LIMA, Ohio (WLIO) – The 175th Allen County Fair is just a week away, and the Fair Board kicked off the milestone year with its annual dinner for sponsors and guests.
During the dinner, the board premiered a documentary looking back on the fair’s 175-year history and awarded 10 scholarships to students. The Agricultural Society also inducted Lewis and Dolores McCourt and Dwain Metzger into its Hall of Fame. The McCourts started the gospel tent at the fair in 1981, while Metzger launched the tractor pull and the State Tractor Pull at the fair.
The Junior Fair Board announced the royalty for this year’s fair, naming longtime 4-H participants Sheldyn Fetter of Delphos Jefferson and Cara Swartz of Spencerville as the 2025 King and Queen.
“It's really being involved with the younger kids. And I remember when I was younger kid, looking at the older kids at the fair and just watching every show, seeing people that were looking up and helping the little kids. And I just want to do that for the future generation,” said Fetter, the 2025 Allen County Fair King.
“It gives me a chance to grow as a leader, and I get to meet a bunch of people, and it kind of widens my horizon. But I'm really excited to have the opportunity being a leader for the next generation is really, really important to me,” said Swartz, the 2025 Allen County Fair Queen.
Zane Newland from Allen East and Mackenzie Onan from Shawnee were named this year’s Prince and Princess. The ribbon cutting to open the 175th Allen County Fair will take place Aug. 15 at 4 p.m.
