The Van Wert County Agricultural Society is comprised of Directors representing the following townships: Jennings, Liberty, Jackson, York, Pleasant, Washington, Hoaglin, Tully, Harrison, Willshire, Ridge, Union; and the following regions: Northern, Southern, Central, Van Wert At-Large, City of Van Wert, and County Villages. The Society also employs three full-time employees and several part-time administrative and seasonal staff.
The Van Wert County Agricultural Society holds monthly board meetings that are open to the public on the third Wednesday of every month at 7:00pm in the EMR Room.
Election of Directors:
Section 17. A committee of three (3), appointed by the President, shall prepare the ballot with names of candidates for directors. Said committee shall be composed of directors, representative residents of any township, village, or city, for which a director is to be elected, possessor of a membership certificate, have a name placed on the ticket by presenting same to the Secretary by 6:00pm, two days before the fair begins. Only regularly nominated candidates, who have met the filing requirements, will be eligible for election as a director. A director seeking re-election, a member seeking election as a director, or a person assisting a candidate for election/re-election may not use the society funds, facilities, or employees to:
A) Promote the candidacy of any person who seeks election/reelection to the Board of Directors of the Society, or
B) Solicit during the election process on the behalf of any candidate for election/re-election, or
C) Influence the votes of members upon any amendment to the Constitution or Bylaws of the Society.
2025 Officers
Stephanie Boroff
President
Mike Wortman
Vice President
Mike Poling
Secretary
Dalton Sidle
Treasurer
Directors – 2025 Term
Shawn Thatcher
Harrison Township
419-203-3832
Brian Etzler
Willshire Township
419-605-7567
Stephanie Boroff
Ridge Township
419-203-3217
Mike Wortman
Union Township
419-513-1108
Rob Bradford
County Villages
419-771-9209
Jennifer Balliet
Central Region
419-513-0156
Directors – 2026 Term
Kathy McCollow
Jennings Township
419-233-6126
Kory Kline
Liberty Township
419-965-2461
Roger Wilkin
Jackson Township
419-233-1067
Justin Siefker
York Township
419-692-7730
Susie Sanderson
Pleasant Township
419-605-5600
Brendan Karl
Southern Region
567-259-5016
Directors – 2027 Term
Dalton Sidle
At Large Van Wert County
419-605-5560
Craig Hoersten
Washington Township
419-296-6872
Kim Mason
City of Van Wert
419-513-0323
Terry Childs
Hoaglin Township
567-328-4450
Becki Price
Tully Township
260-849-2459
Jennifer Swander
Northern Region
419-605-5302
Office Staff
Rayana Thatcher
Office Administrator
Phil Campbell
Grounds
2025 Auxiliary Directors
Aaron Knittle | Melissa Bradford | Sheila Chilcote-Collins | Karen Pugh |
Dave Jones | John Giessler | Aaron Knittle | Spencer Linn |
Chris Lobsiger | Taylor McCoy | Larry Royer | Ronnie Schumm |
Clint Myers | Matt Bockrath |
Ex-Officio Members
Curtis Young: OSU Extension Educator; Ag & Natural Resources |
2025 Committees
Department | Chair | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Audit | Dalton Sidle | Becki Price | Mike Poling | |||
Buildings/Ground/Equipment | Dalton Sidle | Brendan Karl | Kory Kline | Terry Childs | John Giessler | |
Camper & Trailers | Brendan Karl | Dalton Sidle | Rob Bradford | Craig Hoersten | Aaron Knittle | |
Cheerleading Contest | Kim Mason | Susie Sanderson | ||||
Demo Derby | Kory Kline | |||||
Executive | Stephanie Boroff | Mike Wortman | Dalton Sidle | Kathy McCollow | Brian Etzler | Mike Poling |
Free Ground Entertainment | Office Staff | Stephanie Boroff | Kim Mason | Terry Childs | ||
Grandstand Concert Logistics | Mike Wortman | |||||
Policy & Procedures - Ethics | Kathy McCollow | Mike Wortman | ||||
Sale Buyers | Brian Etzler | Justin Siefker | ||||
Brush Pull | Kathy McCollow | Kory Kline | ||||
Senior Citizens Day | Kim Mason | Roger Wilkin | ||||
Veterans Day | Roger Wilkin | Kim Mason | Kathy McCollow | |||
Motocross | Aux - Josh Leiter | |||||
Barnyard Battle | Stephanie Boroff | Mike Wortman | Shawn Thatcher | Brian Etzler | ||
Car Show | Warren Kramer | |||||
Jeep / Motorcycle Show | Susie Sanderson |
2025 Departments
Treasurer | Dalton Sidle | ||
Ponies & Saddle Horse | Jen Balliet (Chair) | ||
Speed/Race | Roger Wilkin (Chair) | Jen Balliet | |
Dairy Cattle | Kathy McCollow (Chair) | Shawn Thatcher | Jennifer Swander |
Beef Cattle | Mike Wortman (Chair) | Justin Siefker | |
Boer Goat | Shawn Thatcher (Chair) | Jennifer Swander | |
Sheep | Steph Boroff (Chair) | Kim Mason | |
Rabbits | Rob Bradford (Chair) | ||
Jr. Fair & Jr. Fair Advisory | Steph Boroff | Becki Price | Craig Hoersten |
Farm Products | Becki Price (Chair) | ||
Fine Arts | Susie Sanderson (Chair) | Terry Childs | |
Grandstand Manager | Rob Bradford (Chair) | Terry Childs | Dave Jones |
Security | Dalton Sidle (Chair) | Brendan Karl | Rob Bradford |
Gates | Dalton Sidle (Chair) | Brendan Karl | |
Machinery & Antique Machinery | Shawn Thatcher (Chair) | Kory Kline | |
Space & Concessions | Office | Brian Etzler | |
Public Relations, Adv., & Sponsorship | Office | Kathy McCollow | |
Horseshoe Pitching | Aaron Knittle (Chair) | ||
Sound | Kim Mason (Chair) | Steph Boroff | |
Gospel Tent | Kim Mason (Chair) | ||
School Exhibit | Office | ||
Commercial Building | Office | Susie Sanderson | |
Ryan Trentman Memorial | Brian Etzler (Chair) | Craig Hoersten | Justin Siefker |
Safety | Kory Kline (Chair) | Brendan Karl | Rob Bradford |
Sanitation & Waste Removal | Dalton Sidle (Chair) | Brendan Karl | Terry Childs |
Grandstand Pits |
Commissioners & Engineers
Thad Lichtensteigher
Commissioner
Todd Wolfrum
Commissioner Chairman
Stan Owens
Commissioner Vice-Chairman
Ryanne Bollenbacher
Clerk Administrator
Kyle J. Wendel PE, PS
Van Wert County Engineer