Burton – The Great Geauga County Fair is Ohio’s oldest fair, featuring more than 65 performers, acts, shows and contests, including the annual Fair King & Queen Contest. It’s an ideal family-friendly destination over Labor Day weekend, September 1-5, 9 a.m. to midnight daily.
Since 1823, Geauga County residents of all ages have made their mark at the fair. In 2010, 14,000 exhibits were entered for judging in a variety of competitions and categories including livestock, horticultural and agricultural products, fine arts, domestic arts, antiques and collectibles, culinary and baked goods and many more.
The main grandstand features five live action shows this year, including Demolition Derbies, TNA Live Wrestling, Truck Pulls, FMX (Free Motocross) Championships, and a hot air balloon demonstration. Children 6 and under attend all shows for free. On opening day, TV8 Cleveland news weatherman Dick Goddard will host the Chicken Flying Contest at noon at the small grandstand.
Exhibit halls will be open from 10 a.m.-10 p.m. and rides will be operational from noon-midnight. All exhibits close at 8 p.m. on Monday. Registration for Junior Fair livestock sales starts at 2 p.m. on Saturday, September 3 in the arena.
Advance gate admission is $6; and an online advance sale five-day pass is $25 (http://geaugafair.com). Daily gate admission is $7 for adults, while kids 12 and under attend for free. Also, parking is free at the fairgrounds. Thursday will be Youth Day, with admission free for those 18 and under; plus reduced ride prices from noon through 10 p.m. Friday will be Senior Day, Veterans’ Day & Youth Day; when anyone 65 and older, 18 and younger, and veterans attend the fair for free.
Four sets of young men and women from Geauga County have been nominated by their 4-H clubs for 2011 Great Geauga County Fair royalty. Those vying for the King & Queen crowns include:
Bryan Briggs
Bryan is the son of Rick and Lisa Briggs of Troy Township. He is a 2011 Berkshire High School graduate. While at Berkshire, Bryan was a five-year member of the marching band and concert band. He is a 10-year member of Auburn Swine 4-H Club, being president for two years, and a three-year member of Breeders and Feeders. During his 4-H career he has held many positions in his clubs, including Health Officer and Environmental Officer. Bryan has served on the Junior Fair board and is a past president. He is a 4-H camp counselor and has done many volunteer hours with the Geauga Park District and the Department on Aging. This fall he is attending OSU ATI, studying beef and sheep management.
Rick Loveland, Jr.
Over the past eight years, Rick has been involved in Geauga County 4-H, Junior Fair, Junior Leaders, Junior Fair board, and his 4-H club, Little Porkers. He has served as president of Little Porkers, President of his class, Vice President of Student Council, Editor of Ledgemont’s yearbook and newspaper, Teen Institute Youth Staff, LAB Alumni Representative, and Relay for Life Team captain. He has also been involved in National Honor Society, HOBY (a youth leadership conference), Project Love, Teens Against Bullying, and Envirothon. A senior at Ledgemont High School, he is a member of the Varsity Football and Wrestling teams. Rick has raised swine for eight years, turkeys for three years and ducks for two years through Little Porkers.
Sam Sharpnack
Sam is a senior at Notre Dame Cathedral Latin High School and is the son of Linton and Patricia Sharpnack of Claridon. He is an active member of Geauga Caprine Kids, having served as President, Vice President, and currently as treasurer. He has received Gold Medal Awards for poultry, goats, leadership, and achievement and has also received the Ambassador of 4-H award. He is a member of Junior Leaders and Junior Fair board and is a camp counselor. Sam is active in Spanish Club at NDCL and is a member of the track and cross-country teams, and has been a member of the football team. He hopes to join the military after graduation from college.
