OHIO FAIR MANAGERS ASSOCIATION

HISTORY

The Ohio Fair Managers Association located in the Great Agricultural State of Ohio is a voluntary, not-for-profit Corporation, serving State, Independent and County Agricultural Fairs, shows, exhibitions, and several festivals within Ohio. The associate members of the OFMA associations, corporations, festivals, and individuals engaged in providing products and services to its members, all of whom are interested in the improvement of Ohio’s agricultural fairs.

Alfred Putnam Sandles was Ohio’s eleventh Secretary of Agriculture. The Ohio State Fair helped organize the Ohio Fair Managers’ Association around 1922 and Myers Cooper was the First President of the Ohio Fair Managers. During the early years the OFMA the emphasis was largely on education and agriculture expositions. Harness racing in Ohio began its growth in the late 1930’s and after World War II the Ohio Harness industry grew rapidly and in the late 1950’s the Ohio Fairs Fund was developed and approved by the Legislature to establish funding for racing and fairs.

Today, the OFMA represents 95 Fairs in Ohio, and more than 240 associate members from allied fields and will hold the 100th Annual Convention in Columbus, Ohio January 2-5th, 2025. Throughout the years, the OFMA has remained true to its purpose of promoting and encouraging the development and improvement of agricultural fairs, shows, and expositions. The OFMA is actively engaged and supports the International Association of Fairs and Expositions as well as the Federation of State and Provincial Association of Fairs.

The Organization Objectives are:

  • To represent and promote the general welfare of the County, Independent and State Fairs of the State of Ohio
  • To encourage closer cooperation among the Fairs of Ohio
  • To promote Agriculture and its related fields to our fairs and their customers
  • To provide for our annual meeting or convention of all Fairs, associated groups and businesses at least once each year.
  • To promote cooperation among all agricultural related educational and commodity organizations
  • Follow the Established 990 Practice of the OFMA Board