By Monty Siekerman
FROM ADA ICON - The 105th running of the Ada Farmers and Merchants picnic will take place Saturday at Ada War Memorial Park.

The F&M is one of the longest running festivals/fairs in Ohio. It’s a day to picnic and enjoy many activities throughout the day with family and friends.

Here’s the schedule:
8 a.m.—OWHA show and contest with halter and performance classes.
9:30 a.m.—Parade from West Lincoln, down Main to the park.
10 a.m.—Hardin County truck and tractor pull.
10:30 a.m.—opening ceremony at the main stage with flag raising and crowning of the Little Prince and Little Princess.
11 a.m.—Kiddie tractor pull sponsored by Kiwanis Club.
1 p.m.-Cornhole tourney (new this year) with signup beginning at 10:30 a.m. at the prize booth. Winners will receive cash prizes.
1-8 p.m.—Free swim at Ada pool sponsored by the Lions Club.
1-6 p.m. Entertainment on main stage featuring Dave Lilies Band and Cincinnati Amazing Circus.
6:30 p.m.—OTSPA truck and tractor pull.
Food (this is a picnic day after all) including hamburgers, hotdogs, brats, pulled pork, chicken noodles, walking tacos, and more.

Throughout the grounds throughout the day—rides and games for kids, arts and crafts, merchants’ booths, Rotary ring toss, chainsaw carving, casino wheel, bingo, face painting, glitter tattoos, superheroes, 4H petting zoo, plinko, hourly door prize drawing. 

Will the weather cooperate? As of Friday afternoon, the prediction is for only a 20 percent chance of rain in Ada during the day and only a 10 percent chance in the evening. Last year’s gully washer put an end to the picnic about noontime, one of the few years that the event had to be closed early due to inclement weather.