Tom Somrack
Tom lives in Newbury with his parents, Larry and Colletta.The 16-year-old is a junior at Notre Dame Cathedral Latin High School. Tom serves on the Campus Revitalization Task Force and is involved in St. Joseph of Arimathea Pall Bearer Society. Tom is also active at St. Helen’s Church, where he is involved in the Ross Group, cooking for spiritual retreats, and serving on the altar. Tom is also a member of Boy Scout Troop 99 in Newbury. A Life Scout, he is working on his Eagle Scout badge by coordinating a project at the Geauga County Fairgrounds. Tom is an active member of several 4-H clubs: Flockmasters, Granny’s Kids, Junior Leaders, and Plantmasters, along with his activities on Junior Fair board and being a 4-H camp counselor at Camp Whitewood. Tom attended HOBY, a youth leadership conference, in the spring of 2011, and is a volunteer for Leadership Geauga. Tom runs a farmer’s market and shadows a veterinarian in hopes of pursuing a career in agriculture.
Sarah Anderson
Sarah is the daughter of Rick and Wendy Anderson. The 18-year-old is a graduate of Cardinal High School, where she participated in Cardinaires for four years, the school musical for four years, two years of varsity soccer, and two years in National Honor Society. She also spent the year as a Post Secondary Education student at Kent State. Sarah has been involved in 4-H for 11 years, raising rabbits, ducks, turkeys, goats, and pigs. She is also a three-year member of Junior Fair board and was a member of Junior Leaders. In the fall, Sarah is attending the University of Findlay to pursue degrees in animal science and pre-vet medicine, specializing in large animals. While pursuing her dreams, Sarah hopes to remain involved with 4-H as an advisor.
Elise Bruening
Elise is a senior at Madison High School and lives in Montville Township. She has been a member in several 4-H organizations for the past 12 years and has taken swine, dairy, and poultry projects to the Great Geauga County Fair. She has held the positions of President, Secretary, Treasurer, Health, and Safety officer in these clubs and has been the recipient of a Gold Medal Award for Leadership and one for Achievement. She is also a member of the Geauga County Junior Leaders 4-H Club and is a counselor at Camp Whitewood. At school, she is active in Math Club, Student Council, Prom Committee, and National Honor Society where she holds the office of President. Elise has varsity-lettered in track, volleyball, and soccer. She represented her high school at the Hugh O’Brian Youth Leadership Conference. Following the 2010 Haiti earthquake, Elise co-chaired a fundraiser which raised over $1,100 dollars for Haitian orphans. She recently organized and completed a six-day, 325-mile fundraising bicycle journey from Pittsburgh, PA to Washington, DC and raised over $16,000 for Honor Flight Cleveland and World War II veterans. She will attend Lake Erie College as a post-secondary student, where she plans to get a head start on her goal of completing the Physician’s Assistant Masters degree program.
Kelsey Rumburg
Kelsey has been in 4-H for 10 years. She is the current President of her two 4-H clubs, Geauga Beef & Swine and All Cooped Up. Over the years, she has shown breeding beef, breeding sheep, pack goats, cavies, and poultry. Last year she completed and won the All Animal Showmanship Sweepstakes. Kelsey is also the current Vice President of Junior Fair board, and treasurer of Junior Leaders. She has been a camp counselor for two years. Kelsey resides in Hambden Township with her parents, Ed and MaryBeth, and her many animals. She is a senior at Chardon High School and a full-time student at Lakeland Community College. She is a recent graduate of the Leadership Geauga Youth Program.
Ashley Winters
Ashley is 17 years old and a senior at Chardon High School, where, as a junior, she was an office assistant and a student tutor. This year she is a family consumer science teaching assistant. She lives with her parents, Tom and Debbie Winters, and her sister, Leigh, in Hambden Township. She is the President of the Geauga County Junior Leaders 4-H Club and Braided-n-Banded Horse 4-H Club. Ashley has been a member of Geauga Horse & Pony Association for 10 years and represents them on Junior Fair board. She is also a member of National Honor Society, Symphonic Band, the American Quarter Horse Youth Association, Northern Ohio Quarter Horse Association, and Northeastern Ohio Horseman’s Association. She has shown her quarter horse at all levels of competition. Ashley has been a volunteer visitor and made holiday gifts and cards for the Geauga County Home residents and has helped organize, collect, and wrap gifts for special families in Geauga County through Job and Family Services. She plans to study medicine or animal science at the University of Findlay after graduation.
