News Herald from Port Clinton, Ohio • 10

10 News Herald, Saturday, July 14, 1979 Fair board directors make annual event click Civ 5S, 9 jot 1 rnsv "5," By JACKIE HUSTON Youth Press Corps How would the Ottawa County Fair be possible without dedicated people working together on matters such as police, fire and traffic safety, coordination of the livestock shows and all the mechanical things required for the successful operation of a fast growing fair? The answer is simple. Without directors who do the planning and the work, there just wouldn't be a fair in Ottawa County. Who are these unpaid volunteers and why would some of them seek re-election to a tough job with no visible rewards? Fair directors are members of the county Agricultural Society, a group organized under Ohio laws to conduct county and independent fairs. They are your friends and neighbors and represent all areas of the county. Only members of the society can vote in the election to be held Saturday at the fair.

Terms of office are three years, with seven directorships expiring each year. Directors, whose terms expire in 1980, and the township or city they serve include James Schlievert, Allen; Merlin Goodsite, Carroll; Gordon Witty, Elmore; Arthur Risen, Oak Harbor; C. William Blay and Charles Brough, directors-at-large. Those whose terms expire in 1981 are Tim Mulligan, Bay; Clara Maag, Catawba Island; Wayne Johnson, Danbury; Lauren Lieske, Erie; Boots Heilman, Portage; and James Parlette, and Jerry Beck, directors-at-large. Port Clinton, Clay Schimming Distribution Center, Fremont, is seeking election to the society as a way of increasing enthusiasm and participation from Port Clinton in the county fair.

The father of two girls said he has been working in the booth operated by the Multiple Sclerosis Society at the fair. If elected he would like to be placed on committees having to do with building and maintenance. Poppe said he is a welder and carpenter and is currently working toward a degree in mechanical engineering. Poppe has been married 10 years to his wife Mary and both are active in the Port Clinton Playmakers Civic Theater. He has made several sets for recent plays at the theater.

His hobbies are fishing, SUNDAY (hermver situation catches up. Libben is also a member of the Oak Harbor Young Farmers, a group that has done much work at the fair to improve facilities. Harris Township native Paule is running for his third term as director to represent that township. He believes the fair is making good progress. He likes to see progress and likes to be a part of it.

Paule thinks the move to a six-day fair is going to be a good thing. "I voted for it," he said. Like all directors who work to insure the success of the fair, Paule wonders why he would run again. But he says he likes the fair, as does his wife Marianne. More grandstand seating is needed, he said.

Present seating capacity in the stands erected several years ago is about 1,100 persons. Paule said permanent seating for 3,000 is essential. Norris Schimming, Graytown, is heading for his fourth term as a director of the Ottawa County Agriculture Society if members approve by their votes at the July 21 election. Paule Township and Genoa have not elected directors and therefore are not represented completely. Port Clinton may have a director as Donald W.

Poppe is presently circulating a petition and it is expected his name will be on the ballot. There are five directors seeking re-election. A brief profile of the five and for Poppe follows: Robert Libben, Lacarne, is running for his third term. The fair is the hobby of this farmer and father of two. Libben says he likes the fair and gets his satisfaction from seeing things accomplished.

He is in charge of maintenance work and gets a lot of grief when a waterline breaks or other things go wrong. His goal is to make things more comfortable at the fair for visitors and exhibitors alike. At this point, he feels the new fair has made good progress on buildings to eliminate tents and that facilities are in good shape and comfortable. More buildings are needed, he says, but future construction will have to wait until the money Claar He represents Benton Township and was first elected in 1970. He recalled having served part of the term of William Luebke, one of the original members and officers of the society.

Schimming was a 4-H member and did all his showing at the old Oak Harbor Fall Fair. Along with family members, he helped build the original 4-H buildings in Veterans Memorial Park in Oak Harbor. His love for the fair runs deep, enjoys working with the board of directors and wants his three sons to know the fun and joys of being a part of the fair. Schimming is popular on the board because he has the mechanical abilities and equipment needed in a growth operation. He farms and also works at Sun Oil refinery in Toledo.

He has a backhoe and can run a level, two skills very important as directors go about building a new stage in front of the grandstand. His wife Paula likes the fair, but thinks he sometimes spends a little too much time there. The woman in charge of open class exhibits, the senior citizens program Libben hunting and carpentry. Richard Claar, 24, Genoa, could be the youngest director on the Ottawa County Agricultural Society if members approve. Claar asked for a petition at the July 11 meeting of the board, declaring his intention to run for the vacancy in Clay Township.

Having a harness horse at the fairground stables figures big in the thinking of the young real estate salesman, whose hobbies include horses, sports of all kinds and photography. Richard and his wife Paula are at fairgrounds almost every day training their standardised pacer. Clay Township needed a representative. SPECIAL aosco TUESDAYS Dinner Served Sat. 1 1 o.m.-l I p.m.

Sunday 1 1 o.m.-l p.m. or FISHERMAN PLATE Ph. 898 9973 Cherry Jon Overmyer, rural Elmore, is seeking reelection as a director-at-large. The Vietnam veteran is a farmer, auctioneer and trucking company operator. His friends say he is one of the hardest working directors of the fair society.

