The swing ride was popular Saturday, July 17. InkFreeNews photo by Lasca Randels

Staff Report 

WARSAW — Weather conditions were clear for the last day of the Kosciusko County Fair, Saturday, July 17, following a week of rain that led to the cancellation of several grandstand events.

Charles Bolton prepares food at one of the midway booths. IFN photo by Lasca Randels

About 75 people were lined up at the fair’s entrance just before 2 p.m.

Despite the rainy conditions throughout the week, some fair vendors said business was good.

“We were pretty busy, all days but yesterday, and yesterday wasn’t too bad either,” said Charles Bolton, who works at one of the food stands. Bolton has worked carnival booths for 23 years, since the age of 10.

Game operator Zachary, who didn’t want to give his last name, said this is his first time working the Kosciusko County Fair. 

When asked if the rain hurt business, he replied, “Kinda, sorta, a little bit. All of our games were kind of flooded because of how bad the rain was.”

Zachary just began working in the carnival industry a month ago. 

“It’s been a lot busier than the last location we worked,” he said.

Mike Webb, who was serving ice cream at the Leesburg Lions Club  booth on the midway, said Tuesday and Wednesday were “really good days.” He said the other Lions Club booth, located near the animal barns, is always busy because of the 4-H kids. 

The annual truck and tractor pull event started at 6 p.m.

According to the Kosciusko County Fair Facebook page, two of the cancelled events have been rescheduled. The draft horse pull has been rescheduled for 5 p.m. July 24, in the horse arena.  The event is free.

The demo derby has been rescheduled for 6:30 p.m. Aug. 7, in the grandstands. Price is $10 gate, age 9 and under free; and $15 pit pass, age 9 and under free.

From left, Melanie Surface and Hannah Surface, of Mentone, enjoy the Crazy Cabs ride Saturday. IFN photo by Lasca Randels

Lucas Sullenger of Warsaw rode the Merry-Go-Round with his mother, Bryanna Sullenger. IFN photo by Lasca Randels

There was a long line at the entrance just before 2 p.m. Saturday. IFN photo by Lasca Randels

Mike Webb gets ice cream for a customer at the Leesburg Lions Club booth. IFN photo by Lasca Randels

The swing ride or chair swing ride (sometimes called a swing carousel, wave swinger, yo-yo, waver swinger, Chair-O-Planes, Dodo or swinger) is an amusement ride that is a variation on the carousel in which the seats are suspended from the rotating top of the carousel. IFN photo by Lasca Randels

More riders on the Swing Ride at the Kosciusko County Fair. IFN photo by Lasca Randels

One of the food booths on the midway

Zachary operates the Duck Pond game booth. IFN photo by Lasca Randels