CHRIS MILBRODT

Tell us more about yourself and how you became involved with the Sr. Fairboard?
I have loved agriculture since I was a kid growing up on the family farm in Elmore/Graytown area. I have a part

of the Ottawa County Fair since I was in 3rd grade and took many things to the fair throughout my 4H/FFA

time including lambs, beef, poultry, pigs, welding, and field crops. Even when my 4H and FFA career was over,

I still find myself volunteering over these years. Now my 4H and FFA career were over, I still volunteered my

time at the fair. I am currently a board member for the Senior Fairboard helping with Harness Racing,

Organizing antique tractor display, and wherever I'm needed.

What motivates you to dedicate time and effort to the Fairboard and the hours leading up to it?
I am driven to dedicate my time and efforts to the Ottawa County Fair because I simply want to see it succeed

and be around for generations to come. 4H & FFA have been a big part of my whole life and I really enjoy

helping others have a great 4H & FFA experience.

Can you share a memorable experience or event that stands out from your time on the fairboard and at the Fair itself?
As a kid in 4H I remember a cow got our and swam in the river. As a Senior Fairboard member, a standout event was celebrating our 50th Anniversary and now we are celebrating the 60th!!

How does the Fairboard decide which events, concessions, competitions, and entertainment to include each year?
Each Senior Fairboard member sits on various committees. For example, the Entertainment Committee is in charge of the competitions and entertainment. They present their plans and ideas to the rest of the Fairboard and then we decide on it as a whole.

What are you most excited about for the 60th annual Fair this year?
What I am most excited for this 60th Anniversary is watching all of my nephews and niece show their animals. It’s fun when I get to help them with their projects and give them pointers from when I showed.

What makes the Ottawa County Fair unique?
The Fair is unique because of the Portage River in the background. There are many harness racers that enjoy the view as they race. They love the track and every year we break some harness racing records.

What impact does the fair have on the local economy and community spirit?
The Ottawa County Fair is good family fun for the summertime and brings families closer together. The fair also draws people to Oak Harbor.

Are there any new initiatives or plans that you're excited about?
The fair now offers a special show for youth with disabilities, pee wee shows, and adult showmanship. It gets the whole community involved and that is great. I’m also excited to see the new Ottawa County Horse Foundation announcer stand finish construction.
 

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BRIAN KLEINHANS

Tell us more about yourself and how you became involved with the Senior Fairboard?
I come from a 4-H family and have been on the Senior Fairboard for the past two years. I am retired from ODOT

and currently work part-time for Carroll Township.

What motivates you to dedicate time and effort to the Fairboard and the many hours leading up to it?
I want the fair to be a great experience for everyone, creating enjoyable moments and lasting memories.

What do you see as the most significant accomplishments of the Fairboard during your time of service?
We've introduced plenty of new events and entertainment this year, along with making significant

improvements to the fairgrounds. While there's still work to do, it's rewarding to see the progress we've made.

*What are you most excited about for the 60th annual Fair this year?
It's exciting for me to know that I've been involved in most, if not all, of the fairs in some capacity.

What makes the Ottawa County Fair unique compared to others?
Being a smaller county fair means many people know each other, allowing us to catch up and connect during the event.

What impact does the fair have on the local economy and community spirit?
I believe it sparks new interest in local businesses and strengthens the community as a whole.
 

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MANDY KNECHT

Chairperson, Buildings and Grounds Rental Committee

 

Tell us more about yourself and how you became involved with the Sr. Fairboard.

I was raised in Edon, Ohio, a small rural village in Williams County. I participated in 4-H for a few years, but

I wasn't able to have animals and wasn't particularly interested in the still projects at that time. I met my

now-husband during my junior year of high school and became his right-hand helper during fair time, assisting

with his cattle and hogs. While I enjoyed seeing the kids show their animals, I was more fascinated by the

behind-the-scenes operations and the preparations leading up to the fair week. Fast forward a few years, our

own kids became 4-H members, taking on animal projects, and everything started falling into place.

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I served as a 4-H advisor in Seneca County for two years. We moved to Graytown in November 2019, and in

2021, I became a 4-H advisor in Ottawa County. In 2022, Zak and Molly Avers approached me about a volunteer opportunity as the fairground's secretary, working alongside Amy Risch. I thoroughly enjoyed working with the fairgrounds and assisting the Senior Fairboard. So, in November 2023, I officially joined the Fairboard. Currently, I am the Buildings and Grounds Rental Chairman and also serve on several other committees, in addition to continuing as the fairground’s secretary.

 

What motivates you to dedicate time and effort to the Fairboard and the many hours leading up to the Fair?

