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Ohio fair group recognizes innovators at county level
 


COLUMBUS, Ohio — The Ohio Fair Managers Assoc. (OFMA) inducted three individuals and one couple into the Ohio Fairs Hall of Fame Class of 2018 this spring.

The OFMA also recognized 36 other people across the state for their outstanding service to local fairs. The event took place during the 93rd annual Ohio Fairs Convention, which provides a venue to recognize those individuals and events that go above and beyond to advance the mission of Ohio fairs, as well as an educational opportunity for those actively involved with their local fair boards and activities.

“Support of the local economy and work to educate the public on the importance of agriculture and the numerous necessities it provides are a portion of what Ohio’s 94 county and independent fairs, the Ohio State Fair and more than 240 associate members accomplish,” Ohio Department of Agriculture Director David Daniels said.

Hall of Fame inductees include the late Russell and Barbara Kissel, of Kissel Brothers Shows, Fred Piehl (Auglaize County Fair), James Long (Carroll County Fair) and Ray Davis (Harding County Fair).

While working at General Electric, Russell Kissel helped his father for an amusement ride business in 1969, working weekends at small carnivals with a few rides and concessions. In 1976, he took over his father’s business and in 1978 he purchased his first new ride (called The Hurricane) for roughly $78,000.

By 1988 the Kissels had three mobile units, servicing county fairs across Ohio as well as many church festivals in the state. The Kissel Brothers name appears at most of Ohio’s 88 county fairs to this date.

Russell served on the Ohio Ride Safety advisory board and was an active member of the Greater Ohio Showman’s Assoc.

Piehl served as Auglaize County Fair director for 10 years and was the fair’s manager for 25 years before retiring in 1917. He improved this fair with his leadership, construction knowledge and financial stewardship.

“The fair has been a big part of my life,” Piehl said. “I haven’t missed a fair since I was 8 years old.”

Long served the Carroll County Fair as president for eight years and vice president for another eight. He is mostly known for his service as superintendent for the cattle and dairy department at that fair for many years. Long still owns and operates a 350-acre farm in the county.

Davis gave 37 years of service to the Hardin County Fair, serving as president, vice president and working with 10 various committees over those years. He is a former president of the Ohio Dairy Goat Assoc. and Hardin County Draft Horse Assoc., and was a member of the Painter Creek Grange for 60 years.

He also served as an advisor for the Hootenanny 4-H Club for 32 years.

Thirty-six other Ohioans were recognized for outstanding service to their local fairs. Of this group, eight received the Director’s Award for Innovation and Excellence for their progressive ideas and actions to improve and strengthen their fairs.

Daniels presented these awards to Tom Mazzaro (Ashtabula County), Chris Neal (Brown County), Bert Dawson (Columbia County), Chip Thomson (Delaware County), Esther McCoy (Jefferson County), Dennis Schroeder (Putnam County) and Cathy Cunningham and Theresa Call (Summit County).

Presented the 2018 Certificates of Achievement were: Harold Stoner (Allen County), Tom White (Adams County), Rondal Bostic (Ashland County), Matt Mowrer (Belmont County), Don Swenson (Clark County), Jim Parker (Clermont County), Charles Karr (Coshocton County), Jack Scott (Crawford County), Larry Moreland (Delaware County), Jay Clements (Greene County), Kim Hammond (Hamilton County), Ray Davis (Hardin County), Ronald Myers (Harrison County), Leo Zentz (Henry County), Candy Tripp (Marion County), Dr. Kelly Parker (Medina County), Steve Leffel (Miami County), Tom Winkler and Alberta Winkler (Monroe County), Janet Hawvermale (Montgomery County), Fred Wilson and George Wilson (Muskingum County), Wayne Schroeder (Preble County), Chuck Clouse (Seneca County), Robert Geuy (Shelby County), Ralph Regula (Stark County), Glenn Harmon (Wayne County) and Florian Chirra (Williams County).

In other business, newly elected officers for the OFMA include Dan Bullen as president (with Greene County Fair, Xenia), Rod Arter as first vice president (Hartford Independent Fair, Croton), Paul Harris as second vice president (Geauga County Fair, Burton) and Robert Dawson as treasurer (Lake County Fair, Painesville).

For more information on Ohio’s fairs, including a listing of fair dates and related schedules for the 2018 season, visit www.agri.ohio.gov

5/23/2018