“We are going to follow county guidelines with face masks and social distancing,” Turner said.
Previous state orders prompted an initial cancellation of the annual fair, which has operated since 1851. Subsequent loosening of restrictions allowed the fair board to plan for several aspects of the fair, including livestock showings by youth participants, but no auction sales of their animals or birds will take place.
The general public will be allowed into the Hamilton fairgrounds to enjoy some parts of the annual event. Food vendors and some games will be open, but there will be no amusement rides this season.
Those features won’t help the fair make up for financial losses. Even with Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine signing an executive order last month giving all fairs $50,000 each in state money, “it’s a drop in the bucket” compared to what the fair needs to sustain itself, Turner said.
“Where we make our money is with the open class shows and the rides and games and events in the grandstands,” he said. “Doing the junior fair show is going to cost us money, it’s not going to make us money. That’s why we’ve asked for donations and help financially.”
The crowning of the 2020 Butler County Fair queen and king, Madeline Kidd and Justin Beckner, was “very different than we’ve ever had before,” Turner said.
“We weren’t allowed to have the public in to watch, and they had to social distance,” he said. “There was a lot of (things) that they typically did that we couldn’t do this year.”
That, he said, was a result of rules enacted by the Ohio State University Extension because the Junior Fair King & Queen contest is an event put on by 4-H, which is under the auspices of the OSU Extension.
Extended hours for the fair on July 31 will allow for the 2020 Demolition Derby, the 31st annual installment of the popular event. Grandstand tickets are on sale at www.butlercountyohfair.org/demolition-derby for $10 each for all ages, and only 1,500 tickets can be sold.
Social distancing will be maintained at the derby by using only half the seats in the grandstand. Fans this year also will have the option of standing viewing from around the enclosed pen where cars crash into one another until only one is left as the winner.
The 2020 Butler County Fair tractor pull is scheduled for 4 p.m. Monday. Classes will include antique tractor pulling, farm stock tractor pulling and stock and hot semi pulling, Turner said. There will be grudge matches for V-8 Hot Rod tractors and Alter Farm tractors. Hook fees and admission at the grandstand will be based on a donation.
Parking at the Butler County Fair will differ from previous years, Turner said. Passenger vehicles will not be permitted to use the Stockman’s Gate for entry or parking, as that gate will be used for livestock trailers only Parking for all others will be in the general parking area, which is accessible from Fair Avenue.
“This has been more difficult for the board than any fair than we’ve ever put on,” Turner said. “We know that there’s going to be issues that come forth and we are just asking everybody to remain calm and we’ll work through them and get through this all ... it’ll be fine.
“It’s different, none of us like it, none of us like anything that we’re having to do and the way it’s going to be, but we’re trying to do the best we can do for the kids.”
IF YOU GO
WHAT: 2020 Butler County Fair
WHERE: 1715 Fairgrove Ave., Hamilton
WHEN: 5 to 9 p.m. Saturday through Thursday, July 30, then 5 to 11 p.m. Friday, July 31.
DETAILS: www.butlercountyohfair.org
PARKING: accessible from Fair Avenue.
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