My kids. My kids are my motivation for everything I do. As a homeschooling mom to five amazing children, I want to set an example for them. Gracie, nearly 19 and a 2023 graduate, is now an apprentice with the Local 18 Operating Engineers Union. Kole, 16, is working at Hasselbach Meats, learning the trade. Kase, 14, works at the concession stand at the Graytown ballpark. Mercy, 6, and Kap, 4, love coming with me to the fairgrounds office and helping me with whatever needs to be done.

 

Being on the Fairboard, having a vote on issues, and having a say in the fair ensures that there is a fair for my kids to participate in. All three of our older kids have been or are involved with the Junior Fairboard, Junior Leadership, Carteens, and as Camp Counselors. If my role on the Fairboard shows them that volunteering is important and that we can make a difference, then I've succeeded as both their mom and teacher.

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What are you most excited about for the 60th annual Fair this year?

I am really excited about the entertainment lineup Diana (Chambers) and the Entertainment Committee have pulled together. It shouldreally be a great week of events!

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What makes our county fair unique compared to others?

Our county is small yet spread out, making it interesting to see the diverse demographics when you look closely. It's wonderful to see people who don't usually interact in their day-to-day lives come together for the week, especially the kids who participate in the Junior Fairboard and all the 4-H activities.

 

What do you hope attendees take away from their experience at the fair?

I hope attendees leave the fair with a strong sense of community and an appreciation for the hard work that goes into organizing such an event. I never realized just how many intricate details go into planning not only the fair week but also the day-to-day operations of the fairgrounds and Fairboard. A lot of work, thought, and time goes into preparing for the third full week of July in Ottawa County.

 

I am blessed to be a part of this process and to work alongside the rest of the board to bring the fair together. It isn't easy, but seeing my kids participate in Junior Fair events, enjoy the entertainment, and the friendships I've made on the Fairboard make it all worthwhile. I wouldn't have it any other way.

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DANI MCLAUGHLIN

Chairperson, Open Class

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Tell us more about yourself and how you became involved with the Sr. Fairboard?

I started helping out at the Junior Fairboard with my family (the Millers) when I was a kid in 4-H. Later, I got

involved again when my son joined 4-H as a Cloverbud. People often asked if I would run for the Fairboard,

and I always said I would consider it after my son graduated high school. When he graduated in 2022, a

friend brought me the paperwork, and I've been a Fairboard member ever since.

 

What motivates you to dedicate time & effort to the Fairboard?

As an advisor for the Ace of Clubs 4-H Club, I keep members and parents updated on everything

happening at the fair. My motivation comes from a deep commitment to ensuring the fair is both fun

and safe for everyone. The countless hours leading up to the fair are driven by my passion for creating

memorable and positive experiences for the community, particularly for the young members of 4-H.

 

How does the Fairboard decide which events, concessions, competitions, and entertainment to include each year?

Each year, we strive to introduce something new and exciting for everyone. We gather feedback from attendees to understand what they liked and disliked, ensuring we improve each year. We closely monitor event attendance to identify any declining interest. Additionally, we attend the Ohio Fair Managers Association (OFMA) conference to discover new acts and vendor. By combining community input and and what we learn from OFMA, we work to create engaging fair experience for all.

 

What are you most excited about for the 60th annual Fair this year?

For the 60th annual Fair this year, I am most excited about the Tractor Pulls and celebrating the 50th Anniversary of Babyland.

 

What makes our county fair unique compared to others?

What makes our county fair unique compared to others is Babyland. We have had many different counties ask how we organize it and whether the Ace of Clubs members could assist their county's club in setting up a similar attraction at their fair.

 

What do you hope attendees take away from their experience at the fair?

I hope they have a great time and make a lot of memories!

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SHERRI KLEINHANS

1st Vice President

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Tell us more about yourself and how you became involved with the Sr. Fairboard.

I started in 4-H at 9 years old, but I was attending the Fair long before that. My entire family, on both my

mom’s and dad’s sides, were deeply involved in 4-H. My parents were 4-H advisors even before I joined,

and many of my relatives were also 4-H advisors, members, and even Sr. Fairboard directors. I continued

with 4-H through high school and was elected to the Sr. Fairboard a couple of years later. However, I

wanted to be more hands-on with our youth, so I became a 4-H advisor for a horse club, where I stayed for

about 15 years. Eventually, I felt called back to the Sr. Fairboard, where I’ve been serving for the last 12 to

15 years!

 

Currently, I serve as the 1st Vice President of the board and Chairperson of the Beautification

and Special Events committees. I also oversee the Demo Derby and Autocross events during 

the Fair and the Autocross event in the fall. Additionally, I am a member of the Entertainment,

Maintenance, and Rental committees.

