Madison Messenger - July 12th, 2020

www.madisonmessengernews.com July 12, 2020 - MADISON MESSENGER - Page 7
2020 Madison County Fair
Figuring out fundraising in unprecedented times
By Kristy Zurbrick
Madison Editor
So much is different about this year’s
Madison County Fair, including funding.
State government officials have promised
$50,000 to any county agricultural society
that puts on a Junior Fair this year. Madison
County falls into that category, with the
Junior Fair set for July 12-18. However, the
fair’s organizers have yet to receive the
funding or details about how it can be spent.
Darrell Champer, president of the Madison
County Agricultural Society (senior fair
board), said he estimates the Junior Fair
will cost between $30,000 and $50,000 to
put on this year. He noted that the fair
board has lost between $40,000 and $60,000
in fairgrounds facility rental revenues over
the past four months due to COVID-19-related
shutdowns and restrictions.
“People have asked why we keep raising
money and soliciting donations if there is a
$50,000 grant available,” said Quinton
Keeran, chairman of the fair board’s marketing
and public relations committee. “It’s
simple. This is no different than any other
year for fundraising. We always ask every
year; it’s an opportunity to support youth
development.
“The $50,000 (grant) right now is a verbal
make-nice. We don’t have it in our
hands. We do have to continue to move forward
with the finances we have in hand.”
To that end, the fair board has organized
some new fundraisers this year, one of
which spawned from an anonymous donor
who is matching dollar-for-dollar every donation
made by the community to a gofundme
account that can be accessed from
the Madison County Fair’s Facebook page.
“The money raised will go toward any aspect
of the Junior Fair—ribbons, awards
prizes, costs associated with COVID-19
compliance—any costs to run the Junior
Fair,” Keeran said. “This anonymous donor
said there’s enough to worry about—logistics,
volunteers, and taking on doing something
differently. They want to provide a financial
safeguard.”
The fundraising goal for the gofundme
campaign is $20,000, which the anonymous
donor will match with another $20,000. As
of the week before the fair, the total was at
$2,000 from the community.
Several individuals and businesses have
expressed interest in being involved.
“We have seen some excitement. People
want to make sure in this time of uncertainty
that there’s something for the youth.
I appreciate that, and the board appreciates
that,” Keeran said.
During fair week, posters featuring a
scannable QR code will allow visitors to donate
to the gofundme campaign using their
mobile devices. The campaign will remain
open through fair week and possibly longer.
Trisha Geyman, fairgrounds manager, is
helping to organize another fundraiser—a
silent auction of baskets filled with merchandise
and gift cards. The baskets will be
displayed in the Coughlin Community Center
throughout fair week. Bidding will end
on the afternoon of July 18.
Geyman also can provide information to
Paige Sifrit (left) and her sister, Peyton,
display some of the carpenter bee traps
they made and sold this spring to raise
money for this year’s Madison County Junior
Fair. The pair raised $1,000, which they
recently donated to the Junior Fair Board.
The girls are Jonathan Alder students, residents
of Plain City, and members of the
Beginners to Winners 4-H Club.
anyone who would like to fund specific sponsorships
for this year’s fair.
Support also is welcome via traditional
donations. Checks can be made out to
“Madison County Agricultural Society” and
dropped off at the fair secretary’s office at
the fairgrounds during fair week or mailed
Numbers down but excitement high Livestock auction
to P.O. Box 2020, London, OH 43140.
The Junior Fair Board also has been
busy fundraising, as well. Normally, the
group sends out letters to potential donors
in February. This year, those letters went
out in early June, shortly after the senior
fair board decided to go ahead with a Junior
Fair this year.
“We haven’t received as many donations
as usual—about 50 percent of what we usually
get,” said Savannah Brock, the lead
Junior Fair coordinator. “We have a little
over $8,000 so far, but that is enough for
banners, trophies and ribbons.”
Brock said the board has scaled down its
expenses. For example, they are sticking
with flat ribbons and cutting out rosettes
which cost more.
