First place winners in the Mr. Potato Head Contest were Andrew Sneddon, Kyle Loctefeld and Shelby Coats and India Bollenbacher, who is not pictured.
Wednesday was Kid’s Day at the Mercer County Banner Fair and a Mr. Potato Head contest was held in the Entertainment Tent. There were four age divisions: Age 4 and under, 5 & 6, 7 & 8 and 9 & 10.
The youngsters turned their potatoes into fish, football players, spiders, snowmen, brides, farmers and zoo animals.
First place winners received blue ribbons and a $8 cash prize.
In order of the lowest age division first they were India Bollenbacher, Andrew Sneddon, Kyle Loctefeld and Shelby Coats.
Second place finishers got a red ribbon and a crisp $5 bill. They were Makena Beckman, Michael Sneddon, Josh Stachler and Jackie Siefring.
Sarah Stoner the 2006 Mercer County Cattleman’s Association Beef Queen gives change back to a customer at the organizations hamburger stand
Kara Birkmeyer, 10 of Celina, is this year’s Little Miss Mercer County Fair.
Christopher Hess, Gregory Post and Nicolas Bruggeman all of St. Henry got into the spirit of kids day by dying their hair.
Mercer County D.A.R.E. Officer Sue Miller spent much of Kid’s Day finger printing area children for identification purposes.
Jerry Mangen and Ed Jeffries man the Mercer County Democratic Booth. The Democratic Campaign theme is “Turn Around Ohio.”
Pat Schmitt, Rhonda Bowlby and Stacy Hess weigh chickens in the poultry tent while Briana Schmitt looks on.
Story and photos by Cathy J. Schreima - Freelance Writer- lionlady@bright.net
Opening ceremonies for the 154th Mercer County Banner Fair are set for 3 p.m. on Tuesday, Aug. 8th. The fair will continue through Monday, Aug. 14.
The junior fair queen and king contest will be held on Tuesday evening. An auction of cakes, pies and produce will take place at 6:30 p.m. in the entertainment tent. It will be followed by the Country Gentleman Show featuring Bryon Sparks of Celina at 8 p.m. The demolition derby and figure 8 races will also begin at 8 p.m. in the Grandstand. The doubles horseshoe tournament is planned for 7 p.m.
Wednesday is Kid’s Day and D.A.R.E. Day and the high school band show at 7 p.m.
Thursday is Veteran’s and Senior Citizen’s Day. All veterans as well as seniors over the age of 65 get in free. From 10 a.m. to noon there will be a handicapped ride special. Andy Piper and Dan Schoen will entertain the crowd at 11 a.m. and at 11:30 a.m. free lunches, as long as they last, will be served to seniors. a Senior Citizens King and Queen Contest is planned for noon. It will be followed by the senior citizen’s cookie contest at 1 p.m. The Veteran’s Ceremony will take place in the grandstand at 6 p.m. and be followed by the Fox Brothers at 8 p.m.
Friday is Nursing Home Day with a truck and tractor pull at 7 p.m. in the grandstand.
Harness racing is set for 7 p.m. on Saturday and Monday and at 1:30 p.m. on Sunday. A second demolition derby is planned for 7 p.m. Sunday. The fair will wrap up with the junior fair livestock auction at 6 p.m. Monday.
Elaine Deitsch accepts fair entries from Linda Kremer in the Home, Art and Domestic department.
It’s not Thanksgiving but Tom Turkey Steps on the scale at the fair.
Members of the Celina Knights of Columbus were busy cooking up batches of their delicious waffles on Monday night. They reportedly sell between 12 and 15 thousand during fair week.
Katelyn Schreima, 4 year-old daughter of Danil & Annie Schreima, Rockford, enjoys a hamburger at the Mercer County Cattleman’s booth on Monday night. Where else can you get a delicious black angus beef hamburger for $1.75?
Mercer County Banner Fair
Jackie Lacy - Secretary
PO Box 301
Celina, Ohio 45822-0301
419-586-3239
419-586-1379 - Fax
Email The Mercer County Banner Fair
Scott Riffle, Fairgrounds Manager
