Billips wins Ohio State Fair poster contest
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- Christin Billips of Westerville won first place in the Ohio State Fair poster competition, beating out 37 other entries in a contest that asked artists to incorporate a patriotic theme honoring America's 250th anniversary.
- Gene Strickland of Columbus took second place, followed by Lisa Oliver of Reynoldsburg in third, Lindsay Boyd of Lewis Center in fourth, and Nikki Smetters of Hilliard in fifth.
- All five winning posters will be displayed in the Creative Arts Exhibits at Kasich Hall during the 2026 Ohio State Fair.
- Entries for the 2027 Ohio State Fair Poster Competition will open later, continuing the annual tradition of showcasing designs that capture what fairgoers love about the fair.
- All five winners hail from central Ohio communities — Westerville, Columbus, Reynoldsburg, Lewis Center, and Hilliard — underscoring the regional talent pool the competition draws from.
Why it matters: The patriotic theme tied to America's 250th anniversary gave this typically local arts contest a civic dimension, and the five winning artists from central Ohio communities will have their work publicly showcased to fairgoers at Kasich Hall during the 2026 fair — a notable platform for amateur and independent artists in the region.
