Farewell to the fair

NORWALK — The 2025 Huron County Fair closed out with a demolition derby, putting an exclamation point to the end of another season. Friday saw hogs sold at the "Open Market Hog Show" in the Wilson Building and the sheriff's department put on a K-9 show in the Pickworth Judging Pavilion. The day ended with the Rough Truck competition at the grandstands. The Rough Truck competition tests a driver's skill and ability to maneuver their vehicle through a course in the least amount of time. The Junior Fair events on Friday: • Saddle Horse Gymkhana • Trot Gymkhana • Jr. Fair/Open Class Dairy Show • Livestock Judging Contest • Open Class Pee-Wee Lamb Showmanship • Livestock Sale Grand & Reserve Champion Pictures • Best Dressed Livestock Contest • Open Class Pig Show & Pee-Wee Hog Showmanship Saturday saw the crown jewel of the fair, the demolition derby. A demolition derby is a motor sport where drivers intentionally ram their vehicles into each other in an arena or field, with the goal of being the last car standing, according to Indycar, a website for dedicated demolition derby enthusiasts. It's a test of driving skill, strategy and vehicle durability. The sport began in the 1950s at county fairs and quickly became a fan-favorite, evolving into a competitive event with its own set of rules and strategies. In addition to the derby, the fair board hosted an election of directors for next year's event, results will be announced in a future Norwalk Reflector story. Overall, the fair was a success, according to Huron County commissioner Harry Brady. "The fair was great this year, attendance seemed up from Wednesday on," Brady said. "This is a really great tradition that our county puts on. We are very proud of our fair."