Doenges Cuts Ribbon For Final Time at 172nd Auglaize County Fair
WAPAKONETA- The 172nd Auglaize County Fair opened its gates with a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Sunday, marking not only the start of a new fair season but also the end of an era for the event's longtime manager, Ed Doenges.
The ceremony took place at the newly installed Auglaize County Veterans Pavilion as Doenges, who has been associated with the fair for over 25 years, had the honor of cutting the ceremonial ribbon. Surrounded by local dignitaries, fair board members, and a crowd of enthusiastic fairgoers, Doenges final ribbon-cutting was met with a standing ovation and heartfelt cheers.
Doenges, who has become a beloved figure in the community through his tireless dedication to the fair, took a moment to reflect on his tenure following the opening ceremony. “It was very fulfilling. When you pull off an event like the week of the fair and it goes well there's nothing like the feeling like that. Whether it's another event throughout the year, it's just great to be a part of it,” Doenges said. “It's all about family. We grew up, our kids grew up through this fair and that's been a big part of our lives.”
The fair, which runs through August 3rd, features a wide array of activities and entertainment, from thrilling rodeo events to daily monkey shows, and live musical performances. The traditional exhibits, including the livestock competitions and 4-H projects, remain a key attraction, reflecting the fair’s roots in agricultural heritage. “We are a great agricultural fair. We have a lot of livestock, a lot of the junior fair kids do a fantastic job every year. We have the Junior Fair Board that is just a second to none in the state and they put on some really good shows, whether it's a modeling review or a style review, or any of the structures. We pride ourselves that we are still an agricultural fair and that hometown feel of the 4-H program and the FFA program is just outstanding in this land,” Doenges voiced.
Sunday featured its traditional shows in the barns, and a cheerleading competition, horseshoe tournament, live entertainment, and the annual equine queen/princess competition.
For a full schedule of events, visit auglaizecountyfair.org.