It’s been a bumpy year for Noble County’s beloved community fair, but come Saturday, the show will go on. This weekend marks the fair’s kickoff — even as organizers scramble to recover more than $360,000 allegedly stolen by their former treasurer.
Fair President Troy Rucker insists there’s plenty to celebrate, despite the shortfall that’s left the board’s GoFundMe sitting at under $300. He’s banking on local support and a few key changes to keep this tradition alive.
Funds Gone, Community Stays
Robin Laymon, the fair’s former treasurer, was charged this spring for allegedly embezzling hundreds of thousands from the fair board’s account. The case rattled a community that relies on the annual fair not just for funnel cakes and rides, but for fundraising that keeps local programs afloat.
Rucker, though, is determined. “We should be able to go through the fair and not have any issues this year,” he said. “So it should be a great fair!”
A simple promise — but one that means a lot in a county still reeling from broken trust.
How Did This Happen?
People keep asking: How could so much money just disappear?
Investigators say Laymon quietly siphoned off funds for years, leaving the fair board blindsided. In court documents, she reportedly confessed: “I f**d up.” Some board members called the betrayal a gut punch.
The missing money put nearly every aspect of the fair under threat, from prize payouts to livestock show supplies.
Safety Nets for the Future
It’s not just about this year’s festival. Organizers know they have to rebuild trust if they want to survive.
So, what’s changing?
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Two signatures are now required on every check.
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Bank statements will be reviewed more frequently, with full transparency for the board.
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Community updates on fundraising goals and spending will become standard.
One longtime volunteer said, “We can’t just go back to how it was. We have to be smarter now.”
A Fair With Big Shoes to Fill
Despite the cloud hanging overhead, this weekend’s fair will offer up the usual favorites — 4-H shows, carnival rides, funnel cakes, tractor pulls — the works.
But money’s tight. The fair board’s GoFundMe sits at less than $300, a far cry from the $360,000 needed to fill the hole Laymon allegedly left behind.
| Item | Estimated Cost | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Livestock prizes | $15,000 | Funded |
| Grounds maintenance | $10,000 | Funded |
| Equipment rental | $50,000 | Partially covered |
| Security & staff pay | $20,000 | Pending |
| Total still needed | $360,000+ | Ongoing efforts |
The Heart of Noble County
If you ask folks why they’re still showing up, it’s simple: this fair’s bigger than one scandal.
Families have shown cattle here for generations. Teens meet up with friends. Local businesses set up booths. For a few days, Noble County’s fairgrounds become the county’s beating heart.
“We’re also trying the best we can to help the community,” Rucker said.
This year, every funnel cake, every ticket, every pig race — it all feels like a vote of confidence that the fair will outlast the mess.
