The Delaware County Board of Commissioners on Sept. 15 adopted resolutions honoring this year’s Little Brown Jug honorees and described outreach and infrastructure plans tied to fair week and the Jug.

Why it matters: The Little Brown Jug is a high-attendance event for Delaware’s fairgrounds and the commissioners framed several county and nonprofit efforts—marketing, tents for partners and planned grandstand renovation—as part of a push to broaden the event’s reach and visitor services.

The board unanimously approved a resolution recognizing the 2025 Joseph Neville Memorial Award winner, Bob Macintosh, and a separate resolution honoring a Little Brown Jug Wall of Fame inductee (read into the record and approved by voice vote). “This year, it’s … a gentleman named Bob Macintosh,” a commissioner said while introducing the resolution recognizing the award recipient.

Commissioner Gary Merrill described broader fair-week planning and marketing for the Jug, saying, “It’s Delaware’s day in the sun. There’ll be 40,000 or so.” Merrill said ticket sales have been robust this year and that the county has worked with Destination Delaware and local partners on a new marketing plan and additional tents and amenities at the fairgrounds.

Officials also noted improvements already completed and planned at the fairgrounds, including recently upgraded restrooms in the grandstand and a planned renovation of the grandstand area. Commissioners and staff said those improvements are intended to improve visitor experience during the Jug and other fair events.

The board indicated several county and nonprofit partners will have temporary presences at the event (for example, a finance authority tent), and encouraged residents to attend fair-week activities including the Jug, the Jugette and related ceremonies. No funding vote for new capital work on the grandstand was taken at the Sept. 15 meeting.

The resolutions recognizing Jug honorees passed by unanimous voice votes. The commissioners recessed the formal business of the meeting to host multiple fair-related presentations during the session.

Looking ahead: commissioners and fair organizers encouraged public attendance at the Little Brown Jug events and related ceremonies this week and said some visitor amenities will be phased in over the coming months as planning and construction schedules permit.