All concede that he knows how to get things done, and he is willing to take care of tough assignments. Overmyer said he does it because he likes the fair, his wife Gail likes the fair and he wants a good place for his three sons to experience some of the finer joys of life. This follows his philosophy about keeping the fair one of family-type experiences and entertainment. He is quick to tell you he thinks the fair is a beautiful place. Young Overmyer wants to see more diversity in the fair program and thinks a move to add a class for draft horses was a good idea.

More permanent seating is needed, he believes, adding that 1,000 seats need to be added soon. A Port Clinton resident for the past eight years he is concerned about the lack of a director from the city to the Ottawa County Agricultural Society, operators of the county fair. Donald W. Poppe, operations manager, Acme-Cleveland Poppe and the entire program arrangement for the fair says she didn't plan to run again. But Marian Cherry is running because she feels she was drafted by other directors who said she was needed.

This rural Oak Harbor grandmother of six admits she enjoys the fair and underscores the words. She also feels she owes something to those who supported her program ideas and philosophy. Mrs. Cherry is one of only four women who have served the society in its 15-year history. Clara Maag also serves with her.

Both were preceded by Mrs. Hans Carstens and Mrs. Fred Keys. She admitted her ideas about programs are not the major concern of the men who work so hard on new construction projects and maintenance in addition to running their farms or working on their jobs in town. But Marian Cherry seems able to handle her role in the give and take at directors' meetings.

Her goal is to have a diversified program to appeal to a wide spectrum of interests, complished much of what she wanted in the way of activities that appeal primarily to women. In the future, she said more effort must be spent on landscaping to improve the beauty of the fair site. July 17 DEEP FRIED CHICKEN WITH NOODLES SPECIAL fvery Thurs Fri. All The LAKE ERIE PERCH YOU CAN EAT $4.95 Visit US during and after the fair. Take South Toussaint Rd.

and turn left on Route 2. Try our B-B-Q SPARERIBS New youth projects planned TOUSSAINT TAVERN Stote Route 2 MY EE 22 INCORPORATED New projects and judging events will highlight the youth exhibits at the 15th annual Ottawa County Fair. Geneology, intermediate cake decorating, cookies, canine pet care and Pilot Puppy are among the new projects listed by Ronald Overmyer, Ottawa County Extension Service. Pilot Puppy is a project in cooperation with Seeing Eye Dogs, Inc. and is designed to teach the member how to train dogs to guide the blind.

Winners of senior showmanship contests in beef, dairy, swine, sheep, horses, goats, rabbits, and chickens will all have an opportunity to participate in the new Showman of Showmen competition. The contest is intended to stimulate interest in showmanship in all animal projects and will be held at 7 p.m. Thursday, in the show barn. Overmyer reported that 4-H enrollment has not changed significantly in the past year. This means fx Ng-', Woodville Mall, Toledo, Ohio 693-0403 lot of effort from these three persons, Randy Miller, left, secretary, Faye Behnken, vice president, and Doug Bahnsen, president.

All are from the Oak Harbor area. BOARD MEMBERS Junior fair board members play an important role in the success of the Ottawa County Fair, which is essentially a youth fair. Proper planning by the officers is important and requires a NEW L0WREY ORGANS Drastically Reduced For This Special Fair Find the Joy of Owning A Lowrey Organ This Year ticipate in a new farm shop uine class Welriine and woodworking skills will be featured. Area Boy Scout and Girl Scout troops will also provide displays and demonstrations at this year's fair. yejrs- Rabbits are very popular among the animal projects with 59 members showing 100 animals.

Both horse and market animal exhibits have remained generally unchanged. County FFA chapters will have the chance to par MAKE MAGIC Shessler heads YPC YOUTH PRESS CORPS Tom Shessler, Genoa, will be editor of the Youth Press Corps for 1979. Announcement of Shessler's acceptance to the responsibility was made by Youth Press Corps adviser Fred Grimm, Oak Harbor. Assistant editors working with Shessler include Robert Gam, photography, Keith Tolan, radio and television, and Lisa Burmeister, office, all from Oak Harbor and area. The group will be writing news releases for the print media and reporting fair results by radio.

The photography division will be making photos for the print media. In addition, they will be recording various aspects of the fair as a historical record. Youth Press Corps was organized in 1970, with the help of the news media, to report activities of the fair and to provide adult learning experiences for older youth. Win an all expense paid trip to Southern California and visit Walt Disney Studios' Golden Oak Ranch where "THE APPLE DUMPLING GANG RIDES AGAIN" was filmed plus a new that fairgoers will enjoy the same wide variety of project displays as in past for cleaning. (J 02 HAVE FUN Best Wishes for a Successful Ottawa County Fair GENIE ORGAN AT THE OTTAWA COUNTY FAIR LOVVREy See and hear why is America's 1 home organ COUPONS AVAILABLE AT: See Us For Fresh Lake Erie Perch Pickerel.

1VI uic Magic Genie "Find Out About Lowrey Magic" Mr. Music Fair Booth with the "Magic Genie" Bring your fish to us Woodville Mall Store The National Bank of Oak Harbor A FULL SERVICE BANK Member F.D.I.C. Member F.R.S. PORT CLINTON FISHERIES, INC. 2 Madison St.

Port Clinton, Ohio WOODVILLE MALL TOLEDO, OHIO 693-0403.