Times Observer photo by Josh Cotton Warren County Fair President Dave Wilcox speaks during Monday’s media luncheon at the Warren County Fair.

Forced to take 2020 off during the COVID-19 pandemic, Warren County Fair organizers are ready to launch a “bigger and better” 2021.

That was the message from Fair Vice-President Dale Bliss at a media luncheon — and time the fair takes to thank its sponsors — on Monday.

President Dave Wilcox said that, even though they couldn’t hold the fair in 2020, they “did a lot of upgrades.”

That included an expansion of the campground as well as “repairs” and “sprucing things up.”

He said they purchased 35 gallons of red paint and that the painting work was completed entirely by volunteers.

Steve Carr, who handles sponsors for the fair board, said a new agreement is in place that will result in the KeyBank Pavilion keeping its name for the next five years. He said the fair currently has a total of 50 sponsors.

“Big to small, you all matter to us,” he added.

Bliss made the pitch for why people should come out this week.

“It’s a jewel of a fair,” he said, “state recognized as being one of the best.”

He highlighted the music schedule for the week, the youth work that will unfold in the barns “and, of course, the food.”

Bliss said that when the cancellation decision was made in 2020 that “right away … the anticipation started” with a vision for a bigger and better 2021.

The Warren County Visitors Bureau sponsors the luncheon and Executive Director Dave Sherman noted that the fair “showcases the greatness of Warren County.”