CANFIELD, Ohio - A series of violent incidents at county fairs across the country is causing some Ohio fairs to ramp up their police presence, but not the Canfield Fair —  even as loosened firearm restrictions pose a new challenge to law enforcement. 

The iconic event — set to kick off in just three weeks — will not be increasing security, according to Mahoning County Sheriff Jerry Greene and George Roman, a member of the fair’s board of directors. 

“You always worry about it. Kids are going to be kids,” Roman said. “But we’re prepared, and we’ll be ready for any situation.”

Just last month, a minor was arrested at the Trumbull County Fair after she attacked a police horse. Barely more than a week later, police in Summit County say a 17-year-old boy was shot in the fairgrounds parking lot.

Those incidents follow a pattern seen nationally, with violence breaking out at similar events in Utah and Indiana. 

“Many times, especially when dealing with juveniles and crowds, start to happen and start to grow, and usually it's individuals just standing around waiting for something to happen,” said Sheriff Greene. “Those are all situations that we are very in tune with, that we monitor very closely and do what we can to make sure everybody’s safe.”  

Not everything at the fair will be business as usual. In late July, Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost issued an opinion classifying county agricultural societies as political subdivisions, not private organizations. 

That means under the state’s firearm uniformity law, they cannot prohibit open or concealed carry of firearms on county fairgrounds, at least outdoors.

Roman told 21 News he was disappointed the Attorney General released the opinion so close to the start of the fair, but he’s confident it won’t compromise the event’s safety. 

“I have guns, but would I carry it to a public event like this? No, but we do have those that want to make a point, and it's their privilege,” Roman said. 

“I have 12 grandchildren that live in Mahoning County. They come all six days of the fair, and I will be with them, and I am confident that they will be safe and secure,” he added. 

For law enforcement, there will be an “adjustment period” to the lifted restrictions, according to Greene. While police presence may not be increasing, he assures fairgoers there will still be “plenty of law enforcement” at the fairgrounds. 

“These are new standards,” Greene said. “Within our state, we will bend over backwards to do whatever we can to make sure the environment is as safe as possible for everybody.”