Maple Grove Goes to the Ashland County Fair

By Marilyn Kettering Badger

October 10, 2016

The Ashland County Fair is usually the third week of September.  Maple Grove has been actively involved in the Fair for many years.  We have many church people who participate each year in the showing of animals for 4-H and displays for FFA.  Some people show hobby displays, baking, canning, flowers, sewing, needlecrafts, woodworking, and other skill areas.  Antique tractors, tractor pulls, the high school bands are all a part of fair time for people from Maple Grove.   

 

And then there is the pork trailer which our church has sponsored for many, many years as an opportunity to serve our community as well as a fund raiser.   It is work; it is also fun.   

 

In the early 2000’s, the Northern Ohio Pork Producers Club decided to give up their idea of a pork food trailer at the fair.  It had served at the Ashland and Wayne County Fairs.  Thanks to Dick and Helen Wesner, Ron and Marlene Shoup, Norm and Eleanor Wynn who had helped with this and wanted to see it continue.   The idea was adopted by Maple Grove Church in 2001, using the Pork Producers trailer.  In 2002-2003, they again did it and used this trailer.  In 2004-2006, Maple Grove rented a food trailer from Saltzgrabers.  It was a lot of work to clean it up before the fair (from other users) and after it was over for returning it to the renters.  In 2007 a food trailer was purchased by a family in the church and it was used for the fair from then on to now and also for some other food occasions.  This made it easier to keep it cleaned up.   It was eventually turned over to the PMIF (Property Maintenance Improvement Fund) Committee in charge of this project. 

 

So very many people have volunteered time and efforts over the years to serve fresh grilled pork tenderloins, pork patties, barbecued pork (all from Turk’s Meats), homemade cookies, coffee and pop to people attending the fair.  We meet and greet people for about 12 hours each day of fair week.  We also offer a place to sit to eat.  Lots of love, kindness, and blessings are shared.  This is a real outreach from the church.  Many stories could be told about Maple Grove children and their showing of their animals, their abilities and their earned awards.  Many adults have also had leadership roles.  Congratulations to them and their families.  Joys and sorrows have also been a shared part of the Ashland County Fair.   Now sixteen years later, we continue on doing God’s work for His Church at Ashland County Fair time.    

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