By DENISE GEBERS

Staff Writer

Opening day of the Paulding County Fair was full-on fun and activity.

Some rain off and on in the morning did not slow down any scheduled activity of the day. A few sprinkles were all that fell as dark clouds appeared to threaten the junior fair parade and coronation later in the day.

Crowning of junior fair royalty Monday evening highlighted the day. This year’s queen and king are Ellise Wetli and Gary Klopfenstein.

Ellise is the daughter of Dan and Patty of Antwerp. Gary is the son of Roy and Deb Klopfenstein of Haviland.

Members of the court include first runner-up to the queen, Jade Vogel; second runner-up to the queen, Kelli Schlatter; first runner-up to the king, Matthew Klopfenstein and second runner-up to the king, Luke Spangler.

All contestants were paraded around the grounds and onto the race track in front of the grandstand along with the recently crowned junior king and queen and the prince and princess.

Junior queen is Kaylie Tressler, daughter of Randy and Brooke Tressler of Paulding. Dylan Vogel, son of Patrick and Shelly Vogel of Cecil. is junior king.

Princess is 5-year-old Jocelynn Parrett, daughter of Joel and Heather Parrett of Oakwood. Kyle Mobley is the prince. He is the 8-year-old son of Rodney and Joanne Mobley of Paulding.

The junior fair parade marshal was Sue Miller, advisor of the Livewires 4-H club. She was presented with a plaque and flowers.

Nine floats, an equine unit, and a Girl Scout color guard rounded out the parade lineup. Three 4-H clubs won cash prizes for their float entries: first place, Flat Rock Junior Farmers, $40; second place, Livewires, $25; and third place, Campground Kids, $25.

A guest on the grounds during the day was Madison Weber, this year’s Ohio Fair Queen. She assisted with crowning all levels of the local royalty. A Stark County resident, Madison enjoys showing chickens and hogs in her local fair.

Monday started with a junior fair rabbit show that included a huge class of 77 single fryers. Jowaine Grimes of Oakwood took grand and reserve places overall.

As that three-hour show closed around noon, the poultry barn filled for their competition. Fowl of all shapes and sizes were compared during the five-hour show. Two of Chandlier Diven’s chickens were named best exhibition poultry overall and reserve as well.

Three trophies were awarded during the food and nutrition judging.

Entertainment in the Brenda Thomas Memorial pavilion drew small, but appreciative crowds during the evening hours.

Fair officials were disappointed that no entries showed up for the scheduled chuckwagon races, which were to have been a grandstand attraction.

Twenty-two teams paid $10 entry fees to compete in the second annual cornhole tournament Monday night. Action lasted until after 11 p.m. Prize money, split 50-35-15 went to: Jeff and Zac Cotterman, first; Luke Spangler and Tate Church, second and Mark Spangler and Joel Parrett, third.

Tuesday’s events included FFA judging, Senior Day activities, junior fair goat and swine shows, 4-H clothing judging with style revue and modeling contest, a baking contest, harness races and a magic show.

The remainder of the week has a full slate of events:

TODAY, JUNE 13

9 a.m. Small Animal & Horseless Horse Judging

10 a.m. Money Scramble

Noon Jr. Fair Sheep Show

1 p.m. Rides open until 10 p.m.

2 p.m. Water Balloon Toss

4 p.m. Jr. Fair Beef Show

5 p.m. Open Swine Show entries close

6 p.m. Harness Racing; Feeder Auction; Hat Parade/Harness Races

6:45 p.m. Muleskinner Band – Brenda Thomas Pavilion; Nail Driving and Sawing Contest (sponsored by Hartzog Lumber)

THURSDAY, JUNE 14

Veterans’ Day

9 a.m. Jr. Fair Pleasure & Performance Show; Cloverbud Judging

1 p.m. Rides open until 10 p.m.

2 p.m. Snacks & beverages served to veterans and their spouses throughout the day (sponsored by Paulding County Veterans Service Office and Wetzel Motorcycle Club)

4 p.m. Bean Supper – Brenda Thomas Pavilion (sponsored by Paulding VFW Post 587); Frying Pan Toss; Truck weigh-in

6 p.m. Open Swine Show; Tri State Diesel Shoot Out Truck Pull – grandstand

7 p.m. Junkyard Band – Brenda Thomas Pavilion

8 p.m. Hay Bale Stacking Contest

FRIDAY, JUNE 15

9 a.m. Conservation/Science Judging

10 a.m. Entries close for Open Beef Show

Noon Open Beef Show; Family Consumer Science Judging

1 p.m. Rides open until 10 p.m.

3 p.m. Cheerleaders

4 p.m. Showman of Showmen Contest

6 p.m. Boomswang Band – Brenda Thomas Pavilion; Jr. Fair Horse Contesting; Tug-of-War (sponsored by Signature Embroidery)

7 p.m. Thunder In the Night

SATURDAY, JUNE 16

Fun Day

8 a.m. Farmers Care Breakfast – Brenda Thomas Pavilion

9 a.m. Jr. Fair Livestock Auction

Noon Polls open for election of fair directors

1 p.m. Rides open until 10 p.m.

2 p.m. Kiddie Tractor Pull

4 p.m. Polls close for election of fair directors

4:30 p.m. Tech weigh in Mud Racers; Weigh in for Open Rabbit Show

5 p.m. Volleyball

7 p.m. Open Rabbit Show; Mud Races – grandstand; Paulding County Idol – Brenda Thomas Pavilionated in my high school yearbook that my goal was to work in the out of doors. After I graduated from OSU, I worked immediately for a year with the Ohio Cooperative Research Unit Research Association.”