Nice weather helps make fair a success

CELINA - Despite a drop in some entries due to heavy rains earlier this summer and a state-ordered moratorium on poultry exhibits, officials say the 163rd Mercer County Fair was a success.

"We were very pleased with attendance," fair manager Cara Muhlenkamp said on Thursday, the last day of festivities. "From looking at the numbers, we felt that we were up at least 5,000 on Saturday alone. We estimate 40,000 people ... attended the fair during the seven days."

Attendance continues to grow and she hopes to reach the 50,000 mark in a few years, she said.

Muhlenkamp said the number of agricultural and floral exhibits dropped this year due to heavy rain and flooding in the area in June and early July.

"The rainy summer was very hard on the agricultural exhibits," she said. "Many folks did not have anything in their gardens."

Weather during the fair, however, was nearly perfect with sunny skies and highs in the 80s most days.

"Wednesday was the only day that we feel the potential rain might have hurt us," Muhlenkamp said. "Numbers were still good but not as high as in recent years."

The concerts - Friday night with Eric Paslay, Craig Campbell and opening act John Thompson and Saturday night with Count's 77 - "were huge hits this year," she said.

The fair board annually calculates expenses and profits to ensure the concerts at least break even, as they did this year, Muhlenkamp explained.

"We base our purchase prices off a 70 percent sellout, so anything above that is a bonus," she said. "I must say that going into the fair and having two concerts was a big risk. We are all very proud of the positive outcome along with how well it was attended."

A large crowd was on hand for the first-ever "Cruize-In" on Saturday. Harness racing also gained popularity with about 50 additional horses competing during this year's two-day event, Muhlenkamp said.

"The fair board had to put up an extra tent with stalls for the extra horses," she said.

Fair sponsorship also grew this year to the delight of the fair board, she said. Totals for presale ride and exhibitor tickets, as well as final attendance numbers, weren't available at press time.

Muhlenkamp said the fair board greatly appreciates the community support and strives hard to make the annual event the best it can be year after year.

"I have a box on my desk with many notes and ideas that we have all been contributing to," she said. "The Mercer County Fair Board wants nothing more than to be the best fair in the area."