Fair Director Spotlight

Meet Holly Everhart

• Name: Holly Everhart
• City of Residence: Berea, OH
• What is your occupation and/or are you retired and/or other?: Senior Account Manager at Huntington Insurance
• What was your first affiliation with the Cuyahoga County Fair?: My dad used to help at a table in Building #38 for the Cuyahoga Amateur Radio Society and then with Boy Scouts.
• How Long have you served on the CCF Board?: Since 2009
• In what capacity do you currently serve as to departments, etc?: Junior Fair, Canine, Sponsorships
• What has being a member of the CCF Fair Board meant to you?: Gives an appreciation of how events are put on, all the back-end work that is not seen, and watching the festivals be put up, taken down gives a sense of pride and accomplishment. The work that everyone does to make these happen- no matter how small or large their part- is noticed.
• What makes the Cuyahoga County Fairgrounds so special? Hearing comments from our youth about how much they love coming to the fair, the sights and sounds gives a warm fuzzy feeling. There has been so much growth in the past 40 years, and you can see how much room there is to still grow.
• What has been your favorite fair moment(s)/event(s) over the years?: Becoming Jr Fair Queen in early 90s, participating in Jr Fair shows.
• What is your favorite fair food?: Lemonade and cotton candy!
• What is your favorite fair fun fact?: The current location of the Fairgrounds was not the first location, and we sit in 2 cities.
• Is there something about you that we don’t know about but that you would like to share or that people would be surprised to know?: I actively show dogs in multiple venues- Conformation, Obedience, Agility, Coursing Ability, Dock Diving, etc.

 Meet the Board    

Get to Know Our 4-H Members

Meet Vanessa Martin

• Age: 18
• City: Cleveland/ West Park
• Cuyahoga County 4-H Clubs/Programs participated in: 4-H - Town and Country Farmers, Homestead Hoofers and Sr. Leaders
• Animals and their Names and non-animal projects you have taken: Chicken(market and exhibition), rabbit (market and exhibition [onyx]), horse (ebony), dog(Charlie), hog (market)
• Did You Know and/or Fun Fact about Club, Program, Animal or Other: My chickens have fun names! Chikira, Hennifer Lopez, Notorious H.E.N., etc.
• What has being a member of 4-H meant to you? Being a member of 4-H has meant having responsibility but learning to balance all of it while having fun. It has taught me valuable skills I will never forget and has given me relationships that will last a lifetime.
• How have you encouraged others to be involved? I have encouraged everyone I know to join or enroll someone they know in 4-H. I explain how much it has done forme, everything it offers, and how much fun it is!
• If they had the chance to shine the spotlight on your Club, what would be the top 3 things they would want others to know about 4-H? How many valuable lessons it actually teaches you, how many people you will be open to meeting and making relationships with, and how animals can change your life.
• What are your future plans and how has being in 4-H helped you to accomplish these goals? I am working on a nursing degree to become an RN! 4-H has taught meso many things ranging from social skills to time management and healthy living. I will always remember the people who have helped me and to give back when I can.

 More About Junior Fair/4-H    

Record-Breaking Junior Fair Livestock Auction Grand Champion Steer Goes for over $23,000!

The Cuyahoga County Junior Fair Auction is a growing program where members share the fruit of their labor in the raising, breeding and selling of their animals. Last evening, as part of the Cuyahoga County Junior Fair Auction, 4-H Member, Henry Pierce, sold his Grand Champion Steer (Dale) for over $23,000.

Market Auction Committee Chair, Bruce Kucharski, stated: “This purchase of “Dale” was indicative of what 4-H is all about. Agriculture is “Alive & Well” and programs like this that continue to make agriculture strong in Cuyahoga County.” The purchase of the Grand Champion Steer was by Dr. Lindsay Kostal of Greystone Veterinary Clinic. In addition to this purchase, Kostal, a former 4-H Member and Local Businesswoman, purchased $30,000 total during livestock auction.

“Dale” weighed in at 1,425 pounds and was the “star of the show” with bidding by former 4-H members or families of 4-H alumni. There were bids even via phone by members not available to attend the auction held during the annual Cuyahoga County Fair.

The annual auction broke past year’s records raising nearly $76,000--up from $62,000 in 2022. Robin Stone, 4-H Educator was incredibly humbled by the contributions of so many: “The support of our club and its membership by the Cuyahoga County Agricultural Society, the members families (past and present) and the business community for these kids’ endeavors is monumental and it’s rewarding to be part of it all.”

It’s been a great couple of weeks for Cuyahoga County 4-H Clubs as Natalie Fitzgerald of North Royalton earned her spot in the Ohio State Fair “Sale of Champions” selling her meat chickens to Meijer for $33,000. Natalie is the first 4-H Member from Cuyahoga County to make it to the Sale of Champions in Columbus.

The Cuyahoga County Fair runs through 11PM this evening (this being one-hour later than previously announced due to weather issues the past few days) at the fairgrounds in Berea. Plenty of activities remain throughout the day with the fireworks display you won’t want to miss at 10PM to close out the 2023 event.

Sponsorship Opportunities Available

The Cuyahoga County Fair would not be able to bring fair-goers the wealth of entertainment and exhibits that make the fair such a distinctive event without the generous support of our sponsors.

Whether through donations of money or in-kind services, your assistance allows us to concentrate our energies on making the fair even better… and we are incredibly grateful for that!

If you'd like to consider being a sponsor, please click the button below to download our Sponsorship Flyer.

 Download Flyer