Kasich says Ohio State Fair is the best

By Marc Kovac

news@vindy.com

COLUMBUS

Gov. John Kasich isn’t calling the Ohio State Fair one of the best in the United States.

He’s not settling for No. 2, either.

“We’re the best darn fair in the entire country,” Kasich said shortly before cutting the ceremonial ribbon marking the opening of the 158th State Fair on Wednesday. He added later, “You’ve got the Civil War encampment, the Budweiser horses, the butter cow, the corn wall, the 9/11 traveling memorial, fireworks, of course. You can sample Ohio wines and beers. The chocolate pig — I’m looking forward to that. Farm animals. And, of course, as you all know, we can milk a cow.”

More than 800,000 people are expected to attend the 12-day event, which runs through Aug. 7 at the state fairgrounds north of downtown Columbus.

This year’s fair will include nightly fireworks, free admission for fourth-graders and beer and wine sales. It also will include the mainstay livestock showings and fair competitions — upward of 31,000 entries were submitted in contests last year.

Those displays and others offered by state agencies help to give the nonfarming public a better idea of the importance of agriculture to Ohio’s economy, Kasich said.

“We want all Ohioans to come [to the fair],” he said. “I know that there are a lot of city folks that don’t know much about the farm. They haven’t been out on the farm. This is a chance to come and ... understand that bread just doesn’t show up in a grocery store. This is a place where we can ... find out what farmers do.”

Kasich and first lady Karen and their twin daughters, Emma and Reese, marked the opening day by touring the fairgrounds, indulging in some Ohio cuisine and taking a turn on a carousel.

Kasich avoided the usual fried fair fare, though he did try a couple of bites of chocolate ice cream and later, at lunch, a sirloin sandwich and two ears of corn.

Kasich also tried maneuvering a tractor and attempted to send a text message while driving as part of separate computerized simulators.

“You know this texting in a car is so crazy,” Kasich said. “It’s hard to believe.”