Ashland County Fair Celebrates 175 Years of Agriculture, Family and Community
ASHLAND, Ohio — A light mist could not dampen the community spirit Saturday as Ashland County residents gathered to celebrate a tradition 175 years in the making.
The Ashland County Fair’s special anniversary celebration brought a parade, historical displays, games, contests, food and live entertainment to the fairgrounds at 2042 Claremont Ave. The free community event commemorated the first recognized Ashland County Fair, held in Hayesville in 1851.
Fair Board President Martin “Marty” Wesner said organizers wanted to create an anniversary celebration outside the regular fair week, when the schedule is already packed with livestock shows, competitions, entertainment and other activities.
“This year is our 175th year for the Ashland County Fair, and we really wanted to do something special,” Wesner said. “Our days are so packed during the fair, with so many events going on Sunday through Saturday, that we wanted to do something different where people could just come out. They didn’t have to pay to get into the fair.”
Parade opens anniversary celebration
Saturday’s celebration began with a 10 a.m. parade that traveled from the O’Bryan’s Pub area north along Claremont Avenue to the fairgrounds.
The Ashland County Sheriff’s Office participated in the anniversary parade, led by Sheriff Kurt J. Schneider. The Sheriff’s Office Bomb Squad also made a special appearance, giving spectators an opportunity to see one of the agency’s specialized public-safety units.
Ohio Rep. Melanie Miller also joined the parade and helped celebrate the fair’s 175 years of agricultural heritage and community tradition.
Wesner said approximately 20 entries participated, including local fire departments, the Ashland County Sheriff’s Office, the community band, Ashland County bands, Sweet 16 representatives, horse-drawn units and floats entered by local 4-H clubs.
Jeromesville United Methodist Church was also among the organizations represented in the parade.
“Everybody has really loved what went on today so far,” Wesner said. “The weather is a little rainy and misty in and out, but everybody is still having a good time.”
The parade reflected both the agricultural beginnings of the county fair and the generations of local organizations, families and volunteers that have sustained it.
A day filled with old-fashioned fun
The celebration continued throughout the day with activities designed to recall the atmosphere of earlier county fairs.
Local 4-H clubs operated game booths, while contests near the grandstand included a women’s skillet throw, backseat-driver competition and cornhole tournament.
A beard-and-mustache contest featured categories for long beard, short beard, natural beard, long mustache and combined beard and mustache. A period-inspired women’s hair updo contest included braided, long cascade, rolls and twists, and curls categories.
Additional attractions included a fruit-pie-eating contest, raffles and a hog roast and shredded-chicken dinner at Mozelle Hall.
Visitors were also able to enjoy one of the familiar tastes of fair season, including lemonade from The Looney Lemon, a favorite stop for what many Ashlanders proudly consider some of the best lemonade in Ohio.
Lincoln, music and dancing
Entertainment at the pavilion began with the Fun Center Chordsmen.
John Cooper appeared as President Abraham Lincoln, visiting with fairgoers and delivering a presentation featuring the Gettysburg Address. Lincoln also served as master of ceremonies for the beard, mustache and updo contests.
The Mel Stocksdale Orchestra was scheduled to close out the special celebration with square dancing and line dancing from 4 to 7 p.m.
Wesner said the anniversary committee wanted the event to offer something for all ages while giving residents an opportunity to explore areas of the fairgrounds they might not regularly visit.
“We just wanted to do something for the community, to let them come out and walk around and look at the displays in our Buckeye Barn,” Wesner said.
Buckeye Barn preserves fair history
Located on the west side of the fairgrounds, the Buckeye Barn contains antiques, historical exhibits and old farm machinery that help tell the story of agriculture and the county fair.
“A lot of people don’t get to that end of the fair because there’s not as much going on down there during the fair,” Wesner explained. “It’s really a beautiful building with lots of antiques and old farm machinery, and just some history on the fair and the background of what was going on.”
The building dates to 1939 and was originally known as the speed barn. It was constructed as part of a series of major fairground improvements completed with assistance from the federal Public Works Administration.
