livestock building

On Tuesday, Gov. Mike DeWine announced that the remaining county and independent fairs set to take place in Ohio in 2020 will be ordered to run as junior fairs only. Read the order

“We laid down some very specific guidelines and gave each fair $50,000 to be able to put on a much safer fair,” DeWine said. “At this point as we start to head into the busiest part of the summer for county fairs, it has become increasingly clear that we cannot have a regular, safe fair in the COVID summer of 2020.”

The order sent down by DeWine will take all county and independent fairs that begin on July 31 or later to junior fairs only.

“We are seeing some fairs that are doing a very, very good job,” DeWine said as he shared examples of safety measures being taken by county fairs that have already taken place. “Yet we have seen outbreaks connected with fairs, we’ve seen a lack of distancing and we’ve seen fairs that were clearly not enforcing the statewide mask order at all.”

DeWine noted pictures in newspapers and on social media that validate his concerns.

“I think we preserved the essence of the fairs by keeping junior fairs,” DeWine said. “But I am sorry that this did not work.”

This order will limit county and independent fairs to junior fair events. Fairs that fall under this order will not be allowed to have grandstand events, rides or games and will have a 10 p.m. curfew.

Online extra

Director’s Order

Farm Bureau connections
To grow a network and gain perspective and knowledge in the industry through personal and professional development has been invaluable. Every day I learn and grow.
Ryanna Tietje's avatar
Ryanna Tietje

Henry County Farm Bureau

Farm Bureau connections
Giving farmers a voice
The issue of property taxation remains as one of the biggest challenges our members face today. Ensuring agricultural property is valued for its agricultural potential and not development is critical to the continued success of Ohio agriculture.
Matt Aultman's avatar
Matt Aultman

Darke County Farm Bureau

Giving farmers a voice
10-year campaign for safer roads
Farm Bureau is what really got the word out. It’s been one of their goals to get this done.
Bill and Charlotte Wachtman's avatar
Bill and Charlotte Wachtman

Henry County

10-year campaign for safer roads
Bringing the farm back to life
I could not have done it without the resources I have found through Farm Bureau.
Gretchan Francis's avatar
Gretchan Francis

Trumbull County Farm Bureau

Bringing the farm back to life
Farm Bureau involvement
Because we are younger farmers just starting out, Farm Bureau has a lot of good opportunities and resources to help us grow in the future.
Hannah Kiser's avatar
Hannah Kiser

Sandusky County Farm Bureau

Farm Bureau involvement
Select Partner Program
Through the Select Partner program, we became educated in farm insurance and weren't just selling policies. It became more and more clear why farmers need an advocate like Ohio Farm Bureau.
Chad Ruhl's avatar
Chad Ruhl

Farm manager, CSI Insurance

Select Partner Program
Advocacy
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
Suggested Tags: