SIDNEY – Junior Fair Board members received a raise and heard an anti-bullying message from Sheriff Jim Frye during Wednesday’s monthly Fair Board meeting.

During the final board meeting before the Shelby County Fair begins on Sunday, the Senior Fair Board doubled the Junior Fair Board members’ compensation.

Junior Fair Board members previously earned $0.50 an hour, earning a maximum of $50 a year, for the work they do for the Fair. The Fair Board voted to increase their hourly rate to $1 with a maximum compensation of $100 a year.

Frye, who was elected Shelby County sheriff in November 2020, addressed the Junior Fair Board members during Wednesday’s meeting.

Frye said he formed a Sheriff’s Advisory Committee this year with residents from throughout the county. The top issue the committee identified in the county is bullying, he said.

“One of the things that they brought up across the board, every one of them, was bullying and how it affects our youth in school and throughout their lives,” the sheriff said.

Social media has made it easier for bullying to occur, Frye said, and he encouraged the Junior Fair Board members to be leaders in combating it.

“We’re all made in the image of God, but we’re all different, right?” Frye said. “Every one of us are different.

“Even though we have differences, we’re all the same. We all have feelings.”

When they encounter bullying, Frye urged the youth to tell a parent, teacher, law enforcement or another adult.

Also during the meeting, Fair Board member Tim Martin requested use of the Shelby County Fairgrounds for a car show benefiting the Ty Martin Service Fund, which was established earlier this year at the Hardin United Methodist Church.

Ty Martin, the son of Tim and Allison Martin, of Sidney, was 17 years old when he died during a mission trip to Mexico in July 2016. He was a member of the Starting Farmers 4-H Club.

The board approved the rental of the Fairgrounds at no charge. The car show will be held from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Oct. 2.