In 2022, the historic building entered a new chapter as a center for preserving and displaying the agricultural and fair history of Ashland County.
A tradition beginning in Hayesville
The Ashland County Agricultural Society was organized in 1850, four years after Ashland County was formed from portions of Richland, Wayne, Huron and Lorain counties.
According to an 1863 history of Ashland County, the Agricultural Society’s first officers were Joseph Workman, president; John Scott Jr., secretary; and William McNeil, treasurer.
The first recognized Ashland County Fair was held on Pleasant Street in Hayesville in 1851. The first two fairs were reportedly conducted in Hayesville, with later fairs alternating between Hayesville and Ashland before the event found a permanent home.
“The first one was in Hayesville, maybe the first couple, to be honest, and then they did move up here to Ashland,” Wesner said.
The fair was not originally held at its present Claremont Avenue location. Cleveland Jay Latter purchased 115 acres of farmland near Claremont Avenue and Baney Road in 1913, providing the land that would eventually become the modern fairgrounds.
Agricultural Society historical records identify Oct. 8–10, 1923, as the dates of the first fair held at the present site. Admission that year was 50 cents for adults and 25 cents for children, with free parking.
No county fair was conducted from 1930 through 1933, an interruption historical accounts indicate may have been related to concerns over polio.
Harness racing helped shape the fair
Wesner said horse racing played an important part in the fair’s early development.
“The Ashland Fair really got its start with the racehorses,” he said.
Among the horses associated with that era was Peter-in-Law, a prominent harness-racing horse whose presence helped attract racing interest to Ashland.
The old racetrack was once located in what is now the parking area near Baney Road. Wesner said the building currently used as the Hobby Building once served as the grandstand for that racetrack.
“The Hobby Building that we have here on the grounds today used to be the actual grandstand for that racetrack,” he said. “It has been moved here two different times to where it sits today.”
The fair’s long association with harness racing remains part of its identity, alongside livestock judging, agricultural exhibits, Junior Fair projects, midway rides, food, entertainment and family traditions.
Generations of volunteers
Now in his 11th year as Fair Board president, Wesner has served on the board for more than two decades.
“This is my 21st or 22nd year being on the board,” he said. “I’ve done it for a while, and I still learn something new about the fair every year.”
Wesner credited fellow board members, volunteers, anniversary committee members and fair managers Cathy Rice and Barry Litten with helping keep the fair operating throughout the year.
“They do a phenomenal job keeping the fair running throughout the year,” Wesner said. “I just want to thank all the volunteers and all the Fair Board members that I work with.”
The 175th anniversary committee was co-chaired by Susan Stake and Mark Rafeld. Committee members included Stacey Dillard, Barb Hendrix, Bill Nolan, Shelly Maynard, Shane Queer, Dave Snyder, Cathy Rice, Marty Wesner and Ken Woode.
Looking ahead to fair week
Saturday’s celebration served as a preview of the 2026 Ashland County Fair, scheduled for Sept. 20–26.
Wesner said fair organizers continue working to balance longtime traditions with new attractions.
“We try to bring new things to the fair every year, but there are some old staples that we have every year that people really enjoy, come to watch and expect to be here,” he said.
One of the major grandstand attractions this year will be country music singer Gary Allan. Wesner said ticket sales were progressing well, with approximately 2,000 seats already sold at the time of the interview.
“I think this year’s fair is really shaping up to be another great one,” he said. “I’m looking forward to seeing everybody out at the fair.”
For 175 years, the Ashland County Fair has provided a place for farmers, families, exhibitors, young people and neighbors to come together. Buildings and attractions have changed, but the fair remains rooted in agriculture, education, friendly competition, volunteerism and community pride.
Saturday’s parade and anniversary celebration honored not simply the age of an annual event, but the generations of 4-H and FFA members, farm families, concessionaires, entertainers, volunteers, board members and visitors who made the Ashland County Fair an enduring part of local life.
