SIDNEY — You won’t want to miss the natural resources area at the Shelby County Fair. It will be even bigger and better than ever in the Community Foundation Hall (former Grange Hall), July 24–31. The building will be open daily from 10 a.m. until 9 p.m., with a special opening time of 8 a.m. on Tuesday, July 26, in celebration of Senior Citizen Day at the fair.
Free! Fun with Nature Crafts will be offered for children every day during the fair at 3 p.m. and 7 p.m. by members of SEEC (Shelby Environmental Education Coalition). Plan to join the free fun!
The North Central Ohio Solid Waste District will have a drawing for a brightly colored Adirondack chair made from recycled plastics. The Shelby County Master Gardeners will have many free fact sheets available. The Shelby Soil and Water Conservation District will have a video depicting numerous accomplishments in conservation from around the county. They will also have a wide selection of printed materials to aid children and adults with their conservation journey.
“Libraries Build Strong Communities”— stop by the Shelby County Libraries’ booth in the natural resources area and get the latest information on the Amos Memorial Public Library’s upgrade and expansion plans.
The Shelby County Farm Bureau will have a new “hands on” kiosk for guests of all ages to try their hand at questions about agriculture. What a fun way to learn about the source of our food and fiber!
Also new this year will be casting games for kids of all ages to help them fine tune their fishing skills, sponsored by the Shelby County Sharpspurs Chapter of the NWTF on Kid’s Day, Thursday, July 28, from noon to 6 p.m.
When planning your trip to the Shelby County Fair be sure to allow plenty of time to visit the exhibits in the Community Foundation Hall Grange Hall. The members of SEEC (Shelby Environmental Education Coalition) invite you to enjoy not only the exhibits but also to stop by for a free cold drink of water and a place to eat, rest or visit with friends inside the building. There will also be beautiful landscaping to enjoy, courtesy of the Jason Weigandt Landscape Company.
Members of SEEC participating in the fair include; Shelby Soil and Water Conservation District, North Central Ohio Solid Waste District, Shelby County Farm Bureau, city of Sidney, Water Treatment Plant, Wastewater Treatment Plant and Parks and Recreation, Friends of the Shelby County Park District, Shelby County Master Gardeners, Lake Loramie State Park, Shelby County Libraries, Pheasants Forever, Inc., National Wild Turkey Federation (NWTF), Shelby County Chapter and USDA, Natural Resources Conservation Service.
Other partners that make the Community Foundation Hall one of the most popular places to visit on the fairgrounds include; the Rainbow Gardeners’ wonderful flower show with the exciting theme of “Shelby County Treasures,” along with the culinary, canned goods, grain, seeds, hay, fruits and vegetable entries. It all makes for a very full and interesting place to visit. The Shelby County Relay for Life Team will be a new partner in the building this year.
The partners of SEEC, along with the Shelby County Fair Board and the Rainbow Gardeners’ Club invite fairgoers and their family to join them in the natural resources area at the Community Foundation Grange Hall during the Shelby County Fair. Conservation will be a BIG part of the great 2016 Shelby County Fair. For more information about the activities planned, call Lynda Adams, education coordinator for the Shelby Soil & Water Conservation District at 937-492-6520, ext. 2589.
