MAUMEE, Ohio — The Lucas County Fair is known for having it all, but this year they have something else special for fair-goers.
Benny is a pig that will impress anyone with his tricks.
"He's very talented for a pig," Morgan Papenhagen, Benny’s owner, said.
While he looks like a sleepy show pig, there is so much more he knows.
"I taught him to completely sit down and shake as well, which is really rare for a show pig," said Papenhagen.
For special marshmallow treats, Benny not only sits but shakes for Papenhagen. He will be shown at the fair all week long and his owner said she has plenty of treats to last so several people can see his talent on display.
While awesome, Benny's tricks are just one thing you could see at the Lucas County Fair this year.
The fair is also home to so many others' hard work from a year of livestock, projects and more. The fair has been held in Maumee for 161 years. It’s a tradition that’s special to so many.
Some even said the fair is critical to teaching future generations about our history and the significance of agriculture.
"To see all the families coming together down here and it's just one big family reunion every year,” said Brian Petrell of Grand Rapids who has been coming to the Lucas County Fair since he was a child. “For the kids it's great, but for the community, I mean, I don't want to see it go by. "
"We've been the heart of Lucas County,” said Luke Ryan, President of the Lucas County Agricultural Society. “Agriculture is the fourth largest industry in Lucas County, people forget that."
Several teens and younger kids showed their animals Monday. It was a day they’ve been working for all year long.
"It's such an adrenaline rush,” Morgan Papenhagen said. “It's so nice all your hard work from the year pays off in one night and it's the biggest night of the year."
Several said they love the fair and hope it continues, but the tradition they’ve come to know could be changing.
The fairgrounds land is owned by the county and commissioners say they have had several developers interested in buying it for another use such as housing.
"There are lots of interests, more than we've ever seen,” Pete Gerken, Lucas County Commissioner, said. “People that see a different future for this part of Maumee and we're listening to them."
If the land is purchased, the Lucas County Agricultural Society would have to find a new spot to hold the fair. Something they don't want to do.
"It's really hard to say, hey we're going to step up and leave the place that we've had for 161 years,” Ryan said. “Maumee's kind of grown around us and Toledo’s grown around us it's right neighboring so it's kind of hard to think about."
Fair leaders said they are still planning to be in Maumee for 2020 because nothing is official or has been decided for the property. Commissioners said they want to work with the fair board should they need to make alternate plans.
"We're committed should the fair ever have to move to finding them the best spot to do that,” Gerken said. “We can't lose the fair, we may have to move it."
While the future of the Lucas County Fair is still up in the air, you can attend the 161-year tradition all week long. The fair opens Tuesday at 9 a.m. and admission is free until 3 p.m, when tickets are $6 for those 13 and older. For details on pricing and times of the fair you can click here.
To learn more about what you can see or what is offered visit the Lucas County Fair website.