Remembering the cold of October fairs

OTTAWA - Doloros Ruhe, Ottawa, remembers wanting to go to the fair one year. Instead she had to stay home and pick tomatoes.

Ruhe was enjoying the break from the sun in the Merchants Building Thursday during the Putnam County Fair. Outside the temperature was in the low 90's as patrons walked around using hand-held fans and sipped on cold drinks to deal with the heat.

"The fair was in October that year," Ruhe recalled. "My dad said we had to stay home and pick tomatoes because we were supposed to get a freeze that night." Ruhe said a bad frost did occur. "It's a good think I obeyed," she said with a smile.

Ft. Jennings resident Alvin VonLehmden, also recalled attending the Putnam County Fair when it was held in October. "This is probably a better time to hold the fair," he said. "So many farmers were in the fields working when it was held in October. I think it has better attendance now."

VonLehmden served as a 4-H advisor for 20 years and recalls always coming to the fair to check on the livestock.

Millie Ruen, Ottoville, said it was cold for four years in a row during the October fair. "That's when they decided to make it sooner," she indicated.

Mary Rita Fischbach recalls working in the Pandora-Gilboa Rocket Booster tent for many years. Her husband Jim also helped at the "lunch stand" as he called it. "I remember when it was just a big tent," he said. "Some neighbors and I would load up freezers and bring haul them over to Ottawa for fair week."
Meeting neighbors and friends was what Eddie Young, Bluffton, enjoyed about attending the fair when he was growing up,

Senior Citizens enjoyed barbershop music by Benchmark and were offered free blood sugar and blood pressure tests  At the other end of the fairground the junior fair competitions continued with equine & freestyle riding by the 4-H horse clubs.

4-H members also had an opportunity to explain their 4-H projects Wednesday during the :Projects on Parade exhibit in the Junior Fair Building.

"I enjoyed the time I was able to spend with my dad working on my project," said Jacob Ellerbrock, Miller City. He built a dollhouse as his "Making the Cut" 4-H project. "I learned how to cut a lot with this project because each piece had to be cut separately," Ellerbrock said.

Just down the table Luke Schmersal, Ottawa, was showing pictures from his outdoor chef and archery projects. "Now I can cook chicken and hamburgers on the grill," Schmersal said. Cassie Stechschulte, Columbus Grove, also has learned outdoor cooking by taking the outdoor chef  project.

 "I never knew how to grill before," she admitted. "Now I do." Schmersal also enjoyed experimenting taking pictures with her level 2 4-Hphotography class.

Friday is Industrial Day at the Putnam County Fair. It features open class flower show judging, the small animal sale and a show by the Star Family Circus.

"We're excited about having a circus at the fair," fair board president Don Verhoff said prior to the fair. "It's free entertainment and it's one more reason to come to the fair."

The evening will conclude with a bang when cars come together during the  demolition derby at 7 p.m. in front of the grandstand with $5 admission.