COLUMBUS, Ohio – The Ohio Expo Center is one of the most dynamic and unique event venues in the Midwest. In addition to being home to the annual Ohio State Fair, more than 200 year-round events are proud to call the Ohio Expo Center home. The campus features 20 unique buildings, including historic turn-of-the-century pavilions, multi-purpose buildings, basketball courts, an ice rink and a 10,000-seat arena. The Ohio Expo Center occupies 360 acres and is in the heart of Columbus.

The Ohio Expo Center is also home to five of Columbus’ top 10 events: the All-American Quarter Horse Congress, Equine Affaire, Goodguys Rod & Custom Car Show, Ohio Beef Expo and Deer & Turkey Expo.

But the past three years have been a struggle for Ohio State Fair and Ohio Expo Center. COVID-19 put a crimp in the normally busy schedule, often scrubbing events altogether. Add to that supply chain issues, labor shortages and skyrocketing costs, and the picture quickly becomes bleak. Several of the buildings on the grounds badly need renovated.

Seeing this steady decline, Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine announced the creation of a task force to develop a long-term vision for the Ohio Expo Center.

“At the Ohio State Fair and other events that occur here, there are countless ways to have fun,” DeWine said. “We need to find ways to keep that excitement going all year long, so I am announcing the formation of a task force called ‘Expo 2050,’ to take stock of all of the great things going on at the Ohio Expo Center.”

A 20-member task force was charged with reviewing the Expo experience, including the assets and activities of the Ohio Expo Center, the Ohio History Connection, and Mapfre Stadium.

Agriculture groups provided input as well. The nine major agriculture groups making the recommendations to that task force were the Ohio AgriBusiness Association, Ohio Cattlemen’s Association, Ohio Corn & Wheat Growers Association, Ohio Dairy Producers Association, Ohio Farm Bureau, Ohio Pork Council, Ohio Poultry Association, Ohio Sheep Improvement Association, and Ohio Soybean Association.

The Ohio State Fair kicked off July 27 and fairgoers, exhibitors and vendors are looking forward to a return to a full Ohio State Fair with a bright future ahead at the current location.

“A successful future will require some change and significant investment,’ said Ty Higgins, senior director of communications and media relations for Ohio Farm Bureau.

This past winter, those groups released their recommendations to the task force to modernize the Ohio Expo Center and State Fair. These proposals were sent to the DeWine administration, the Ohio Expo and State Fair Commission, the State of Ohio, other public sector leaders and to the Ohio Expo 2050 Task Force.

Two key goals of the task force are to make sure the State Fair resides in Columbus and to invest in the Expo Center.

“It is a showcase for agriculture,” Higgins said, referring to the two. “Agriculture is one of the largest investors in the Ohio State Fair and it is our one time to showcase what farmers and Ohio agriculture do throughout the state throughout the year. For some fairgoers that might be the only time they are around a farmer or around livestock for the entire year. It is our chance to make inroads with the consumer and talk about all of the great things we are doing in agriculture.

The nine major agriculture groups had the following recommendations:

• Redesign parking throughout the fairgrounds, including new parking garages, to meet the needs of the fair and the numerous events at the Expo Center.

• Evaluate the safety and security at the Expo Center and Ohio State Fair.

• Build a new multi-use agriculture facility to provide flexibility and needed space for multiple events.

• Continue the mission of developing young people through 4-H and FFA.

• Create awareness about the vast opportunities for Ohio’s consumers and careers, and celebrate the food and agriculture sectors.

• Preserve the historical presence of the Ohio State Fair in Columbus and maintain its easily accessible location.

• Have the State of Ohio/General Assembly pass a multiyear funding measure in the state budget to improve facilities, grounds and infrastructure.

• Erect a new facility to replace the Ohio Building to accommodate increased crowds who want to taste what the state’s agriculture has to offer.

• Replace the dilapidated Donahey Agriculture & Horticulture Building, which currently serves as the fair’s flagship agriculture consumer education exhibit.

• Replace the outdated Cooper Arena and a modernized Dairy Products Building.

Throughout the remainder of 2022, architecture and design firm Wellogy will be evaluating the facilities and interviewing those who are involved with the fair or use the grounds.

Wellogy’s research will be concluded by the end of the year and by early next year, the task force, Ohio Expo Commission, governor and legislature will have Wellogy’s recommendations.