 

What motivates you to dedicate time and effort to the Fairboard and the many hours leading up to Fair Week?

Knowing how important 4-H was to me growing up and how much fun the fair was, I want to provide that same experience for kids who aren’t involved in sports or other extracurricular activities. I not only learned a lot but also made many friends that I wouldn’t have had if not for 4-H and attending the Fair, camp, Jr. Leadership, Jr. Fairboard, and committees.

 

What are one or two highlights of your time on the Sr. Fairboard?

During my first year on the Fairboard (the second time I joined), we weren’t sure if we could even have a fair. We were financially in the red, and it took a private individual cosigning a $50,000 loan for us to proceed. Despite this challenge, we pulled together as a mostly new board, created a plan to pay off the loan, and developed an operating plan to avoid future loans. We paid off all debts and rebuilt trust with the Ottawa County Commissioners, the community, and businesses. Thanks to incredible support, we have built new barns, made major repairs, and brought in more events for the Fair.

 

How does the Fairboard decide which events, concessions, competitions, and entertainment to include each year?

Every January, we attend the Fair Managers Convention in Columbus, where vendors and entertainers present what they offer. Our entertainment committee then decides which attractions we think will draw people to the Fair and fit within our budget.

 

What are you most excited about for the 60th annual Fair this year?

All the entertainment! We have more this year than in years past, which is very exciting.

 

What makes the Ottawa County Fair unique?

Unlike other fairs, the Ottawa County Fairgrounds is located on the Portage River and offers a large camping area for people to stay and experience everything the Fair has to offer for the entire week.

 

How has the Ottawa County Fair evolved over the years to meet the changing needs and interests of the community?

We have several buildings available to rent for weddings, parties, fundraisers, and more, which helps offset expenses year-round. Additionally, the Ottawa County Horse Foundation was created to improve the horse program at the fairgrounds. They envisioned a new arena for our youth to show in during the Fair, even in heavy rainfall, and to host horse shows throughout the year. What you see today is a result of those efforts.

 

Are there any new initiatives or plans that you're excited about?

We are excited about a new kitchen area that will soon be added to Damschroder Hall. This addition will increase the types of events the Hall can host. Special thanks to the Ottawa County Commissioners for their support in funding this project.

 

What do you hope people take away from the Fair when they come?

I hope they enjoy it so much that they come back year after year and even decide to become sponsors. We have many different opportunities for involvement!

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MIKE LIBBEN

2nd Vice President

 

Tell us more about yourself and how you became involved with the Sr. Fairboard?

I grew up on a farm in Port Clinton and was active with 4-H and the Fair all my childhood. My dad, Bob, was one of

the directors on the Fairboard so I spent a lot of time on the grounds with that generation and learned about all

the hard work they put into growing the facility and the Fair itself. Currently, I serve as 2nd Vice President and

head up sponsorships and grants as well as assist with renting of the facilities.

 

What motivates you to dedicate time and effort to the Fairboard and the many hours

leading up to the Fair?

I enjoy reaching out to our community and getting their involvement in sponsoring the fair. We could not do this

without the community’s support and I am thankful for all who step up to show that support every year. I also like writing grant requests that ultimately help us improve the fairgrounds for everyone to enjoy.

 

What are one or two highlights of your time on the Fairboard?

We have developed a great relationship with our Ottawa County Commissioners – Don Douglas, Mark Stahl and Mark Coppeler. We are grateful for their increased support and in appropriating funding to upgrade facilities like Damschroder Hall (B3), show barn bleachers, GenoaBank Pavilion, etc.

 

How does the Fairboard decide which events, concessions, competitions, and entertainment to include each year?

Post fair we always debrief to discuss what went right, wrong, needs improvement and what was a ‘big hit’ that we need to make sure to bring back. We also attend the annual fairs convention in Columbus where we find new ideas. Usually by early January we are well on our way to having the Fair planned.

 

What are you most excited about for the 60th annual Fair this year?

The 60th Fair is a great time to reflect on where we started and what we have grown it in to. In fact, there are folks who have been involved in all 60 years and I’m excited to hear their stories.

 

What makes the Ottawa County Fair unique?

No Fair in the state has a setting like ours - in the country, away from the city, and sitting with a racetrack on the banks of the Portage River. I challenge any fair to come up with a better location than that!

 

Are there any new initiatives or plans that you're excited about?

We are planning another addition to Damschroder Hall which will be a prep-kitchen. Construction will start later this year. With that addition to the facility, we will provide a more comprehensive location for weddings, fundraisers, and any other events the community may need.