The county fairs that take place throughout the United States during the summer represent for those of us country folk living in Middle America, at just $5 per person, the opportunity to partake in events ranging from livestock auctions to pie-eating contests to demolition derbies.

The week of July 18-24 represented that for those us living in and around Ottawa County.

Those seven days featured the usual round of small-town entertainment that we've grown accustomed to seeing at the fair: the hog-calling contest, the harness races and the rodeo, among other things.

a horseback rider is "hanging in there" during rodeo competition at the Ottawa County Fair. (press phot by Harold Hamilton/HEHphotos.lifepics.com

Believe it or not, at the hog-calling contest it is pleasantly surprising just what takes place.

Initially, one might think that a “hog-calling contest” was going to be some sort of an auction for swine, but, fortunately or unfortunately, that person would be wrong. Instead, it was an “agricultural karaoke,” as it was dubbed by one contestant, that proceeded to take place. Contestants, ranging in age from grade-schoolers to those collecting Social Security, gathered on stage and gave their best impressions of what a pig sounds like.

The Master of Ceremonies for the event was Curtice resident Molly Hansen, who is currently a student at the University of Toledo. Throughout the procession, Hansen, who was also this year’s junior fair queen, was able to keep the event moving along with her mix of sarcasm and good-natured ribbing of the contestants.

Hansen, who graduated from Clay High School in 2009, currently works at a nursery and is majoring in Middle Childhood Education at UT. Despite the fact that this was her first time hosting the event, she did quite well.

When asked if she was nervous or if she prepared much for the event, Hansen had this to say, “I actually forgot about it until I heard the announcement over the loudspeaker when I was at my camper (earlier). So I thought, ‘OK, we’re just gonna wing-it and hope for the best.’”

The hog-calling contest, which had 13 area businesses sponsor the event, is part of the community service that the local 4-H Chapter takes part in.

If nothing else, we can all admire people who are willing stand in front of a crowd and yell out their best "hog-calls."

Possibly the most entertaining contestant was Jim Sass, a resident of Port Clinton and a County Commissioner in Ottawa County, no less, who came prepared for the event, as he was decked out in a straw hat, cut-off jeans and a bandana. Sass, a third-generation farmer, put nearly all of the other contests to shame with his imitation of a pig, easily winning the adult male competition.

“It’s just a great event for the kids and the 4-H group,” said Sass, who was a judge last year and has competed in the event in three of the past five years, winning each time he’s entered the fray. "It's good, ol' small-town fun."

But the best “hog-call” of the evening may have come from Jessica Hurst, a resident of Port Clinton.

“You could’ve actually blind-folded me and I wouldn’t have known the difference,” said Hansen of Hurst’s epic snort. “I thought it was really good.”

The following day, the rodeo was in town, featuring dozens of competitors. For the 400 or so spectators that showed up for the event, it was a chance to see the contestants experience their share of triumphs, bumps and bruises, and road rash.

The rodeo, which featured competitors from as far away as Georgia and Iowa, showcased only a few area competitors, two of which were Nate & Diana Camper, a couple living in Genoa.

Nate, 35, is a 1993 graduate of Woodmore High School and currently works as an electrician. He and his family are heavily invested in the rodeo, as they devote some of their weekends traveling to rodeos across parts of the country. 

"To me, rodeo is a family event. It's my wife, my daughter and I,” said Camper, who’s been involved with the rodeo for roughly 15 years. “We travel around and have fun — we just make it (work). I wouldn't have it any other way.”

For Camper, one of his high points as a rodeo competitor came when he finished in 15th place at the 2007 International Rodeo Finals in Oklahoma City.

Camper talks about the camaraderie that exists among the contestants, an indication that the rodeo is a competition with a friendly side to it. With the rodeo being a dangerous sport, the competitors understand the danger one another is going through and have respect for what each other is doing.

“The people out here are like my extended family," said Camper of his fellow rodeo competitors. "There's great camaraderie; the competitors help each other. Everybody here is family."

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