Upgrades galore in store for Columbiana County Fair visitors

By D.a. Wilkinson

The ice-cream-eating contest is one of the participation events scheduled.

LISBON — The 164th annual Columbiana County Fair is a week away with spruced-up grounds, music and lots of roaring vehicles.

The fair runs next Monday through Aug. 9 at the fairgrounds.

Don Humphrey, one of the fair board members, said people will notice one improvement as they enter the fairgrounds.

A large flagpole stands just inside the main entrance to the fairgrounds. Humphrey said that the fair has landscaped the area around the pole.

The entrance to the fair headquarters is just a few feet away from the pole. The walkway to the building used to be a few worn stones.

But bricks from the flagpole project were used to create a large walkway to the fair, the office and a second building that houses the fair’s racing events. The second building was turned sidewise to be parallel with the main office and shares the new walkway. That area is one of the busiest areas of the fairgrounds.

Humphrey and Tresa Hall, the fair board’s office manager, said there were many other unseen improvements, including electrical and waterline improvements.

Another change is that there are more fair board members. Three more members were added to bring the number up to 15. The newcomers are John Karlen, Robin Houlette and Don McCoy.

The fair has been taking information from people participating in the fair over the Internet for years. But as a sign of the times, Hall said, “almost all the entries in the events were sent in electronically.”

Another new offering are county fair hoodies and ceramic crocks.

Last year, the fair offered an ice-cream-eating contest that brought in the contestants and viewers.

The cold and gooey event is back at 3 p.m. Aug. 5 at the coliseum.

When it comes to entertainment, the fair will end with its traditional car demolition derby at 6:30 p.m. Aug. 9 at the grandstands. People can see farm combines in a demolition derby at noon that day. There also will be another car demolition derby at 7:30 p.m. Aug. 5 at the grandstands.

There will be plenty of music. Chuck Wicks will be performing with “Savannah Jack” at 8 p.m. Aug. 4 at the grandstands.

wilkinson@vindy.com

Columbiana County Fair schedule

Sunday

Garden tractor pull, 1 p.m.

Aug. 3

Harness racing, grandstands, 1 p.m.

Opening ceremonies, 4-H King and Queen crowning, grandstands, 6 p.m.

Farm stock and antique tractor pull, grandstands, 7 p.m.

Aug. 4

Agricultural Hall of Fame induction ceremony, Arts & Crafts building, 10:30 a.m.

Harness racing, grandstands, 1 p.m.

Chuck Wicks in concert with Savannah Jack, grandstands, 8 p.m.

Aug. 5

Junior Fair steer show, beef complex, 3 p.m.

Ice-cream-eating contest, coliseum, 3 p.m.

Demolition derby, grandstands, 7:30 p.m.

Aug. 6

Tuff Truck competition, grandstands, 7 p.m.

Russ Stewart laser show, midway stage, 8 p.m.

Aug. 7

Open truck/tractor pull, grandstands, 7 p.m.

Kross Creek, midway stage, 8 p.m.

Truck/tractor pull, grandstands, 6 p.m.

Aug. 8

Truck/tractor pull, grandstands, 6 p.m.

Salem Jubilee Chorus, midway stage, 7 p.m.

Aug. 9

Combine demo derby, grandstands, noon.

Demolition derby, grandstands, 6:30 p.m.

Source: Columbiana County Fair