CANFIELD, Ohio — The Canfield Fair Foundation and the Canfield Fair board of directors have appointed four past board members to serve as honorary co-chairs of the fair’s capital campaign.
George Berlin, Joe Dickey Jr., David Myers and Donald Snyder Jr. have been tapped to lead the fundraising efforts of the $4.5 million, five-year capital campaign. To date, the capital campaign has raised $1,035,100.
The funds are earmarked for the construction of a 45,000 square-foot coliseum and multi-purpose exposition center that will be used year-round, as well as additional junior fair livestock buildings and barns.
The four co-chairs, they have 81 years of combined service on the board.
Berlin, who previously served on the board as president and head of security, horse racing and grandstand entertainment, has not missed a fair since he was 5.
And that’s a common theme. Dickey has attended the fair every year, except for the three he missed while in the service. Dickey previously served as president and head of education, trailer parking, parking and facility rentals.
“I feel a personal responsibility to the future of this fair and fairgrounds,” Dickey said. “This project is so important for the community and it’s going to improve the 4-H program, the junior fair program, the Canfield Fair and the fairgrounds in so many ways.”
David Myers is a past board member who served as president and oversaw the draft horses and ponies during the fair. And for him, the fair was always a family affair.
“We grew up in our family as Fair people. My four children all participated in junior fair, I served on the board and now my son serves on the board, so for us it’s very much a part of our family,” Myers said.
“The 21 great-grandchildren I have will get to enjoy this new building and they’ll be proud of that building,” he added.
Rounding out the group is Donald Snyder Jr., who coordinated junior fair activities, small farm animals and assisted with maintenance during his tenure with the board.
For information on how to donate, contact Matthew Hughes of Fair Funding LLC at 330-533-4107.
