A girl leads a cow around in front of a judge during the 2021 Barlow Independent Fair. The Barlow Independent Fair is the oldest continuously operating independent fair in Ohio. (File photo)

BARLOW — The more than 100 year old Barlow Independent Fair starts today.

The Barlow Independent Fair is the oldest continuously operating independent fair in Ohio and and runs through Sunday at the Barlow Fairgrounds at the intersection of State Route 339 and State Route 550.

“This is our 153rd Barlow Fair,” Fair Board Vice President Jermey Barth said.

“The fair was started for the community to get together and show up with their agricultural things … Here in Barlow they would come to what was then called Ford Park.”

He said there would be a huge picnic and people would display their livestock and homegoods, Barth said.

The 2024 Barlow Independent Fair starts today and runs through Sunday. (File photo)

“It’s just from there,” he said.

Improvements have been made to the fairgrounds including an addition to the playground and new gas wells to provide natural gas for vendors, according to Barth.

There is a new attraction coming to the fair too, according to Barth. He said the fair has a new “sheriff” in town, Sheriff Blake.

“Sheriff Blake is a western clown sheriff and he will be strolling the fairgrounds on his stilts making balloon animals.”

He also said the parking at the fair has been changed.

People line State Route 550 to watch the 2023 Barlow IndependentFair parade. This year’s fair starts today and it is the oldest continuously operating independent fair in Ohio. (File photo)

Fairgoers used to be able to park on both sides of the fair but this year people will enter from the Bell Road entrance of the fairgrounds, drive to the ticket booth and pay for tickets from their car and then be directed to one parking area, according to Barth.

The Barlow Independent Fair parade will be Friday evening Barth said.

The fair board named Paul Fleming this year’s parade marshal, according to the fair’s Facebook page. Fleming served on the fair board for many years and passed away in an accident last year.

Admission for the fair is $7 for those age 13 and up, $5 for those who are aged 6 to 10 and kids 5 and under get in free, according to Barth.

He said those attending the fair who want to go on rides will need to purchase ride tickets from the ticket office on the midway or they can buy an all-day ride band for $20.

He said there will be free rides tonight from 6-10 p.m. as a way “to give back to the community.”

The fair is a “true family tradition” and people should come to it because “rain or shine we will have a great time here at the Barlow Fair,” Barth said.

He said the fair is like the largest of family reunions and everyone at the fair seems to know someone there and “that just makes us feel like a huge family.”

This family feeling is “what keeps bringing people back,” he said.

Learn more by visiting the Barlow Fairgrounds Facebook page.

The fair schedule includes:

TODAY

* 8-10 a.m. – Entries for T-Building

* 12 p.m. – Lads and Lassies/4-H booth and produce judging

* 3 p.m. – Gates Open; T-Building judging

* 5 p.m. – Flowers judging

* 5:30 p.m. – Poultry showmanship

* 6 p.m. – Local high school marching bands at the gazebo; Tug tractor pull – 11,000 pounds and 13,000 pounds

* 6-10 p.m. – Rides free

* 6:30 p.m. Beef show and Dairy show

FRIDAY

* 8 a.m. – Gates Open

* 9 a.m. – Junior Fair poultry/market duck at Poultry Barn

* 3:30 p.m. – Market dairy goat show

* 6 p.m. – Parade; Tug tractor pull – 7,500 pounds and 9,500 pounds

* 6-11 p.m. – Rides

* 8 p.m. – Sheep and Goat show at the Show Barn; Dyle and Friends at the Gazebo

SATURDAY

* 8 a.m. – Gates Open; Feeder calf show, Feeder call showmanship immediately after show

* 9:30 a.m. – Garden Tractor pull

* 10 a.m. – Open Contest Horse show

* 12-4 p.m. – Election of Directors at Fair Board office

* 12-5 p.m.- Rides

* 12:30-2 p.m. – Corey Hagar at the Gazebo

* 1 p.m. – Draft Pony pull

* 2 p.m. – Contest Show

* 2:30-3:30 p.m. – Evie Schaffer at the Gazebo

* 3:30-4 p.m. – Evan Cunningham at the Gazebo

* 4:30 p.m. – Buyers Reception

* 5 p.m. – Top Six Pie and Cake auction; Junior Fair livestock sale

* 5-6:30 p.m. – Taylor Sams at the Gazebo

* 6:30 p.m. – The Nit Pickers at the Gazebo

* 6-11 p.m. – Rides

* 7 p.m. -Tug tractor pull – 5,500 pounds and 6,500 pounds

* 8 p.m. – Jake Binegar at the Gazebo

SUNDAY

* 8 a.m. – Gates Open

* 9 a.m. – Church with Lloyd Dennis at the Gazebo

* 10 a.m. – Open Pleasure Horse show; Speed Pull

* 10:30 a.m. – Pound and Pout at the Show Barn

* 12 p.m. – Little Miss and Mr. Barlow at the Gazebo

* 12-4 p.m. – Rides

* 2 p.m. – Pedal Pull at the Show Barn

* 4 p.m. – Exhibits released