Columbus' fairgrounds are getting a serious glow-up this summer. When the Ohio State Fair opens, visitors will walk into a brand-new Ohio Agriculture Center at the Ohio Expo Center, a climate-controlled, all-in-one hub that pulls together the former Taste of Ohio Café and the Agriculture & Horticulture buildings. The space is set to host cooking demonstrations, an Ohio Proud showcase and a large clear-span exhibit hall that can handle everything from livestock displays to sports events and trade shows. The building is opening with the fair's July 29 through Aug. 9 run and is designed to stay busy with events throughout the year.
What Visitors Will Find Inside
Brian Baldridge, director of the Ohio Department of Agriculture, told WOSU that the center packs in roughly 100,000 square feet of exhibit space and includes "interactive" displays for all ages. Visitors can expect Taste of Ohio cooking demonstrations and scheduled programming such as WOSU's Kate's Quick Bites on July 30. Baldridge also said the building is expected to host events about 250 days a year, an effort to turn the fairgrounds into a true year-round draw, as reported by WOSU Public Media.
Specs On The New Ag Hub
The Ohio Expo Center's building fact sheet puts the exhibit hall at about 100,760 square feet, with a total building footprint of roughly 177,491 square feet. The space has a 31-foot ceiling and 10 meeting rooms, giving it enough flexibility to handle trade shows, sports and large banquets. The hall is designed as a clear-span space that can either be split into two sections or opened up for full capacity, according to Ohio Expo Center & State Fair.
imAGine Ag, Taste Of Ohio And More
The Ohio Farm Bureau says the new imAGine Ag exhibit, clocking in at about 75,000 square feet, will make its debut inside the agriculture center. The exhibit is set to feature hands-on experiences like simulated combines, animal care demonstrations and conversations with Ohio farmers. During the fair, the building will also house the Taste of Ohio Café, an Ohio Proud shop and an OVMA Animal Life & Learning Center, according to the Ohio Farm Bureau Federation.
How The Project Came Together
State documents show a steering committee helped guide the project, with representatives from the Ohio Department of Agriculture, Ohio State University's College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences, the Ohio Expositions Commission and the Ohio Farm Bureau. This spring, the Ohio Controlling Board signed off on funds to purchase exhibits and furnishings for the building. A Controlling Board request outlines a contract with Exhibit Concepts to design, install, and later dismantle and store exhibits, and describes the structure as a multi-purpose facility scheduled for completion in 2026, according to the Ohio Controlling Board.
When To Go And What To Expect
The Ohio State Fair runs July 29 through Aug. 9, with the Ohio Agriculture Center presented by Nationwide listed on the fair schedule with daily hours of 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. during the event. For full hours, ticket information and the daily lineup inside the new buildings, visitors can check the official details from the Ohio State Fair.
Organizers are banking on the new center, which is built to accommodate everything from robotics competitions to regional sports tournaments, to boost year-round traffic at the Expo Center and give a lift to Columbus' convention calendar. The Ohio Expo Center notes that the building will be available for booking beginning January 2027, according to Ohio Expo Center & State Fair.
