Passionate supporters for Harvest Ridge addition discuss benefits

The anticipated creation of additional arena space to the expo center at Harvest Ridge is creating excitement, not just for those who enjoy the fair, but also for the community and beyond, as additional space will open new avenues for formal meetings, reunions, weddings and more.

Several key figures provided insight into the benefits of the new addition during a capital campaign public meeting held Tuesday, April 7 in the expo center.

Roger Boring, senior fair board president, said having everything shovel ready to start the building process immediately following this year’s fair will speed up the process.

‘We’ve been through this before, and while this isn’t as big as building Harvest Ridge, it’s still an ambitious project,” Boring said.

He said the excitement surrounding this addition includes big ideas intertwined with what the county and fair board can afford to put in place. While the board looked at creating a new building, what they strove for was to create an addition that could be utilized year round.

“With everything we’re adding, it is creating plenty of excitement about the possibilities,” Boring said.

He said like Harvest Ridge, this project will only come to fruition through the giving of the community.

Kerry Taylor, senior fair board member, agreed and spoke about the giving heart of the community.

“People of Holmes County are incredible when it comes to supporting important things like this,” Taylor said. “Harvest Ridge wouldn’t be here without the community’s support, and this is an important step in creating a facility that will benefit our county and the people even more than it already does.”

Dr. Eric Shaver, who has served as the county’s veterinarian at fairs for many years, said the county fair has simply outgrown the current facility, and the youth deserve to host their animals in the best possible facilities.

“Our new arena will house our high-stress animals like rabbits and poultry,” Shaver said. “Our number of kids showing animals is only going to continue to grow, and from a health standpoint, this addition is going to be a wonderful addition.”

He said it also will enhance the traffic flow during the fair and bring more notoriety to the dairy animals and commercial exhibits.

He also said having the ability to control heating and cooling is advantageous. The community meeting space will be highly utilized, and the storage space is something that is greatly needed from an efficiency standpoint.

Courtney Crider, vice president of the junior fair board, has raised many animals, as have many of her friends and partners in 4-H. She said there are numerous challenges in housing animals in the tents throughout fair week, noting this addition means a great deal to all 4-Hers.

She said the fairgrounds plays an integral role in the lives of the county’s youth.

“Showing livestock at our fair has taught me how to work hard, be responsible and try my best,” she said. “Along with those experiences, challenges have come. Animals are being housed in tents, and it makes preparing for fair unpredictable and stressful. That’s why this addition is so important to our youth. This will be a better and safer facility for everyone and for the animals.”

She said with two separate show rings, it will make showing livestock at the fair easier and more efficient.

“This project isn’t just about a buildings; it’s about helping kids grow and succeed,” she said.

Taylor, who was instrumental in creating Harvest Ridge, said the new meeting room is going to be a wonderful addition because it will get used by local organizations and businesses for meetings and conferences while also serving as an invitation to bring in conferences from outside the area.

The meeting room is expected to seat up to 200 people and will include state-of-the-art facilities. It will have its own dedicated kitchen and restrooms.

“Many people have brought to our attention that there is a need for a more formal community meeting room, whether it is public or private,” Taylor said. “And it will be a perfect fit for any type of events like banquets and community functions.”

Harvest Ridge manager Don Snow said the goal of the complex is to provide the community with a beautiful facility that represents and serves the county and its people.

He said fair boards across Ohio visit the facility in hopes of replicating it and noted these new additions will enable Harvest Ridge to welcome even more opportunities and unique shows that will bolster the local economy.

He also said the storage area will eliminate close to $12,000 in annual expenses and create storage space that will be organized and convenient for the staff to do their jobs.

Tiffany Gerber, Holmes County Chamber of Commerce & Tourism Bureau executive director, said the economic impact the new addition will bring will be immeasurable.

“By making the facility more versatile, we see at least 4 million visits per year, and not only do visitors leave their income here, but they leave their hearts here. This new space will open so many new doors to inviting more tourists, businesses and organizations to visit Holmes County,” Gerber said.

Gerber said the economic impact will extend far beyond the fair, and every featured speaker remained focused on sharing exactly how much this project will benefit the county and the various ways it will enhance Harvest Ridge.

Pledge forms are currently available by contacting any fair board member or Taylor at kerry@millersburgelectric.com or by calling 330-674-8388.