Home Food News Fairgrounds ready again

Fairgrounds ready again

0

XENIA — Less than three months after Hamvention brought nearly 30,000 to Greene County, the fairgrounds is starting to feel a little more like home again as the Greene County Fair approaches.

From one event to the next — set up to tear down to set up — there’s been quite a bit of work to be done.

According to Esther Pierson at the Greene County Fairgrounds, Hamvention volunteers and individual vendors removed their equipment during the tear down of the world-renowned event, which was held Friday, May 19 — Sunday, May 21.

Once Hamvention personnel completed their post-event clean-up, members of the fair board and maintenance workers proceeded to put the pens back up in the livestock barns, one barn at a time.

“It’s kind of like when you tear a puzzle apart and put it back together again,” Pierson said, offering the complexity of the work.

According to Pierson, the pens were stored across the street during Hamvention so that they were not in the way of the festivities, allowing for more space for exhibitors and visitors.

“The guys took their time taking the pens down, labeling each one,” she explained. “It was time consuming because they wanted to make sure they had it right.”

Reportedly, the pens are now up and the barns are ready for animals.

Pierson said the fairgrounds isn’t really recovering from any wear and tear, but that the downpour of rain over Hamvention weekend did create a lot of mud.

“It’s just a matter of letting the grass grow back in the in-field,” Pierson said. “Everybody was just great. We were back and running in no time.”

Hamvention officials reported a 29,296 attendance count for the 2017 weekend. The fairgrounds has a contract with Hamvention to host the next two events.

“We’re looking forward to it. We’ve got it down for Hamvention next year. We’re ready. We’re excited they’re coming back,” Pierson said. “We’re all a little bit wiser.”

The Greene County Fair will be held Sunday, July 30 — Saturday, Aug. 5. According to Pierson, everything is in line — from parking to entertainment to livestock sales.

“We’re ready for the fair and we can’t wait,” she said. “We’re in it and we’re ready.”

File photo Hamvention was held at the Greene County Fairgrounds for the first time Friday, May 19 — Sunday, May 21. Now the fairgrounds is gearing up for the Greene County Fair.
http://www.xeniagazette.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/32/2017/07/web1_HamFair.jpgFile photo Hamvention was held at the Greene County Fairgrounds for the first time Friday, May 19 — Sunday, May 21. Now the fairgrounds is gearing up for the Greene County Fair.

By Anna Bolton

[email protected]

Contact Anna Bolton at 937-502-4498.