MEDINA, Ohio — The Medina County Fair isn’t the same this year, but organizers were determined to do whatever they could for the younger participants that look forward to the event each year.
So the board decided to host just the Junior Fair.
“It’s different having to wear masks in the show ring and all during the fair,” says junior exhibitor, Kaitlyn Clifford. “Also, not seeing little kids enjoying the animals all day, it’s strange to get used to."
Clifford has been showing steers and goats at the Medina County Fair for 10 years. It’s become an important part of her life.
“I look forward to showing them every year and just getting to see the people each year, because you don’t see them all year round,” says Clifford.
Besides being scaled back to just a Junior Fair, there’s also no events at the grandstand, no rides and no general public. The Fair Board made the event invitation only, allowing exhibitors to invite 10 friends and family members to attend.
Masks are also required inside buildings, hand sanitizing stations are peppered throughout the grounds, some areas have one way travel directions and they’ve designated microphones to judges and auctioneers so there’s no sharing.
“We’re in the business to recognize that we are here to have a fair if at all possible,” says Chuck Stiver, the Medina County Fair Board President. “We’re also here to honor the youths' hard work.”
The board also decided to postpone the celebration and marking of their 175th anniversary until next year. They’re hoping by then that this event will look more like the fair that those in Medina County have come to know and love during its long tradition.
Stiver says, “We’re looking forward to next year. We hope we’re out from under this COVID-19 umbrella. So, we’re going to celebrate our 175th, we may call it our 175th plus.”
Clifford says, “I hope it goes as normal next year, for everyone.”