
The Ohio State Tractor Pullers Association will sponsor Saturday evening's tractor pull. Modified tractors and pickups will compete at 6 p.m.
Sunday evening will feature the 6 p.m. demolition derby open to all vehicles, followed by the grand fireworks display at about 10 p.m. The fireworks are produced by Hamburg Fireworks, sponsored by the fair board.
"They're tremendous -- they lasted about half an hour last year, one right after the other," Roscoe said. "They cost about $8,000."
Appealing to kids
The fair will have the traditional livestock and 4-H competitions, with shows and competitions daily.
"There's just about every kind of farm animal here at the fair," Roscoe said.
Rides, games and concessions are usually the biggest hit with children, and "the fair's for kids," Roscoe said.
"I'd rather see one kid down at the 4-H barn than out smoking or doing whatever kids do these days," he said.
Roscoe said fair planners also have made several upgrades to the 80-acre grounds. There are some electrical upgrades, some new pens have been added in the sheep barns, and more deputies will watch the gates to prevent people from coming in without paying.
The fair runs through July 17. Daily admission tickets Tuesday through Sunday are $7; seniors pay $3 per day. Mechanical rides are free with the purchase of a daily admission ticket.