GEAUGA COUNTY -- The oldest state fair in Ohio may have fewer vendors this year. 

Drought conditions have made it difficult for many farmers to submit agricultural exhibits for the Labor Day festival, in its 190th year.

The director of the Great Geauga County Fair, Paul Harris, says this is the driest summer since his involvement on the planning side of the event.

Harris says the fair usually draws 225,000 people, to experience 13,000 exhibits.

The exhibits range from livestock competitions to floral shows.  Harris says six weeks out, entries are down by 2,000 exhibits.

"Certainly we're concerned about exhibits, but also for our farm families that make up the fair. It isn't just a hobby for them, this is their way of life, what they do for a living.  As much as anything, we need to be concerned that they've got feed to feed these animals through the winter," Harris said.

Harris is a farmer, too, and is seeing the effects of the dry weather.

His family's farm, Howard's Apples, yielded a smaller produce crop than usual. Corn stalks are half as high as they should be.  Harris says the heat is also stressful for his dairy cows.

"There's not much you can do. Just keep on plugging along, do what we do every year," Harris said.

He added, there will still be plenty of sights and sounds for visitors to taken in at the Great Geauga State Fair, despite the drought.

"Just be patient with us.  We'll have a fun fair when the time comes, no doubt about it," Harris said.

WKYC-TV