The Ottawa County Agricultural Society (0CAS) hosted another special meeting last week to work on plans for the 56th annual Ottawa County Fair on July 20-26, and some additions were included, reported Board President Zak Avers.

Updates from the Safe RestartOhio guidelines and state funding sparked conversations on what events were now possible. The OCAS board of directors voted to allow limited camping and added the demolition derby and square dance to the schedule. Some Junior Fair updates were also approved.

The board waived all late fees associated with the Blue Ribbon registration deadlines and cut off any changes to fair events earlier this week.

An option for week-long animal stays was also approved. Fact sheets displaying all pertinent details will be made available over the coming days.

“With regulations constantly changing, it is important that we flex with them and do everything we can to reach the potential of this year’s fair,” said Avers.

Grandstand and ground entertainment are now potentially viable options given the reduction in regulations and some new financial opportunities. With the demolition derby being one of the most popular events of the normal fair schedule, it was determined that a break even scenario was likely for the show, even as a nearly stand alone event.

Grandstand capacity will be addressed along with other social distancing and health practices. The derby was added back to its 7:30 p.m. slot on Friday, July 24. Admission was also changed. All entries will be $10 and considered a General Admission/Pit Pass. There will be no reserved seating for this event.

The square dance on Saturday, July 25 was also approved by the board. Plans are still being discussed on how to assure the event complies with current health and safety measures. Other postponed entertainment was considered to be too financially risky for the board to approve at this time.

Added entertainment and reduced restrictions also gave the board the ability to reconsider camping. The board did approve a limited camping plan of allowing move in on Sunday, July 19, with a check out on Sunday, July 26 for Exhibitors, Superintendants, Junior Fair Advisors, and Senior Fair Board Members who already had a 2020 camping contract on file.

Those individuals will have until July 6 to confirm a new contract and provide the $200 prepaid fee. After that deadline, any remaining spots will be at a first-come, first-served basis.

In a previous meeting, all 2020 camping contracts and payments were rolled over to 2021.

The board also addressed some Jr Fair concerns during the meeting. With flexibility in mind and the understanding that deadlines and requirements have continuously changed this year, the board waived all late fees associated with the Blue Ribbon online registrations for the Junior Fair. The online system closed June 15, requiring all completions, additions or changes be delivered to the Senior Fair Board Office in hard copy.

With the addition of camping and the elimination of a 72-hour time restraint on animal stays, week-long boarding for exhibition animals required consideration. Deciding to leave the Junior Fair schedule unchanged, approval was given to extend to exhibitors the option of bringing those animals on Sunday, July 19.

For more information, visit ottawacountyfair.org or the Ottawa County Fair Facebook page.