Despite facing the risk of torrential rain all week, the Warren County Fair had another record-breaking year. Although Mother Nature and the Fair played a cat-and-mouse game all week, the rain held …
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Another record-breaking Fair
Posted
By Jimmy Potts,
Record Managing Editor
Despite facing the risk of torrential rain all week, the Warren County Fair had another record-breaking year.Although Mother Nature and the Fair played a cat-and-mouse game all week, the rain held off until Saturday’s finale, which Fair Board Chairman Paul Owenby said slightly hurt attendance.“With Saturday and the rain, we were a little bit below (attendance),” he said. “All of the other days were pretty constant. Saturday was the only thing that really hurt.”As the rain continuously shifted from a light mist to a heavy downpour Saturday, events such as the annual demolition derby and the fireworks show suffered only minor delays.Owenby credited the efforts of city of Warrenton employees for salvaging the fireworks show, which he said went well despite the damp conditions.“They ended up shooting them at 10 p.m.,” he said. “They worked really hard to get it done and the weather did not agree with them. They still did an outstanding job on the display. It was pretty impressive. The city really stepped up there.”The Warren County Fair Livestock Auction had a great year. This year’s auction shattered the previous record, set in 2015, by more than $30,000.Check out the photo gallery from the livestock auction here: http://bit.ly/29lbmHqOwenby said the more astounding part was that this year’s 122 participating FFA and 4-H youths set a new record of $238,714 with fewer participants.“They were up around the $34,000 mark with five or six less exhibitors,” Owenby said. “That auction was outstanding and the kids benefit from that and not the Fair. The kids get 100 percent of it.”Owenby said Mother Nature was as much a friend to the Fair as a foe, with a cold front keeping the usually steamy late June temperatures low throughout the week. He thanked the Fair volunteers for remaining resilient despite all of the adversity they faced.“I knew it was going to create a lot of work, but everybody pulled through and got everything done. With all circumstances figured in there it went really well,” Owenby said. “I think it’s awesome. It shows there are a lot of dedicated people who put their heart and soul into that. They outdo themselves every year.“We lucked out on the parade and beat the weather there,” he added. “The cool weather did nothing but benefit us all week long. Nothing is perfect and that is the first time we had an all-day rain, but the show must go on.”
Jacob Abel poses for a photo with his 2016 Warren County Fair Grand Prize Steer and its buyers during the livestock auction Thursday. Jimmy Potts photo.
