HAMILTON — Could county fairs become a thing of the past, billed instead as regional fairs?

That’s the fear in the back of the minds of fair organizers across the state as tightened government purse strings take their toll on fair and 4-H organizations.

The Butler County Fair is faring better than many, said Manager Dan Martin. “We’re one of the stronger fairs on our area, so we’ll be good.”

But others aren’t doing so well. Although there are no plans yet to consolidate fairs elsewhere, “it’s a sad thing to say, but that’s probably what’s going to happen eventually,” Martin said.

At the height of the recession last summer, attendance at the Butler County fair was 89,000, about even with turnout from previous years.

Martin said the backbone of any county fair is the local 4-H. And with 1,400 kids and 250 volunteers, the Butler County 4-H is also doing well.

“I think we’ve got one of the strongest programs in the whole state,” said Julie Dalzell, 4-H education coordinator with the Ohio State University Agricultural Extension Office.

But it did take a roughly $36,000 — or 10 percent — cut from county commissioners this year, according to Dalzell. This is in addition to state cuts.

Commissioners also haven’t contributed anything to this year’s fair, Martin said, though they paid $15,000 last year.

But the local 4-H has been successful at securing grants and still enjoys better support than some other counties, Dalzell said. Carroll County in eastern Ohio may close its extension office, and four other counties failed this year at getting voters to support operating levies, she said.

Dalzell and Martin said Butler County’s demographics help: It’s a populous county that retains its rural character.

“Sometimes it (the success of 4-H) is in the history and relationships that go on in the county,” Dalzell said. “People love the county fair,” she said. “They’re such a big staple in a community that I think that fear of who’s going to be the first to close is really just a scary thing for people.”

But Butler County’s fair isn’t going anywhere and the 160th fair starts Sunday, July 25, at the fairgrounds in Hamilton.

“We have rides, games, food ... we’re the largest event that takes place in Butler County,” Martin said.