By SHELLEY TERRY - Staff Writer - sterry@starbeacon.com
JEFFERSON — The 2009 Ashtabula County Fair will go down in history — at least local history, according to the fair board.
Mother Nature cooperated with clear, sunny skies at all events. Consequently, on Monday, every event was deemed a success with a total paid attendance of 25,204, records show.
“Unbelievably, we didn’t have rain,” said Darla Vargo, secretary of the fair board. “I can’t remember a year we didn’t have at least one day when it rained.”
The final numbers only show how many people paid to enter the fair throughout the week, and does not include 4-H members, advisors, concessionaires and exhibitors.
“The fair was bigger and better than ever, but Friday was the biggest day,” Vargo said, noting it was the second night of the Demolition Derby and the day of the Junior Fair Market livestock sale.
Nearly 5,200 people paid to enter the fairgrounds that day, according to the fair board’s records.
Country music artist Keith Anderson drew a good crowd of 4,676 paid admissions on Saturday, Vargo said.
“I think everyone liked him,” she said. “He stayed until 11:30 p.m., signing autographs.”
Veteran’s Appreciation Day on Thursday brought in 448 veterans, as well as 4,444 paid admissions, Vargo said.
Folks also came to the fair Thursday to see harness racing, a rooster crowing contest and the first night of the demolition derby, to name a few, she said.
More than 4,100 people brought their children and packed the midway rides on Wednesday’s Kid’s Day; and on Tuesday, more than 3,042 people entered the gates for the opening day festivities, records show.
The rain may have stayed away all week, but the heat and humidity was high Sunday, dipping attendance to a mere 3,765, Vargo said.
That’s what may have made this year’s total of 25,204 people slightly below last year’s 26,333, Vargo said.
“Sunday is usually a little higher than 3,765,” she said. “We had a lot of senior citizens and veterans come in during the week, and people came from out of town for the Keith Anderson concert ... I still can’t believe it never rained.”
