RSS | Print | Comments | Tell a Friend | Larger Text | Smaller Text | Bookmark and Share

Local News

Sunday, August 31, 2008

Dave Thomas owes everything to fair
By LOU WILIN

STAFF WRITER

Sitting before three judges who would name the 1968 Junior Fair king, 17-year-old Dave Thomas was asked about his plans.

"'Someday I would like to come back and give back to the fair what it has given to me,'" Thomas recalls saying.

The Arcadia senior was crowned Junior Fair king three weeks later.

During the band show following the crowning, the head majorette for Arlington caught his eye. A look passed between them.

Thomas sensed something ... and he was, after all, the king.

He asked a friend about her, and was soon introduced to Gloria Reigle. Dave and Gloria were married within three years.

For the past 40 years, "Mr. Fair" has made good on his words to the judges.

He has faithfully attended the fair each year. For many years he has announced the draft horse pull and shows, tractor and truck pulls, Junior Fair night, and auctioneered Junior Fair livestock.

The Biglick Township farmer became fair operations and facility manager last year.

As Thomas talks about the fair, his mouth wells into a smile. His eyebrows rise, his eyes dance.

"I still — even to this day — get excited about it," he said. "I've got three loves of my life: the fair, family and farming."

The three are inextricably entwined for him.

Thomas' first taste of food at the fair came from the loving hands of his mother: family meals were brought in a picnic basket. Mom's fruit pies were dessert.

At 6 years old he was amazed to see all the people, livestock and farm machinery: more livestock and farm machinery than these days.

"It was really the first opportunity I had to get out and see what was on the other side of the fence row," Thomas said. "I was just amazed at the atmosphere, at the people, the friendly people."

It was his family's annual vacation. They shut down the farm except for morning and evening chores. The time in between was devoted to the fair.

When Thomas was older, he showed dairy cattle. He bought fair food not prepared by Mom: A steak sandwich and chocolate milkshake from the Vanlue Music Boosters for 50 cents. He was living large.

This week, he strolled down memory lane when he walked into the Dairy Barn. He stopped at a wooden stall where black-and-white dairy cattle lay on straw bedding.

"Right over here," Thomas said, pointing to the stall where he spent entire fairs as a 4-H youth. For five consecutive fairs, he slept each night in the barn with the cattle.

"This was my camping trip," he said.

When Thomas later became a parent, he passed on the traditions to his children. Now he wants to pass on the opportunities to future generations.

"It is very important the youth of this county have a place to come and exhibit their livestock projects," Thomas said.

Exhibitors learn the value of responsibility and hard work.

"I announce a lot of names through the fair, through all the shows, through all the Junior Fair king stuff. I never read their names in the daily docket," Thomas said. "I read it in the sports page, the academic page, the scholarship pages. That's the type of kid the Junior Fair tries to encourage."

Ultimately the fair is important for the community and "probably the largest family reunion in Hancock County," Thomas said.

"So many families come together, three and four generations in the barns, sitting together, talking," he said. "It just makes you feel good that they will take the time to sit down and have a common interest. It's heart-warming."

Thomas' mother, Marilynn, 85, still makes it to the fair each day.

Thomas is hoping his grandchildren will show dairy cattle when they are old enough.

"That will be the second or third proudest day of my life, to have one child carry on the tradition," he said. "We're already making plans."

Wilin: 419-427-8413

Send an e-mail to Lou Wilin
Comment on This Story
NOTE: Comment moderation has been enabled. If you see a comment that violates our Electronic User Agreement, please e-mail webmaster@thecourier.com. Thank you. If you are having problems viewing this Web page, please contact our Internet Department to help us diagnose and correct the problem. We may contact you for more information. Thanks in advance.
Your e-mail address will not be displayed on this website or shared with anyone. It is used by our online editor for contacting purposes.
Comments are moderated by The Courier according to its Electronic User Agreement within one business day. Comments that slander others or include language that violates the agreement will be rejected. All comments that impart opinion and information are welcome.
   NEWS VIDEO

Benton Ridge Shooting

This video, released by the Hancock County Prosecutor's Office, shows the shooting of a Lima man who led authorities on a three-county chase ending Aug.24 in Benton Ridge. Be cautioned, the video contains graphic content.
   SPECIAL SECTIONS
Summer Coupons
   WEEKEND
USA Weekend

ANDERSON COOPER: Five years after Hurricane Katrina, the CNN reporter returns to New Orleans as the Gulf Coast faces even newer challenges.


Roses are red...

SOLUTIONS, NOT PROBLEMS: The University of Findlay plays host to competitive sailor who is a quadruple amputee.

ALSO IN WEEKEND: Area events,
prep boys and girls soccer and a trip to Niagra Falls.

   STAY IN TOUCH
The Courier on Facebook
   VIRTUAL VILLAGE
TisaWee Farm

Far Flung Guest Book

Virtual Village
   PHOTO GALLERY
Randy's Seen

IMAGE BLOG: Go behind the scenes with Courier photographer Randy Roberts.


