Commissioner previews Franklin County Fair, highlights accessibility upgrades and family programming

A commissioner announced the 109th Franklin County Fair will run Monday, July 20 through Sunday, July 26 and introduced fairgrounds manager Amy Fleischman and a 4‑H participant, who described what the fair means to local youth.

"For me, the fair is the culmination of months of hard work," said Hazel, a 4‑H member and rising junior at Hillier Davidson High School, who described preparing projects and livestock and said her market hog, Pascal, was injured and will not be shown next week. Hazel also said she will run for Franklin County Fair Queen.

Fleischman told the commissioners that the fair — part of celebrations tied to America's 250th anniversary — will include daily community mural painting with Keep Hilliard Beautiful, a health and human services bus, sheriff's canine and mounted demonstrations, and a range of family attractions included with the $10 admission such as free laser tag, a wonder dog show, chainsaw art and a Jurassic dinosaur show.

She credited prior funding from the commissioners for upgraded facilities at the fairgrounds, including new restrooms opened last year and additional renovations this year that Fleischman said improve accessibility: wider entries for strollers and wheelchairs, a universal changing table, a nursing‑mother station and a family bathroom. Fleischman described a Tuesday sensory‑friendly hour to assist attendees who may be overstimulated by lights and sounds.

Fleischman also described a community mental‑health outreach project called "Smile Lines," in which an artist meets with people in the military community, records recovery stories and paints their smiles as part of the fair programming.

An attendee thanked the commissioners for investing in the restroom upgrades and noted the improvements make fairground spaces more usable year‑round for other community events. Fleischman said organizers plan to return to brief the commissioners later about year‑round activities at the fairgrounds.

The fair organizers are offering a $2‑off discount code for Franklin County residents through Sunday; Fleischman directed residents to www.fcfair.org for details and the code. No formal votes or motions were recorded during the briefing.

A speaker who identified himself as a former state treasurer encouraged attendance, calling county fairs cultural touchstones unique to each community and offering best wishes to Hazel for the fair queen contest.