Recycling event to be held at Tuscarawas County Fair
Anew event at the Tuscarawas County Fair this year will promote recycling and allow those who participate to get free admission on Tuesday, Sept. 17 if they recycle their aluminum cans at the fair.
The event is a cooperative effort of fair sponsors Novelis and Kimble.
“Novelis is going to buy up to 1,000 one-day passes for the fair. They are going to specifically be for use on Tuesday,” said Jonna Cronebaugh, a consultant for the Tuscarawas County Fair. “A 13-gallon bag of aluminum cans gets you one entry ticket, up to four tickets per family per transaction.”
A tall kitchen trash bag usually holds 13 gallons.
Kimble will do the hauling and provide the roll-offs and support for the project. Novelis will recycle the cans, but first, they will be weighed, and the value of the donated cans will be given to the fairgrounds.
The aluminum cans will be collected on Sept. 15 or 17 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Drop-off will take place at the Reeves Lot on Oxford Street behind CVS.
Another new event will remember longtime Tuscarawas County Agricultural Society board member Doug Wills, who passed away unexpectedly in May.
A 1-mile fun run/walk will be held Sept. 21 at 9 a.m. The walk will benefit the Doug Wills Memorial 4-H Scholarship Fund. The entry fee is $15, and registration should be made by Sept. 3. Make checks payable to OSU Extension and send to OSU Extension/Rebecca Davis, 419 16th St. SW, New Philadelphia, OH 44663. Email Davis at davis.7760@osu.edu.
“We’re sure going to miss him,” said Reb Billman, president of the TCAS board. “It’s been a long few months. I think Greg (Kimble) said it best. He told me Doug needed about 12 understudies for every project he was doing because that’s how many it would take to keep track of everything he was doing.”
Billman and Wills had worked together on the board for more than 25 years, and there were still things Wills was doing for the fair that Billman didn’t know about.
“It’s been really tough for all of us,” Billman said.
The ag board members also struggled this year to replace transformers on the grounds after an assumed lightning strike took out power in some of the fairgrounds.
Another improvement for those using the Tuscarawas Avenue fair gate is a new ticket booth that is shaped like a red barn. The new building contains enough space for four ticket windows.
The new ticket building replaces one that was built in 1914. It was hoped the earlier cement block structure could be saved.
“We looked at it and looked at it, and there just wasn’t anything to it,” said Rod Endsley, who has been helping to oversee the project. “It was in crumbles, literally. You could put your finger through the mortar joints. It was really weak.”
An original metal plaque from 1914 is being placed in protective framing and will hang in the walkway through the new gate.
This year also marks the 30th anniversary of fair royalty. About 30 winners from the past will attend to mark the occasion. Contestants for the 2024 fair royalty competition include the following:
—For queen: Maggie Hamilton, 17, of Bolivar; Jenna Horn, 19, of New Philadelphia; Morgan Miller, 18, of New Philadelphia; Kylee Mutti, 17, of Stone Creek; Norah Randolph, 16, of New Philadelphia; and Celeste Rummell, 18, of Tuscarawas.
—For king: William “Drew” Long, 16, of Newcomerstown and Jacob Wisselgren, 17, of Strasburg.
Fair officials reported the grounds will be back to prepandemic levels of vendors, and there will be a huge number of displays this year.
The Draft Horse Hitch Show is moving to Sunday morning, and there will only be two days of harness racing Sept. 20-21.
Sunday, Sept. 15 will feature the prefair activities of the king and queen contest at 6:30 p.m., followed at 7 p.m. by the commemorative items auction, the Quilts of Valor presentation and some project awards.
Monday, Sept. 16 is Veterans Day with free admission for veterans with a valid I.D., and Rafter M Rodeo is the ticketed grandstand event.
Tuesday, Sept. 17 is Family Day with discounted admission and rides and Recycling Day. The Band-O-Rama featuring area high school bands is a free event in the grandstand.
Wednesday, Sept. 18 is Senior Day with $1 admission for age 65 and over. Grandstand tickets are required for the evening motocross event in the grandstand.
Thursday, Sept. 19 will include the livestock auction beginning at noon. Bidding is online or in person. A free grandstand event in the evening, Truck and Treat, will feature a variety of vehicles and treats for children.
Friday, Sept. 20 will include the Dairy Product Sale with in-person bidding only beginning at 3 p.m. and The OSTPA Sanctioned Truck and Tractor Pull at the grandstand. Tickets are required.
Saturday, Sept. 21 will include the 1-mile fun run/walk in the morning, the small animal sale at 3 p.m., the kiddie tractor pull, and another night of OSTPA Sanctioned Truck and Tractor Pulls at the grandstand. Tickets are required.
Sunday, Sept. 22 will feature the Draft Hitch Show in the morning and the demolition derby at 5 p.m. at the grandstand. Tickets are required.
