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Ag Equipment, parents
part of Darke County Fair History
Great Darke County Fair…
By Bob Robinson
While most of the attention seems to be focused on the rides, special
events, 4H and FHA competitions, harness racing and vendors, there are
two unsung heroes that have had their place at the Great Darke County
Fair since its first offering in 1853.
One is the agricultural equipment that has evolved over the last
century and a half, and without which there could be no fair. The other
is the parents who work with their children, thus ensuring that the
fair and agriculture as we know it will survive the generations.
On opening day, Darke County Sheriff’s Patrol Deputy Doug Baker said he
remembered when the farm equipment row was packed with visitors and
manufacturers hoping to sell the latest in agricultural technology to
area and regional farmers.
“That doesn’t seem to be the focus any more,” said the 31-year Darke
County Fair veteran.
He noted that he has posters, tickets and other memorabilia going as
far back as the early 1900’s, much of it focused on the agricultural
aspects of the fair.
Darke County honors its agricultural history with the Steam Threshers
Reunion and the Farm Power of the Past earlier in the summer. Today’s
Darke County Fair honors agriculture as it is now, and while “equipment
row” is not as packed as its fairway counterpart, it still draws
interested viewers and participants.
The first set of photos relates some of the equipment currently
available for agriculture as well as some of the options available for
rural living.
The second set shows the work of many of the adults in agriculture
today. County News Online has published the young trophy winners in
this year’s fair and the buyers for their projects… these are the
people who guided and helped their charges in attaining those
achievements.
Darke County is about agriculture and agribusiness. The Great Darke
County Fair is about Darke County.
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