YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio — The Canfield Fair is celebrating a major milestone in a colorful way and area artists are getting into the act.

What You Need To Know

  • The Canfield Fair is celebrating its 175th anniversary

  • The fair is the largest county fair in the state

  • 20 giant rooster sculptures are being painted to celebrate the milestone

Bob Barko Jr.’s been into art since he was a kid. 

“My dad, I remember him showing me how to draw World War II airplanes at the kitchen table,” he said. 

His latest project brings back more memories as he’s putting his pride in a favorite fall pastime on display. 

“It’s the rides, it’s the attractions, it’s the games, it’s everything like that,” said Barko, while looking over the sculpture he’s painting. “And then I designed the base to actually look like one of the buildings at the fairgrounds.”

He calls the piece “The Big Rooster and a Very Fair Coat.” 

“It’s been a fantastic project and I really just can’t wait for people to see it,” he said. 

It’s one of 20 giant rooster sculptures being painted to celebrate the 175th anniversary of the Canfield Fair, the largest county fair in the state. 

Barko has been attending the fair his whole life. 

“I think I figured it out as we were working on this project,” he said. “In my lifetime, and I just turned 52, I have only ever missed two fairs.”

That includes the one last year, which was canceled due to COVID-19, and one because of his day job.

“I missed the one when I was in Afghanistan,” he said. “No, they wouldn’t let me come home for the fair. I asked but they said no.”

He’s in the Air Force Reserves.

“Do this on the evenings and the weekends and then basically whenever I am not out at the base doing the government’s business,” Barko said.

Each 6-foot-tall sculpture in the “Flock to the Fairgrounds” project has a sponsor and needs to be completed by the end of May. “Joe” Dickey Electric is sponsoring Barko’s rooster.

The finished flock will debut at the fair this fall and honor its traditions.

“And that’s exactly what I hope,” said Barko. “When people walk around and look at this, that they’ll catch something from the fairgrounds and be like, ‘Oh, my God, I remember that.’”

And inspire fairgoers to create new ones. 

“As they are fond of saying at the fairgrounds,” he said, “it is definitely something to crow about.”

The Canfield Fair is scheduled for September 1 - 6. 

Each of the rooster sculptures will be auctioned in November to raise funds for the Canfield Fair Foundation.