ARTICLE 1 – TITLE
Section 1. The Association is known as the Washington County Agricultural & Mechanical Association.

ARTICLE II – OBJECTIVE
Section 1. The objective of this Association shall be to promote and encourage agriculture, industry, science, art and other interests of Washington County which the Board deems proper and in the best interest of the community.

ARTICLE III – MEMBERSHIP
Section 1. Any resident of adult age of County of Washington may become a member of this Association by paying annually the membership fee fixed by the Board of Directors.

Section 2. No person shall pay for or secure more than one such membership and that membership shall before himself/herself. No membership shall be issued to corporations, organization, partnerships or firms.

ARTICLE IV – BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Section 1. The management shall consist of a board of 21 members who shall be elected for a term of three years and the terms so arranged that the terms of one-third of the members shall expire annually.

Section 2. Any vacancy caused by death, resignation, removal from office or other causes may be filled by the Board until the next annual election when a director shall be elected for the unexpired term.

ARTICLE V – ELECTION
Section 1. The annual election of the Board of Directors shall be held on the Grounds on Labor Day of the Annual Fair each year for six hours at a place and time fixed by the Directors in advance of notice and carried therein.

Section 2. The said election shall be by ballot. Ballots must be marked with an “X” opposite the name of each candidate voted for; otherwise, the name will not be counted. No proxy votes will be considered.

Section 3. Only residents of Washington County holding membership tickets purchased one (1) hour prior to the start of the election may vote.

Section 4. Members of the Association must declare their candidacy of the office of Director by filing with the Secretary a petition signed by ten or more members who are residents of the County in which the Association is organized at least seven days before the day the annual election of Directors is held. Only regularly nominated candidates who have met the filing requirements will be eligible for election as director. The deadline filing hour will be 7:00 PM on the seventh day.

Section 5. The term of office of the retiring Directors shall expire and that of the Directors Election shall begin on the 30th day of October of each year or until their successors are elected and qualify.

ARTICLE VI – ANNUAL MEETING OF THE MEMBERSHIP
Section 1. The annual meeting of the members of the Association shall be held on the second Thursday of November of each year at 7:00 PM.

Section 2. At this meeting, the officers and directors of the Association shall make reports as to the membership of the Association concerning the past Fair and make recommendation of the improvement of the Association and its Fair. Such other business may be presented as may be prescribed by this constitution or as may be deemed proper by the Board of Directors.

ARTICLE VII – ORGANIZATION AND MEETINGS
Section 1. The Board of Directors shall meet annually on the second Thursday of November each year and elect a President, Vice President, Secretary, and Treasurer. The President, Vice President, Secretary, and Treasurer shall serve one year or until their successors are elected and qualify.

Section 2. The President and Vice President shall be directors. The Secretary and Treasurer may or may not be directors, but they must be members of the Association. The elected officers along with the outgoing President, shall serve as the Executive Committee.

Section 3. Before election of officers the newly elected directors shall qualify by taking the following oath or affirmation before a competent authority designated by law.

“I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support the Constitution of the n United States, the Constitution of Ohio, Laws of Ohio and rules and regulation of the Department of Agriculture of Ohio pertaining to agricultural societies and to the best of my ability perform the duties of Director of the Washington County Agricultural Association, so help me God.”

ARTICLE VIII – AMENDMENTS

Section 1. Amendments to the Constitution or By-Laws may be proposed by:  

  • A. A majority of the Board of Directors at a scheduled meeting voting in favor of placing an amendment on the ballot; or  
  • B. Filing a petition with the Secretary of the Association at least 14 days prior to the meeting of the membership of the Association. Said petition must set for the proposed amendment and be signed by not less than 25 members. 

Section 2. If an amendment is proposed, it shall be submitted to the membership of the Association at the annual election of the membership of the Association.

Section 3. When more than one amendment is submitted at the same time, they shall be so submitted as to enable the members to vote on each amendment separately.

Section 4. If the majority of the membership voting on the proposed amendment shall adopt such an amendment, it shall become a part of the Constitution or By-Laws.

ARTICLE IX – COMPENSATION
Section 1. The compensation of Board members shall be fixed by the Board in accordance with the rules of the Ohio Department of Agriculture.

ARTICLE X – BONDS
Section 1. The Secretary shall post a surety bond in the amount of $8,000 payable by the Association, conditioned upon the faithful performance of the duties of his/her office.

Section 2. The Treasurer shall post a surety bond in the amount of $25,000 payable by the Association, conditioned upon the faithful performance of the duties of his/her office.

ARTICLE XI – FAIR DATES
Section 1. The Board of Directors shall fix the dates for the annual exposition of the Association, subject to the approval of the Ohio Director of Agriculture.