By BEN KLEINE

Staff writer

Janie Peters felt it was her time to make a difference.

“I finally got to this point in my life where I was ready to make something happen for the fair,” she said.

What that “something” could be became apparent when a business came to the Marion County Fair Board, which Peters has been a part of for nearly nine years, wanting to withdraw its booth from the commercial building.

“They said that they could count on one hand how many people they had walk through,” Peters said.

Peters started contacting businesses, promoting the idea of daily activities to increase traffic in the commercial building.

This year, the commercial building will hold a “kids corral.” Children ages 13 and under will play games for prizes: certificates for food and gift cards from local businesses.

There will be a free-throw contest Wednesday night and a beanbag toss contest on Friday.

There will also be other events and demonstrations. Salon employees will paint fingernails Wednesday night. Local Cub Scouts will bring in a Pinewood Derby track for races Thursday. Children can be a farmer for a day and pick apples, harvest eggs, and dig for potatoes throughout the weekend.

A photo backdrop will be available for professional photos. Woods Wellness will have dance demonstrations. Spur Ridge Vet Hospital will have dog grooming demonstrations.

For Peters, retooling the commercial building was something she could do to help make the fair prosperous. She has fond memories of coming to the Marion County Fair to show her animals and wants to pass those memories on to her 4-year-old son and 6-year-old daughter.

“With my kids being 6 and 4, I would hate to see the fair die,” Peters said.