LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Safety policies are different this year at the Kentucky State Fair. All fair-goers who are minors, must have someone over 21-years-old by their side at certain fair hours.

Ellana Kraatz, a 13-year-old fair-goer, said she feels safe knowing that there are adults around to protect her and other children.

“I feel minors should always have adults with that them at all times just because there is, like, sketchy people and anything could happen and I feel kids are way more safer with adults,” Ellana said. 

New this year, anyone under 18-years-old must be with someone over 21-years-old at all times between Friday and Sunday. For Ellana, that doesn’t change her plans at all.

“I haven’t come here alone. I’ve always been here with my dad or my mom,” she said. 

Her dad, Jeffrey, said it’s nice to know that there are rules in place to keep his family and friends safe.

“I like the policy. That means that everybody, all the kids, are taken care of and safe at all times,” Jeffrey said. 

In years past, minors only needed an adult after 6 p.m. A spokesperson for the fair said the enhanced policy is a critical part of the family friendly atmosphere.

“The state fair wants to take a proactive approach and we place security and safety as a number one priority for our guests,” Ian Cox, spokesperson for Kentucky Venues, said. 

That is something that Jeffrey said he sees a lot of. He said the police presence is greater than last years.

“There’s more law enforcement here this year, a lot more of state troopers here, so I think it’s very respectful,” he said. 

Ellana and her dad said they come to the fair about every other year and it’s a fun, but safe time.

“It works well for everybody, and everybody can just have a fun time being safe,” she said. 

The fairground is checking IDs at its gates to make sure that children and their chaperones are following the rules.

For every six minors, there must be one chaperone.

The fair runs until Aug. 27 and tickets can be purchased for $10 online.