SIDNEY — After a 26-year run at the Auglaize County Fairgrounds, the Buckeye Farm Antique Show (BFAS) is moving to the Shelby County Fairgrounds.
The popular event draws 6,000-7,000 people annually during Memorial Day weekend. This year’s show will run May 27-29.
The move comes as a result of an impasse between Buckeye Farm Antique Inc. and the Auglaize County fair board over rental fees. BFAS had had a five-year contract, which expired in 2015.
“We knew (a change in rental price) was coming up last March,” said BFAS Director Esther Gaier, of Wapakoneta. “(The Auglaize County fair board) had approached us then, but never followed through.”
In a statement read to the BFAS board by its vice president, Gary Bradford, Sunday, he said the organization could not afford to stay in business if it would have to pay what the fair board had proposed.
Gaier said BFAS had received a certified letter from the fair board. Subsequently, the BFAS contract committee met with the fair board three times with counter proposals, all of which were rejected. Show officials then contacted fair boards in Celina, Sidney and Lima.
“(Shelby County) was our only option,” Gaier said. “Celina had events set up for those particular dates, and we didn’t want to change our dates. Allen County hasn’t gotten back to us. We thought this was our best bet.”
The group will rent the Shelby County Fairgrounds at a fee of $5,000 plus the cost of electricity for the show. Gaier said that is comparable to what they were paying in Wapakoneta.
Local officials are excited about the change.
“One of the things we’ve tried to do over the years is bring more events to the fairgrounds,” said Shelby County Agricultural Society Secretary Jerry Schaffner. “It’s not just good for the fairgrounds. It’s good for the city and county. They’ll fill up our hotels and eat in our restaurants.”
Schaffner said he’s sorry that the show left another fairgrounds, but the farm antique show isn’t the only event that BFAS has moved. It booked the Shelby County Fairgrounds for its November swap meet, too.
In 2015, attendees came to the May event from nine states and Canada. It is expected to attract many Canadians this year. At each show, a specific brand of antique tractor is featured. In 2016, that brand is Canadian: Cockshutt. The BFAS will host the Cockshutt regional show and also feature Canadian gas engines. Gaier expects as many as 400 tractors of all brands to be on display.
The show also offers entertainment, activities for children, a flea market, a parts market, an auction and an area of working crafts, including a sawmill.
“It’s going to be a change for us,” Gaier said about having the show in a new place. “The committee will meet April 3 to walk the fairgrounds and figure out where everything is going to be situated.”
She expressed regret that BFAS couldn’t come to an agreement with the Auglaize County officials.
“But maybe it’s a blessing in disguise,” she said. “We have been treated very good by the (Shelby County) commissioners, chamber of commerce and Jerry at the fairgrounds.”
When asked what she was most looking forward to about being in Sidney, her answer was brief.
“Everything,” she said.
