2020 fair concert artists announced

DAVE MOSIER/independent editor

A partnership between Niswonger Performing Arts Center and the Van Wert County Agricultural Society (Fair Board) is bringing an exciting Country music entertainment experience to the 2020 Van Wert County Fair as part of the NPAC’s “Van Wert Live” season.

Niswonger Performing Arts Center Executive Director Tafi Stober announced the fair concert on Friday during an event held in the Ohio State University Extension meeting room on the fairgrounds.

“This concert is in line with the Van Wert Live vision to make Van Wert Ohio’s premier music city,” Stober said during the reveal event. “Our effort is to grow to different venues to be able to reach a different audience, and also to be able to access larger audiences.”

“Even before we moved to Van Wert, we knew it was known for the arts and entertainment,” Presenting Sponsors Jim and Mary Pope said in a statement read by Stober. “We are grateful to have the opportunity to partner with others to make this happen. They understand the value of entertainment to our overall health and economic development.”

Fair Board President Mike Poling said on behalf of the Agricultural Society that having a fair concert is “a big win” for the county and he appreciated the opportunity to collaborate with Van Wert Live to bring national talent back to the fair. 

“We would not be able to do anything like this on our own, and we are just looking forward to hopefully making more events we can collaborate together on,” Poling said. “We think this is a great step for the community and our patrons, and we look forward to everybody being out here for the Van Wert County Fair in 2020.”

Big & Rich (Country duo John Rich and Big Kenny) have had a number of Top 40 Country hits, including the No. 1 hit “Lost in This Moment”, as well as “Save a Horse (Ride a Cowboy)”, and the Vietnam War-themed “8th of November”. Big & Rich are first-rate musicians, songwriters, producers, and entertainers. Together, they are one of the most original musical forces ever unleashed on a welcoming world.

Albums for the duo, which formed in 2003, including the triple-platinum Horse of a Different Color, Comin’ to Your City, Between Raising Hell and Amazing Grace, and Did It for the Party. The two artists have also released several solo albums each.

Opening for Big & Rich will be Grand Ole Opry member and Grammy winner Joe Diffie, whose hits include “Prop Me Up Beside the Jukebox (If I Die)”, “Ships that Don’t Come In”, “Pickup Man”, “John Deere Green”, “Bigger Than the Beatles”, “Third Rock From the Sun”, “Honky Tonk Attitude”, and “Just a Regular Joe”.

Tracy Thompson, new NPAC box office director, said the grandstand venue holds about 5,000 people, including 2,500 in the grandstand, and another 2,500 in a special “party pit” SRO (standing room only) area in front of the concert stage. Beer will also be served during the concert to those 21 and over, but coolers are prohibited.

Tickets to the general public will go on sale at 8 a.m. Friday, January 31, through the NPAC box office, although Van Wert Agricultural Society and NPAC members can purchase tickets now. Included in an Agricultural Society membership is a free weekly pass for this year’s fair, as well as a special $5 youth pass for youngsters ages 13-17.

Ticket prices range from $35 for grandstand seats to $75 for special “party pit” tickets. Also featured will be digital tickets that patrons can print at home without having to come to the box office.