Changes were approved for Pioneer Park on the Wood County Fairgrounds at Thursday’s meeting.  
The park area is best recognized by the old train depot located there as well as the blacksmith shop. The
Wood County Park District was granted permission to install a pathway in the area.
During the fair, beginning this year, the district will have its booth in the area, along with similar
exhibits including but not limited to the Wood County Soil and Water District and the Farm Bureau.
Officials from the park district at the meeting indicated they are considering also having a tent with
picnic tables to allow fair-goers another space to rest and eat. The area is located between the
racetrack and some of the horse barns.
The plan is designed to preserve the area as a “green space” amongst the hustle and bustle of the fair.
The fair board also expects some of the vendors to relocate to the area.
The popular Catch-a-Pig event will return this year. The committee announced because of increased costs,
half-pig sponsorships will be used this year to allow more people to sponsor the pigs.
The event was not held last year due to concerns of viruses and illness possibilities.
As previously announced, the Bowling Green Independent Order of Odd Fellows has relinquished its lease on
the use of its former food service building along the east-west midway. On Thursday, the board agreed to
purchase all the contents of the building from the organization. Those contents include kitchen
equipment ranging from commercial-grade freezers and refrigerators to pots and pans for $6,000.
As with the other buildings on the grounds, the building is already owned by the Wood County Agricultural
Society (fair board) so there is no transfer or other formalities needed.
There was some discussion regarding the future use of the building, both during the fair as well as the
possibility of having fundraising events during the year. The board members indicated there was no need
to finalize any such plans, however, it was felt the purchase of the equipment was a good value for the
board.
Although it will not affect most of the youth involved in the livestock sale at the close of the fair,
those who do provide a list of multiple buyers will need to observe a new rule which establishes a
deadline of July 17 for those lists to be filed. There will be no add-ons allowed for those lists after
the deadline.
At the sale, that list will become the starting bid for that animal. Should someone choose to bid higher,
the list will be void and the auction will proceed as normal.
The board instituted this policy primarily for accounting purposes as the “stickie notes” used for
add-ons can be cumbersome and opens the door for errors.
This policy does not apply to the grand and reserve champions, nor does it include the organizations and
businesses which provide a bonus to all the exhibitors.
The barn fund donation, which was started last year as an option, will continue. However, it must be a
specific designated amount as the computer cannot process a percentage of sale price donation.
The board also approved adopting a special promotion on Tuesday of fair week to allow half-price
admission during select hours with the donation of a food item.
The items donated will go to Wood County food pantries.
As part of the educational aspect of this project, the board is in discussion with an area television
station for remote broadcasts from the fair regarding the food donations and the relationship with the
farm aspects of the fair.
Despite the limitations of not selling their animals, those exhibiting in the dairy department have
participated in the annual livestock sale by offering ice cream for sale to support the dairy
exhibitors. This year the board learned the dairy goat department will offer a special gift basket for
sale at the show to support the dairy goat exhibitors.
As of this morning, tickets for both fair concerts went on sale.
Tickets are now available for either or both the Oak Ridge Boys and Night Ranger concerts by visiting the
office during business hours, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., Monday through Friday; online at
www.woodcounty-fair.com; or by calling the fair office at 419-352-0441.