A very surprised Jamie Darr accepts a state honor and praises members of Holmes County Fair Board
Jamie Darr, concessions manager for the Holmes County Fair at Harvest Ridge, was honored recently as the recipient of the 2017 Greater Ohio Showmen’s Association Concessions Manager of the Year. Darr was quick to credit the entire Holmes County Fair Board for its commitment to making the fair great and welcoming.
All Jamie Darr wanted to do at the annual Greater Ohio Showmen’s Association banquet was go use the restroom, yet everyone around him and connected with him and the Holmes County Fair urged him to remain seated during the awards ceremony.
In what was apparently a poorly kept secret among the masses was indeed a tremendous surprise to Darr, who did hang around long enough to collect the Concessions Manager of the Year award for 2017.
That put the pressure directly on Darr for this year’s 2018 Holmes County Fair at Harvest Ridge, and on top of that, Darr had an early run-in with an overhang during a rainstorm that left his ankle supremely sprained and swollen, but being the ultimate team guy, Darr’s job went on as he made sure all of the food and ride concessions went smoothly during fair week Aug. 6-11.
“I had no clue, no idea we had gotten any kind of award,” Darr said of the Holmes County Fair. “I needed to go to the restroom, and everyone kept telling me I couldn’t go. I was going to be back in a minute, so it didn’t seem like any big deal, so I went.”
Upon his return he heard the presenter talking about this person who attended Ohio State and likes fishing, and Darr started to get the picture.
The presentation was coming from Drew Kissel, one of the Kissel brothers who run the fair rides in Holmes County. Darr returned to his seat among plenty of snickers and giggles.
“I think in the end everyone from the fair board including my wife knew about the award, everyone but me,” Darr said. “I had no clue.”
In order to receive the award, Darr had to be nominated by a GOSA member and go up against other nominees. He isn’t even sure who nominated him, but he said one of the things he strives to do each year is make the fair experience a great one for all of the vendors.
“I want to be the guy who goes above and beyond for our vendors, but the biggest thing for me is to simply treat them how I would like to be treated,” Darr said. “I know places where vendors will come in and have no idea where they are going or what to do to set up properly. It is an inconvenience for them, so try to make sure they are well taken care of, and I want to be available to them to make sure everything is OK and they feel welcomed.”
Darr’s fair duties include taking charge of all of the concessions, and he serves as a committee chair who has several people working with him to make the concessions people feel at home, deal with problems and answer questions.
Throughout this year’s fair Darr rode a golf cart with his cane in tow as he manipulated the hills and tight alleys of the fair to connect with retail and food vendors outside on the fairgrounds, the ride operators, and commercial vendors inside the large convention building.
The duties include contracts, setting prices, and positioning and overseeing the entirety of the fair concessions.
Darr said his duties are unique in that the commercial vendors are set up in the air-conditioned convention building, which is very unlike most fairs. Because of the air-conditioned building, vendors have increased foot traffic.
While the award went to Darr, he said the very reason he got on the fair board in the first place was to serve the county and his community, knowing he had an opportunity to make a positive impact on the people of Holmes County and especially the kids.
The former buildings and grounds chair made it very well known that this award is not just for himself, but also for all of the members of the fair board who work so diligently at making the Holmes County Fair a gala event for the whole family.
“There is a lot of things I do because I want to be there to help people out wherever I can, but the same can be said for all of our board and volunteers,” Darr said. “I think we all share the same attitude and want to accomplish the same thing in making everyone who comes to the fair feel good about their experience.”
He added one more item he feels is utterly important in making vendors feel wanted and cared for by the Holmes County Fair Board.
“I always try to get around to each and every one of them as much as possible, talk to them and make sure I listen to what they have to say,” Darr said. “We have some vendors who have been here for 30 years, and their opinions are important because you don’t get to where they are and not know what you’re doing. Their input is always something that can help us improve from year to year.”
Whether it is eliminating trouble spots or simply making people feel good about being a part of the Holmes County Fair experience, Darr is a shining example of the many cogs that make the Holmes County Fair an experience to remember.