You can purchase photographs from The Courier through our easy-to-use online system. Get prints, mousepads, T-shirts and more!

   LOCAL NEWS
  LATEST COMMENTS Last 10 comments submitted by our readers...
j wrote in article "Many winners named as Hancock Fair opens":
Good but little expensive
“ The fair was interesting, but at $5 for the more popular rides on the expensive side, same with the food, many people commented... ” Read More...
9/2/2010 10:37:10 AM
JM wrote in article "McComb couple is serious about fair competition":
Very nice!
“ What a lovely article. Will have to check out their goods at the fair. ” Read More...
9/2/2010 10:21:42 AM
Ed wrote in article "Shooting video released":
Dirt bag...
“ A head shot would have put an end to the both dirt bag's chance of getting more money. NATE: could it be that you have some fir... ” Read More...
9/2/2010 9:53:26 AM
Yfkm wrote in article "Heroin outbreak":
Denial
“ To Tony and TL Every good citizen, parent and public official advocates the eradication of drugs from our communities; you are n... ” Read More...
9/2/2010 9:08:20 AM
Penny Musgrave wrote in article "Shooting video released":
Benton Ridge Shooting
“ Although I am all for catching the criminal, I don't condone what was done to this guy. They converged on him like gangbusters b... ” Read More...
9/2/2010 8:43:07 AM
Yfkm wrote in article "Parole denied in murder case":
Unqualified reassurance
“ To Tony - here is another example of your inability to see situations as they really are. It is obvious that you are so self in... ” Read More...
9/2/2010 8:42:45 AM
JP wrote in article "Pigskin Picks":
Wood Shed???
“ "Bubba," why would a Tiger take a Polar Bear to the wood shed? Wouldn't it be more likely that: Tigers knock Polar Bears into a... ” Read More...
9/2/2010 7:16:48 AM
poor victim!!!!! wrote in article "Shooting video released":
Nate
“ Nate your a moron and obviously do not know a thing about use of force. Also most taser cartridges carried have a 15 ft to 35 f... ” Read More...
9/2/2010 7:15:05 AM
Ryan wrote in article "Shooting video released":
Research
“ It doesn't matter if there was a weapon found or not. An officer's job is based upon perception and their objective reasonablen... ” Read More...
9/2/2010 7:05:15 AM
Derek wrote in article "Shooting video released":
Nate......what???
“ Nate, first of all, police officer's don't carry mase. If they did, the would carry maCe. Now, if you did some research, you'd... ” Read More...
9/2/2010 4:02:04 AM
  U.S. Headlines
  World News
  Ohio News
News Briefs Firefighters discover 20 marijuana plants in house
After fighting a house fire early Monday at 815 Howard St., firefighters found 20 marijuana plants in the residence.

"They ran across it and called us," said police Sgt. Justin Hendren with the Hancock County METRICH Drug Enforcement Unit.

Police seized all 20 plants, and Hendren said charges are pending.

High-powered growing lights, fans, and a box filled with dried marijuana were also found in the house, according to a police report.

Investigators said an electrical short started the fire before 3 a.m. Monday.

The blaze caused an estimated $12,000 in damage to the residence, owned by Amanda Crawford. No one was injured, according to the Findlay Fire Department.

Carey announces holiday closing
CAREY -- Carey offices, including administrative, income tax and utilities, electric, wastewater treatment plant, and public works, will be closed Monday in observance of Labor Day.

The curbside recycling program will be held Tuesday through Thursday, Sept. 7-9.

Findlay trooper named sergeant
Trooper Jacob L. Fletcher, assigned to the Findlay post of the State Highway Patrol, was promoted to sergeant Wednesday by Patrol Superintendent Col. David Dicken.

With the promotion, Fletcher will stay at the Findlay post and serve as an assistant post commander, according to the patrol.

Fletcher began his patrol career in 2002 after graduating from the 139th Academy class and has been assigned to the Findlay post since.

Owens announces holiday schedule
The Toledo and Findlay campuses of Owens Community College will be closed Saturday through Monday for the Labor Day holiday.

There will be no classes and the college offices will be closed.

Classes will resume and offices will open again on Tuesday.

Holiday changes ad deadlines
The Courier won't be published on Monday, in observance of the Labor Day holiday.

Because of the holiday, some advertising deadlines have been moved up this week:

Black and white display advertising for Tuesday's newspaper must be placed by noon Friday. Display advertising for Wednesday's newspaper must be placed by 2:30 p.m. Friday.

Color display advertising for the Thursday, Sept. 9 newspaper must be placed by Friday.

Classified advertising and City and Country advertising for Saturday's newspaper must be placed by 2 p.m. Friday. Classified ads for Tuesday's newspaper must be placed by 2:30 p.m. Friday.

Courier business and advertising offices will close at 3 p.m. Friday for the holiday.