SIDNEY — A reverse raffle with a cash prize of $10,000 is the opening fundraising project for a group of adults who have come together to support the Shelby County Junior Fair Board.
The group is not affiliated with the Shelby County Agricultural Society, the senior fair board, which operates the fairgrounds and manages the Shelby County Fair.
“We are a committee of people who have an interest in the junior fair,” said Andy Yenser, one of the group.
The raffle will take place at a dinner in the livestock complex on the fairgrounds, Sept. 24, beginning at 5 p.m. Tickets cost $100 and will admit two people to the dinner and provide one chance in the reverse raffle. Just 300 tickets will be sold. They are available at Provico Farm and Show Supply in Botkins, Lochard’s in Sidney, Bambauer Fertilizer and Seed in Jackson Center, New Knoxville and Pemberton, and Farmers Elevator in Houston. If they are not sold out in advance, tickets will also be available at the gate.
Proceeds will support the construction of a building in which to exhibit rabbits and chickens. Plans call for a 40-foot by 64-foot by 13-foot pole structure with open sides. It will replace the original rabbit and chicken building which was destroyed in a fire about 10 years ago and the tents that have been used by the Junior Fair since the fire. Proceeds will also be used to add ridge vents to the existing livestock show arena.
“The raffle will become an annual event,” Yenser said, “not necessarily for a building project but for whatever might support the junior fair. Once we get established, the Junior Fair Board will be able to come to us with requests.”
He said the committee expects 600 people to attend the Sept. 24 event, which will include live and silent auctions, a 50/50 drawing, an insurance board and a whisky tree.
The insurance board will allow attendees to purchase “insurance” on any given raffle ticket number for $5. If that number is the next-to-the-last one drawn, the insurance holder will win a portion of the insurance pot.
The whisky tree will feature miniature bottles of liquor, each with a numbered ticket. They will sell for $5 each. When all the bottles have been sold, one ticket number will be drawn and the holder will win a prize.
Among the auction items are a gun safe and a custom-built toy barn.
Attendees will enjoy a dinner of beef and pork, cooked by the Shelby County Cattlemen’s Association and the Shelby County Pork Producers, cheesy potatoes, salad, a vegetable and a drink. A cash bar will be available. Dinner will be served at 5:30 p.m. and the raffle will begin at 7 p.m.
People who purchase reverse raffle tickets do not have to attend to win.
Committee members, in addition to Yenser, are Molly Zimpfer, Tim Burden, Keith Phillips and Shelby Gibbs.
