IT’S FAIR SEASON — Dewitt McNeely Friday replaced bedding for the rabbits he raised as part of the 4-H livestock program at the Harrison County Fair. -- Christopher Dacanay

CADIZ — Ohio’s county fair season is underway, with Harrison County Fair in Cadiz being among the first in the state this year to offer the time-honored county fair traditions of rides, food, shows and animals.

There was no lack of sights to see and things to do, especially for kids, at the fairgrounds located at 550 Grant Street. The fair, an annual tradition since 1847, runs through Saturday, with events including a farm stock tractor pull at 9 a.m., “Supreme Showmanship” at 4 p.m., Power Pulling Productions, LLC truck and tractor pulls at 6 p.m. and square dancing at 8:30 p.m.

On the upper part of the fairgrounds, one of the most anticipated events of the week was Friday’s 4-H livestock sale. Money raised during the annual auction of chickens, rabbits, ducks, goats, pigs and cows — often goes to the college funds of the 4-H participants who have raised the animals.

Dewitt McNeely raised goats, rabbits and ducks in his second year in the 4-H program. McNeely’s ducks took third place in showmanship and his rabbits were a rare breed liked by the judges known as “cinnamon,” said his father, Jim McNeely.

His father said parting with the animals has been tough for Dewitt.

“You grow a bond,” he said. “These kids spend a lot of time with these animals.”

However, McNeely said, Dewitt will believe the sacrifice was worth it when he is able to go to college with the money he earned through the sale.

Lilli Smith, a fourth-year 4-H participant, took second-place for showmanship, and one of her ducks received a special second-place award.

Smith said her earnings will go into her savings account for college, with the dream of going to an Ivy League school, although she does not know what she will study.

Cabot Arbaugh was at the far for his 10th and final year of the 4-H program — he will be turning 19 soon and will no longer be eligible to compete. During his time with the program, Arbaugh said, he has made too many memories to count. He took time before the sale to wash one of his lambs, which did not particularly want to be bathed and made sure to let everyone know about it.

The auction attracted folks with cash ready for bidding. Immediately, the three grand champion rabbits sold for $1,200. Additional excitement followed when the three reserve champion rabbits sold for $2,250, a record for a reserve champ.

Nestled within rows of parked cars and mobile homes was the fair’s midway, which was full of games and activities. Among the rides were a mechanical bull, potato sack slide, rock climbing wall, inflatable laser tag arena and arcade. The arcade featured racing games, skill games and even a punching bag strength test.

Working at the arcade for the summer was Ryder “R.B.” Brown. A recent graduate of Tri-County Career Center, Brown began working at the arcade on Sunday, joined by his cousin, Elliott Proctor.

Brown called himself a carny, but an honest one at that. He said his favorite part about working at the arcade is “seeing kids light up” when they are having fun or win something. Part of the job, he said, is hyping kids up when their mallet does not strike as firmly as desired on the high-striker strength game.

Also in the fair’s midway sits the literal meat and potatoes of the fair: The food stands. From fair classics like corndogs and french fries to more diverse cuisines like Chinese food, the fair served dishes to please any palette.

Ruth McAfee of Miller’s Concessions served fairgoers freshly made candy and caramel apples, as well as fresh caramel popcorn. McAfee said the stand, which has been in operation for 130 years, was founded by her grandfather, Harry Miller.

McAfee, who runs the stand with her friends and family, said she likes just about everything at the fair. She is fond of the 4-H youth program’s livestock sale, she said, because her family used to buy pigs and “have them butchered … then yummy yummy in our tummy — nothing like fresh bacon.”

Another food stand was Shirley’s, which sold steakburger hoagies and Italian sausages on rolls. The stand was run by its current owners, Rick and Diana Mullen. Rick Mullen is the grandson of the original owner, Shirley Richardson, who opened the mobile food stand sometime in the 1960s.

Staff with Shirley’s cook the food right in front of patrons on grills in front of the stand. Passersby can be drawn in through the immediate sights and smells of the grill in action. Rick Mullen said Shirley Richardson began the grilling strategy, and they have stuck with it.

Another stand offered Chinese food. Working there on Thursday were Bill and Jennifer Ta, who have been staffing the stand for 20 years. Bill Ta used a wok to cook fried rice, which could come with a topping. The Tas originally came to the United States from Vietnam. Bill Ta escaped from Vietnam in 1985. He and 165 others took a sailboat from Vietnam to Malaysia before going to the Philippines and then the United States, he said. The boat was so crowded, he said, that he had to sit with his arms tucked in.

Jennifer came to the United States in 1991. Now, they have been married for 30 years and have two daughters.

Midway Mexican served burrito bowls, walking tacos and quesadillas. Working there was Tim Winkleman, who said he has been working with fairs for about 25 years, or since he was 18. Winkleman said he chose a career in fairs because he wanted the novelty and excitement of life on the road, while “meeting new people, (seeing) new towns, new cities.”

Winkleman said he is a trained cook, and added his favorite thing to prepare, alligator, is not on the menu at Midway Mexican.

Midway Mexican is a trailer belonging to Ha Ha Concessions, which itself stems from Movin’ and Groovin’ Productions, owned by Anthony Bailey. Winkleman said the employee environment at Ha Ha Concessions, and at fairs in general, is like a family, and he called Bailey his “adoptive brother.”

Bailey himself juggled overseeing his products with overseeing his children, who accompanied him on the job — an example of the family environment among the fair workers.

Nearly everyone at Ha Ha Concessions is related somehow, Bailey said. Even the ones who aren’t related by blood still share a special connection among the other employees. Bailey said that fraternity extends to all other workers at the fair, even competing food stands.

“We’re competition on the midway, but, at the end of the day, it’s a brotherhood,” Bailey said. “You don’t see that anywhere else.”

Bailey said working for fairs is tough, especially because of long hours. However, he said, it is all worth it to create fun for kids.

“It’s about the kids,” Bailey said. “It’s about smiles and creating memories for the kids — the smells, the lights. We’re creating core memories (for them).”