Leadership and Staff

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 Auxiliary Directors

Aaron Knittle	Melissa Bradford	Sheila Chilcote-Collins	Karen Pugh
Dave Jones	John Giessler	Larry Royer	Spencer Linn
Chris Lobsiger	Taylor McCoy	Aaron Flum	Ronnie Schumm
Clint Myers	Matt Bockrath	Joy Flum	Rod Price

Ex-Officio Members

Curtis Young: OSU Extension Educator; Ag & Natural Resources

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)	Matt Bockrath
Jr. Fair & Jr. Fair Advisory	Steph Boroff	Becki Price
Farm Products	Becki Price (Chair)	Karen Pugh
Fine Arts	Susie Sanderson (Chair)	Terry Childs	Jennifer Swander
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	Craig Hoersten	Rob Bradford	Terry Childs