The group continues to collect donations.
Checks can be made out to “Madison
County Junior Fair Board” and dropped off
at the fair secretary’s office on the fairgrounds
during fair week or mailed to P.O.
Box 267, London, OH 43140.
The senior and junior fair boards work
together to put on the fair and cover expenses.
Adults aren’t the only ones doing the
heavy lifting when it comes fundraising.
Youth exhibitors are doing their part, too.
Sisters Paige and Peyton Sifrit, members of
the Beginners to Winners 4-H Club and residents
of Plain City, are one example. The
pair made and sold carpenter bee traps.
Through this effort, they raised $1,000
which they recently donated to the Junior
Fair Board.
By Kristy Zurbrick
Madison Editor
The ripple effects of the COVID-19 pandemic
have had a significant impact on the
number of youths participating in this
year’s Madison County Junior Fair.
Normally, approximately 630 4-Hers and
80 to 100 FFA members sign up to exhibit
projects at the fair, making for a total of 710
to 730 exhibitors. This year, that total is
404—a 45 percent drop.
Savannah Brock, the lead Junior Fair coordinator,
said several factors appear to
have contributed to the decrease in participation.
Among them was uncertainty.
This spring, as fair organizers waited for
word from state leaders about if and how
fairs and festivals could proceed, exhibitors
wondered if there would be a fair at all. The
availability of meat packers was up in the
air for a while, too. The senior fair board
voted on May 20 to hold a Junior Fair only.
Some families had already opted out due to
the uncertainty.
Health concerns also likely played a role
in the downturn in participation.
“You have to take into consideration that
some people just aren’t comfortable being in
that kind of environment with COVID going
on,” Brock said.
She noted that the No. 1 question she received
from potential exhibitors was whether
they had to wear masks. Generally speaking,
exhibitors are not required to wear masks,
but fair organizers are highly encouraging
them to do so. The exceptions are exhibitors
with small projects, such as rabbits or poultry,
that require them to be within six feet of
the judge. Those youths must wear masks
while close to the judge, unless the judge is
wearing a face shield. Organizers have purchased
face shields for judges to wear.
Brock also said some youths decided to
skip this year’s fair because the experience
just wasn’t going to be the same as in years
past. Many participants spend the whole
week at the fair, moving their projects in on
Saturday and staying until the next Saturday.
It’s a chance to hang out with friends
for a week. This year, most projects must be
moved in and out on the same day they are
shown, and there are no rides or games and
just one night of entertainment.
Along with the decrease in the number of
participants, Brock anticipates a decrease
in the number of projects youths are bringing
to the fair. She pointed to her daughter
as an example; her daughter usually shows
a dairy cow every year but decided to only
show her photography project this year.
Brock said show classes will look different
this year.
“Before, we maybe would have 8-yearold,
9-year-old, and 10-year-old classes—each
of them full. Now, we might be combining
age groups,” she said. “We’ve tried to do our
best to keep it to nine or 10 kids in a show
class. Some might only have five because of
the 10-person limit.”
Even with the drop in number of exhibitors
and the logistics that COVID-19
safety measures require, Brock is looking
forward to seeing Madison County’s 4-H and
FFA youths in action this week.
“I’m still excited we’re going to have a
fair, and I’m still excited for the kids who
were willing to come,” she said.
taking place at
bwfinaldrive.com
The Madison County Junior Fair
Livestock Sale is taking place online this
year. The auction will run from 9 a.m.
July 18 through 6 p.m. July 19. Breeders
World, an online livestock auction house,
is handling the sale.
Anyone interested in placing bids can
register at www.bwfinaldrive.com. Look
for the “Login/Register” button in the top
right corner of the home page. Madison
County’s sale is listed under “Upcoming
Youth Auctions.”
The set-up accommodates boosts—
money added to an exhibitor’s take after
bidding closes. The system will remain
open for boosts and add-ons through 6
p.m. July 24.
For more information bout the sale,
call (740) 852-1654 or send questions to
madisoncountysalescommittee@gmail.com.