Many of us can’t think about the Ohio State Fair without thinking about agriculture. The two simply go hand in hand. In fact, it was farmers who started the fair, and it has been a great venue to attract diverse audiences to give agriculture an opportunity to showcase our work.

The history of the Ohio State Fair and Expo Center is well documented, but its future is currently up for debate.

In 2019, Gov. Mike DeWine created the Ohio Expo 2050 Task Force (Expo 2050) and charged this group with reviewing the Expo Center and State Fair experience. He asked the members to develop and recommend a Strategic Vision Plan that will enhance the use and enjoyment of the property in the future.

As one of the biggest supporters of the State Fair, Ohio agriculture certainly needs to be a part of the discussion as conversations continue to ramp up about the future of the Ohio State Fair and Ohio Expo Center site.

To ensure that the input, ideas and concerns of the agriculture industry are heard and acknowledged through this process, key leading Ohio agricultural groups, including and coordinated by Ohio Farm Bureau, have offered recommendations to the Expo 2050, the Ohio Expo and State Fair Commission, as well as public sector leaders and influencers. After all, very few know the Expo Center grounds, facilities and the benefits and challenges that come with them better than agriculture.

When a task force is created, every possible scenario is put on the table. So our first recommendation is to keep the Ohio State Fair where it is. The Expo Center serves as an ideal centralized location that brings in both the agriculture community as well as the public from all walks of life. Moving the venue would damage the mission of the State Fair and would have adverse implications to its financial viability, as most dynamic and successful state fairs are located in more densely populated areas.

We also don’t want to see the footprint of the fair reduced any more than it already has been. The current space is ample enough to host events throughout the year, but if it continues to be diced up for other uses that gobble up parking lots and other important facilities, it will greatly harm the overall ability for the Expo Center to remain successful.
Lastly and most importantly, we are asking for significant investments to upgrade or rebuild facilities that have outlived their usefulness, including the Ohio Building, the Ag & Hort Building, Cooper Arena and the Dairy Products Building. We are also asking for funding to preserve the viaduct and to improve parking options. These enhancements will give the entire Ohio Expo Center the potential to be a nationally recognized showplace with the ability to bring in top-notch events throughout the year, creating an amazing asset to the state, taxpayers and consumers.

I look forward to getting back to a full state fair this summer. As I reminisce about my favorite moments, I will envision how these proposed improvements will make the great Ohio State Fair even better. My hope is that those involved in determining its future will see it, too.

Labor has always been an issue, mainly because we are a seasonal operation. So that's a challenge finding somebody who only wants to work three months out of a year, sometimes up to six months.
Mandy Way's avatar
Mandy Way

Way Farms

Farm Labor Resources
I appreciate the benefit of having a strong voice in my corner. The extras that are included in membership are wonderful, but I'm a member because of the positive impact to my local and state agricultural communities.
Ernie Welch's avatar
Ernie Welch

Van Wert County Farm Bureau

Strong communities
I see the value and need to be engaged in the community I live in, to be a part of the decision-making process and to volunteer with organizations that help make our community better.
Matt Aultman's avatar
Matt Aultman

Darke County Farm Bureau

Leadership development
Farm Bureau involvement has taught me how to grow my professional and leadership experience outside of the workforce and how to do that in a community-centric way.
Jaclyn De Candio's avatar
Jaclyn De Candio

Clark County Farm Bureau

Young Ag Professionals program
With not growing up on a farm, I’d say I was a late bloomer to agriculture. I feel so fortunate that I found the agriculture industry. There are so many opportunities for growth.
Jenna Gregorich's avatar
Jenna Gregorich

Coshocton County Farm Bureau

Growing our Generation
Knowing that horticulture is under the agriculture umbrella and having Farm Bureau supporting horticulture like it does the rest of ag is very important.
Jared Hughes's avatar
Jared Hughes

Groovy Plants Ranch

Groovy Plants Ranch
If it wasn't for Farm Bureau, I personally, along with many others, would not have had the opportunity to meet with our representatives face to face in Washington.
Austin Heil's avatar
Austin Heil

Hardin County Farm Bureau

Washington, D.C. Leadership Experience
So many of the issues that OFBF and its members are advocating for are important to all Ohioans. I look at OFBF as an agricultural watchdog advocating for farmers and rural communities across Ohio.
Mary Smallsreed's avatar
Mary Smallsreed

Trumbull County Farm Bureau

Advocacy
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