OSU Extension Office unveils Wayne County Fair app
WAYNE COUNTY, OH, Aug. 5, 2019 — It’s almost here! Opening day of the 170th annual Wayne County Fair is this Saturday, Sept. 7th. This year’s edition of the annual event gets “techie” thanks to a grant and the efforts of the OSU Extension Wayne County.
Earlier this month, Extension Educator Doug Foxx and his team unveiled the Wayne County 4-H application for mobile devices in both the Apple and Android stores. According to Foxx, people are visiting the fairgrounds early to check out the new Event Center and get a feel for the new layout. And, as fairgoers get their bearings, there is a new piece of technology available for free that can help.
“We are really excited about this app,” Foxx said. “It was created just in time for the Wayne County Fair. It has the fair schedule, the 4-H calendar of events for the entire year. It will really be helpful to people during fair. The show books, auction programs, show results — all of the information that people are looking for at the fair — will be right at their fingertips.”
The application also features maps and a video section. Foxx explained that Jr. Fair Board members will be roaming around the grounds recording video to be featured in the app. “They will be like roving reporters during the fair,” he said. “They have a video camera and will be conducting interviews and capturing some of the stories that people have. Whether it will be a Grand Champion winner or a long-time 4-H volunteer, we want to share those stories.”
Although it is the first iteration of the application, it is fairly robust. And, Foxx maintains, it will continue to be upgraded. “We would like to expand the video features more in the future,” he said. “And maybe offer a password protected area for our committee members to store documents.
Currently, Foxx said, there are more than 500 active users of the application, and the feedback has been overwhelmingly positive. “We will learn some things from this year’s fair,” he continued. “There will be things that we want to tweak.”
The application is free and there is no need to enter an email or password. According to Foxx, the app is ready to go as soon as it is downloaded and it even features a photobooth. Visit Wayne County 4-H on Facebook at www.facebook.com/WayneCty4H and the Wayne County Extension Office at www.facebook.com/OSUEWayne.
OSU Extension Wayne County is funded, in part, by the Wayne County Board of Commissioners, State and Federal Government, private donations and grants.