October 14 , 2021 The Beacon • 17

By Marianne Austin

Martha Marlatt has attended the Coshocton County Fair every year for 91 years .

“ I was born Sept . 11 , 1930 , and I have never missed a fair ,” she said .

Marlatt was 3 weeks old when

Marianne Austin

Martha Marlatt has attended the Coshocton County Fair every year for 91 years . She is pictured here with family friend Bill Hardesty . she attended her first fair .

“ My mother stayed in bed for nine days . That ’ s the way it was done when I was born ,” she said . “ She got up and went to the fair and brought me . I have never missed a fair with the exception of last year . I was involved in sewing in 4-H and livestock until I was 18 . My dad Walter Kaufman was on the fair board for 21 years . We always participated in the fair . They had rides similar to what they have now , the Ferris wheel and the merry-go-round . The waffle stand was always a favorite place , but there wasn ’ t food stands like there is today . Mother always packed dinner for us and brought it . Over the years there have been a lot of different things at the fair .”

Bill Hardesty said he was born in 1957 , and he probably hasn ’ t missed very many fairs either .

“ Martha and my mother were friends , and my wife and I help on her farm and bring her to the fair every year ,” Hardesty said .

“ I live on a 280-acre farm , and he and his wife help me on the farm ,” Marlatt said . “ I have to have somebody to push me around .”

“ I told her we would have to trade places later ,” Hardesty said .

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