Members of the Junior Fair Board were hard at work Tuesday afternoon preparing for Saturday’s LoCo Community Barn Sale. Thanks to donations, they have enough stuff to fill half the Youth building at the Logan County Fairgrounds. In the foreground, Kendra Kennedy takes care of pricing items, while Cooper Hunt, Sophia Hardwick, Mason Jackson and Lauren Kennedy sort clothes behind her. (EXAMINER PHOTO | SHARYN KOPF)
For those who love finding hidden treasures or buying items you didn’t know you needed with only the change in your wallet, a community-wide garage sale can be a serious draw. Lots of people selling lots of stuff. But that can also mean a lot of walking.
The folks at the Logan County Fair, though, have a solution. This Saturday, June 24, they’re presenting their first LoCo Community Barn Sale & Food Truck Rally, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Logan County Fairgrounds.
Organizer Trina Kopus is delighted by the response.
“We weren’t sure we’d fill even one building,” she said. “But we’ve filled four buildings plus a shelter and even have some sellers outside.”
As of Tuesday, they have 42 vendors taking up 74 inside spaces and 15 outside spots.
In fact, if anyone still wants to participate, the only options left are the numerous 10-foot areas along the road.
According to Kris Copenhaver, fair office secretary, the barn sale isn’t a new idea.
“It’s something we’ve been looking at doing for a few years now. Then Trina came in with the energy to get it going.”
They decided to charge vendors $5 for a 10×12 space, either in one of the buildings or along the road outside, to cover costs. But that was an introductory price to see how it went. In 2024, the cost will go up. They also might allow crafters and other sellers too.
But this year, it’s all about people peddling personal items and household wares.
For the participants, the barn sale offers another appealing incentive—if they box up what they don’t sell, the fair staff is working with local organizations to remove leftover items to sell in their stores. Vendors don’t have to take anything back home, if they don’t want to.
Kopus, who works for the sheriff’s office as a finance and personnel administrator, called this event a county-wide, community garage sale in a compact, single location.
Best of all, it will be good for the county fair.
“It’s important to help the fair make money in the off-season so they can support the youth during fair week.” Kopus’ passion for the fair and how it benefits area youth can’t be overstated. “That’s what it’s about,” she stated, “building up the next generation.”
In conclusion, Kopus said, “This community is built on agriculture, farming, all that, and we need to make sure we’re growing the next community of farmers or we’re going to starve.”
If you want to participate, you have until Friday to contact the fair and reserve your outdoor space for $5. Their Facebook event page, under “1st Annual Loco Community Barn Sale & Food Truck Rally,” also has an online registration link.
Vendor setup times are Thursday, June 22, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Friday, June 23, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.; and Saturday morning from 7 to 9. Junior fair board members will be on hand Friday to help.
As of Tuesday, the organizers were only able to precure two food trucks—Mean Weenies and R Smokehouse & Grill—due to other conflicting events on Saturday.
The 2023 Logan County Fair week is July 9-15.