Capital Campaign underway for Harvest Ridge expo addition

Not so long ago, Holmes County banded together in heart, soul and pocketbook to build the Holmes County Fairgrounds at Harvest Ridge.

While many outsiders said Holmes County would never make it happen, the Holmes County Senior Fair Board, local businesses, individuals and many others proved that theory incorrect.

Today, Harvest Ridge is viewed by many as one of the premier fair facilities in the state.

Now Harvest Ridge is about to develop even further — the expo center in particular — and while it won’t be the enormous undertaking that took place in developing Harvest Ridge, it will take planning and commitment from the entire community once again to add the expo building addition that will include some much-needed space to enhance the grounds.

On Tuesday, April 7, the fair board invited many key players to the expo center for an open house and introduction of the Capital Campaign Fund for the Building Addition.

The goal of the evening was to introduce how the community can be a part of the project that will add a 100-by-244-foot addition to the north side of the center. The 15,000-square-foot addition will host a new arena show area for small fair animal projects, a 4,500-square-foot formal meeting room, additional restrooms, and 3,000 square feet of storage space for equipment and fixtures.

The evening consisted of several keynote speakers, each of whom spoke on a specific need the new addition will fulfill.

Roger Boring, Holmes County Senior Fair Board president, said the board continues to receive inquiries as to how the fair board and community pulled off the creation of a fairgrounds many deemed impossible.

“People couldn’t believe it when we built Harvest Ridge because they didn’t feel there was any way it was possible financially,” Boring said. “The answer is simple; it’s this community showing its support. It’s humbling to see the way people come together in this county to support something of this magnitude, especially something of such value to our young people.”

Boring was followed by Dr. Eric Shaver, who has served as the veterinarian of the fair and 4-H for decades. Courtney Crider, vice president of the junior fair board, spoke about the excitement being generated among the 4-H and FFA community, and Harvest Ridge manager Don Snow expressed his gratitude to the fair board and community for capturing the vision of something special.

Tiffany Gerber, executive director of the Holmes County Chamber of Commerce & Tourism Bureau, spoke about the economic impact Harvest Ridge has already had on the county, noting this new addition will only enhance Harvest Ridge’s ability to invite people from both within the county and outside its borders.

Finally, senior fair board member Kerry Taylor, who spearheaded the fundraising and construction of Harvest Ridge a decade ago, talked about the role the community will play in developing this new vision for the addition and touched on some of the benefits.

“The new arena will provide much-needed indoor livestock display space for 4-H and FFA youth during the fair,” Taylor said. “We have been showing our goats and sheep in tents during fair week, which is a real disadvantage. This will eliminate our need to house animals in outdoor tents.”

He said the Capital Campaign will consist of something like what took place when the community helped build Harvest Ridge, only on a much smaller scale.

In raising the necessary $2.3 million for the addition, Taylor said there is ongoing excitement because they have already received 53% of the needed funds in gifts and pledges. That amount includes a hefty $750,000 community grant from the State of Ohio.

Taylor said in addition to giving toward the construction of the addition, there are opportunities for people or businesses to give toward naming rights of the expo center, the addition and more.

Taylor said because of the late Carl and Florence Maurer gift of $200,000, the new arena addition and show area will be named in their honor. The new formal meeting room will be named after Dr. Eric and Cheryl Shaver, who donated $100,000 toward the project.

The giving levels include Grand Champion Sponsorship ($50,000 or more), Blue Ribbon Level ($25,000-$49,999), Red Ribbon Level ($15,000-$24,999), White Ribbon Level ($5,000-$14,999) and Grassroots Level (any gift below $4,999).

“Of course, we will be grateful for any amount of donation, no matter the amount,” Taylor said.

Tekton Engineering has already created the blueprint for the addition, and Ivan Weaver Construction will tackle the task of building the new addition, with the completion date set prior to the 2027 Holmes County Fair.

“Our hope is to tell the public the story of what we want to accomplish and let everyone know this isn’t a fundraiser to the scale of what we did before,” Taylor said. “We’re well on our way already, and whether people donate $1 or $100,000, it’s all important to achieving our goal of creating something needed and something that will make Harvest Ridge even more special.”

Anyone wishing to discuss giving may call or email Taylor at 330-674-8388 or kerry@millersburgelectric.com.