COLUMBUS – This year, Shelby County locals Jim Brandt, of Anna, and John and Donna Greiwe, of Sidney, were inducted into the Ohio State Fair’s 39^th Annual Hall of Fame.

Brandt began exhibiting sheep at the age of nine and has been a strong advocate for 4-H, FFA, agriculture, youth and the livestock industry ever since. He has provided a Southdown yearling ewe to the Ralph H. Grimshaw Memorial Breed and Educational Exhibit in the Brown Sheep Building at the Fair every year since the exhibit was created.

Due to his expertise, Brandt is sought out to judge many shows both at the Ohio State Fair and throughout the United States, serving as a judge for local, state and national events.

“We want to honor Jim for his lifelong dedication to youth agriculture and livestock,” said Virgil Strickler, general manager of the Ohio Expo Center and State Fair. “His contributions have helped make the educational exhibits what they are today.”

John and Donna Greiwe have more than 50 years of exhibition experience showing their home-bred Ayrshire and Jersey cattle at local, state and national levels. The duo has won all levels of awards, including premier exhibitor and breeder awards.

During the Fair, John has helped to maintain the milking parlor, check equipment and support the breed shows, in addition to exhibiting with the support of four generations of Greiwe family members.

“John and Donna have dedicated more than 50 years of exhibiting, and for that, we are pleased to welcome them into the Ohio State Fair Hall of Fame,” said Strickler. “Without John’s dedication to maintaining equipment used during the shows, they could not be at the caliber they are today.”

They were honored on Friday, Aug. 7 in the WCOL Celeste Center at the state fair.

Featured at every Ohio State Fair since 1976, the State Fair Hall of Fame inducts new members each year who have made outstanding contributions toward making the Fair one of America’s premier expositions. Notable past Hall of Fame inductees include Bob Evans, Dave Thomas of Wendy’s and Senator George Voinovich.

Jim Brandt, of Anna, is recognized at the 2015 Ohio State Fair and inducted into the Hall of Fame.

http://aimmedianetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/47/2015/08/web1_Jim-Brandt-StateFair.jpgJim Brandt, of Anna, is recognized at the 2015 Ohio State Fair and inducted into the Hall of Fame.

John and Donna Greiwe, of Sidney, are recognized at the 2015 Ohio State Fair and inducted into the Hall of Fame.

http://aimmedianetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/47/2015/08/web1_John-and-Donna-Greiwe-1Sate-Fair.jpgJohn and Donna Greiwe, of Sidney, are recognized at the 2015 Ohio State Fair and inducted into the Hall of Fame.

John and Donna Greiwe, of Sidney, are recognized at the 2015 Ohio State Fair and inducted into the Hall of Fame.

http://aimmedianetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/47/2015/08/web1_John-and-Donna-Greiwe-2-State-Fair.jpgJohn and Donna Greiwe, of Sidney, are recognized at the 2015 Ohio State Fair and inducted into the Hall of Fame.