WOOSTER, Ohio — Pete Armstrong, secretary of the Wayne County Agricultural Society, said the county fair closed its books this year with 1,063 exhibitors and 10,160 entries, down slightly from 2013.

During a recent banquet, the board recognized five volunteers for their service to the Wayne County Fair.

Richard Dobec grew up on a potato farm on Long Island and joined 4-H as a five-year old before turning to sports as a high school student. After high school, he served a four-year stint in the Navy and returned to take a job with Grumman Aerospace.

He got involved in the Standardbred business and harness racing as a trainer, driver and owner. He attended Cornell and continued working with racehorses, including a job as the executive secretary of the Northeast Harness Horseman’s Assoc. and later, as an instructor at an area career center. In 1978, he took a job as the assistant professor in horse management and production at Ohio State Agricultural Technical Institute (ATI).

Dobec also began volunteering at the Wayne County Fair during the harness racing program, assigning stalls, timing races and promoting the horse program. Following his retirement from ATI, he became an instructor in watercolors at the Wayne Center for the Arts. He has won two Best of Show awards at the fair for his artwork.

Louie Rehm has been hauling livestock for 4-H and FFA members since 1976. When he started, Rehm was driving a cattle truck. The steep ramp made loading out hogs after the sale a challenge for all involved. When he switched to a cattle trailer, it made the job simpler for everyone.

In addition, he also enjoys tractor pulls and usually found a way to see these and get the livestock moved out of the fairgrounds. Early on, the steers were not released until the fair closed down, which often coincided with the final classes of the tractor pull. Rehm asked the Steer Committee to consider releasing the steers early so he could get them hauled out and get back for the tractor pull.

When the members told him no, he went to the tractor pull and came back to the steer barn and hauled steers to the processor. The next year, the rules were changed to allow the steers to leave the fairgrounds immediately following the sale.

Joe Irvin was instrumental in starting the Antiques department at the Wayne County Fair. In 1986, Irvin coordinated an exhibit of local antiques to celebrate a major historic celebration in the county. The exhibit attracted 20,000 visitors into the Grange Rotunda during fair week.

Irvin continued to build displays until 1990 when the fair added an antiques department to its program. He worked hard to set the standards for the department, establishing regulations, rules and guidelines as to what could be exhibited. He saw the department as a way to educate the public on the history and development of things used or no longer used.

Irvin recruited the judges for the department’s open judging. He is also the author of three books on Wayne County history and operates an antique business.

Linda Prochazka has been a fan of the Wayne County Fair since the day she was born. In fact, she was born during the fair and continues to celebrate her birthday every year during it.

Prochazka’s family has been active in the fair, with both her father and grandfather serving on its board. She continued the tradition as a 4-H member, exhibiting cooking and sewing projects as well as market steers, Berkshire hogs and Shorthorn cattle. She exhibited animals at both the county and state fairs.

In addition to serving as Junior Fair queen, another highlight in her fair memories is placing third in the Powder Puff Tractor Pull. She has served as a 4-H advisor, member of the FCS Committee and Building 10 Committee and an advisor for the Food and Fashion Board. She also completed the training to be a Master Clothing Educator for Ohio.

She has exhibited sewing projects in the adult division in Buss Hall. She is a strong supporter of the Shepherd’s Lead class, both as a participant or working the ring and helping younger exhibitors when they need assistance.

Kim Mumaw completed 12 years of 4-H as a member before becoming an advisor in 1981. As an adult, she has exhibited cooking and sewing projects as well as poultry and sheep at the fair. When the Shepherd’s Lead class was added to the fair schedule, Kim combined her interests in sheep and sewing and began participating in the class.

She has been a strong supporter of the class ever since and has encouraged other people to participate as well. She also helps her mother clerk the Draft Horse Hitch classes on Sunday during the fair.

Moving people from the parking lot to the entrances takes a lot of man-hours, according to Craig Garrett. He recognized two longtime volunteers for their service to the fair, John Warner and  Russell First.