EATON — Planning for the 52nd annual Preble County Pork Festival already begun, and organizers are seeking volunteers, area chairs, and additional board members to help continue the tradition and welcome attendees to the Preble County Fairgrounds, Sept. 16-17.

Building on the success of the 2022 festival, vendors, pork chops, entertainment, and more are lined up to showcase the county to tens of thousands of tourists and community members alike during the two-day experience.

Providing an event of this size and caliber requires several hundreds of volunteers, according to organizers. In 2022, 974 individuals from the county and beyond helped serve pork, assisted with parking, coordinated the parade, grilled sausages, made pancakes, provided customer service in the information booth, and more.

“Volunteering at the festival alongside family, friends, or strangers who become friends, is a rewarding experience and organizers are grateful to the community for all they do to support the enjoyable occasion and visitors to Preble County,” Pork Festival organizer said in a recent press release. As planning is well under way, organizers of the festival encourage community members willing to volunteer in 2023 to sign up at www.PorkFestival.org soon.

“Whether its the first time, the 52nd , or somewhere in between, the festival looks forward to hearing from individuals, families, or businesses who want to get involved,” the release continued. Individuals or couples interested in additional responsibility opportunities for the festival may also submit board member and/or area chair applications. The Pork Festival Board of Directors shapes the festival each year to ensure it is a family friendly, fun, and expansive event for the county. While historically, board members were county pork producers and farmers, the Pork Festival now welcomes any Preble County resident, regardless of township residency, to apply.

Find general info and other detailed ways to help support this year’s event at www.porkfestival.org/sponsors.