The 167th edition of the Spencerville Fair had something for everyone. There was an exciting mid-way as well as agricultural exhibits and competitions, coupled with great summer weather to make this year’s fair a great place to be on the weekend. The fair kicked off with a parade that travelled through the village to the fairgrounds. Tinkess Photo
Terry Tinkess
Record Staff
SPENCERVILLE – What do you get when you combine a parade, large vehicles, tasty treats, all sorts of animals, music and entertainment, games of chance, rides for kids of all ages, and oh, yeah, a helicopter?
You get the 167th edition of the Spencerville Fair!
This year’s fair benefitted from warm, sunny weather, and an overall eagerness to get back to doing something “normal”. After a “modified” presence for a couple years due to pandemic restrictions, organizers shook off the rust and provided attendees with a fair that had something for just about everyone, spread out well over all four days.
Saturday saw huge crowds, due in part to the parade that snaked its way through the village and onto the fairgrounds at 11:00 a.m. The Shriners and their collection of clowns in small vehicles was especially popular.
If your interests are equestrian in nature, then you were in luck on Saturday as horse shows with everything from Roadster Pony to Hunter Pleasure class (and everything in between) were featured.
Purebred Beef and Jersey cattle were on display as well and a loyal following were watching intently as many fine specimens were paraded through the cattle ring.
Rabbits, poultry and sheep of all shapes and sizes were housed in some of the smaller buildings, but that didn’t mean they were any less interesting. If you have ever watched as someone attempted to select one specific sheep out of a small pen and then guide it to the show ring, well, that might just be worth the price of admission.
One characteristic of the Spencerville Fair worth mentioning is that it has at its disposal so many buildings of various shapes and sizes. This gives fair goers the choice of enjoying the warm, fall sun or moving inside for a bit to limit their UV exposure.
The midway, while not huge, did have rides suitable for different age groups. The more adventurous could fly on the Paratrooper, while the younger kids could ride the Dragon Train and think about what they would try when they got just a bit older.
For those who like powerful machines, the Grandstand was the place to be for the Antique Tractor and Truck Pull event, which got going just after 1:15 p.m. The stands were nearly full as tractors, some more than 70 years old showed that they can still “get it done.”
One attraction that had a steady draw throughout the day was helicopter rides provided by Kouri’s Kopters. While a bit pricey at $60 per person for an eight-to-ten-minute ride, it provided the opportunity to view the fair and the surrounding area from a completely different perspective. For many, it offered a once in a lifetime opportunity to see from above the place they call home.
Whether it was once in a lifetime or an annual event, it was one step closer to the normal that has been missing for so long, and a great way to welcome fall.
