🍂Fall into October at the Wayne County Fairgrounds🍂

October 1st: Career Exploration Fair
Location: First Bank Expo Hall & First Bank Kuhlman Center

The Wayne County Area Chamber of Commerce is thrilled to announce our annual Career Exploration Fair, will  include sophomores and juniors from all Wayne County high schools!

October 3rd: The Midwest Collect | Rodeo & More
Location: Wayne County Fairgrounds Track

Mark your calendars for October 3 at the Wayne County Fairgrounds in Richmond, Indiana!

We’re bringing you a full day of fun with:
– Shopping vendors
– Delicious food trucks
– An action-packed rodeo featuring thrilling trick acts
– Live music to follow the rodeo

Grab your friends, bring the whole family, and come spend the day with us! Whether you’re coming to shop, eat, cheer on the rodeo, or dance the night away, there’s something for everyone.

We can’t wait to see you at the Midwest Collect—it’s going to be bigger and better than ever!

October 4th: Exotic Reptiles Plants & Aquatics Expo
Location: First Bank Kuhlman Center

🐍The exotic reptile, plants and aquatics expo is brought to you by Madhouse Serpents and Supplies.

💵Admission is only $5 for 12 and over and under 12 is free.

📅Date: Sunday, October 4th, 2026
🕰️Time: 10AM – 3PM

This expo is full of captive born and bred animals. The very best vendors from our area! Need supplies? Got ‘em! Need feeders? Got em! Wide variety of animals and all the supplies you can ask for! So come out and see all the vendors!

October 10th: First Bank Midwest | Free Community Shred Day
Location: First Bank Expo Hall

At First Bank Midwest, protecting what matters most is more than a promise, it is part of who we are. Community Shred Day reflects that commitment by providing a free, secure, and convenient way for customers and community members to safely dispose of sensitive materials.

This event not only supports identity protection, but it also strengthens our connection to the communities we serve through service, visibility, and local charitable impact.

Each Shred Day also features a local nonprofit partner. Representatives will be on site to share a little information about their mission. If you would like to make a small donation to support their work, you are welcome to do so, though it is never required. We plan to match all gifts received up to $500. It is simply one more way we can support the communities we proudly serve.

–Please DO NOT bring your shred items in plastic bags.

–There is a maximum limit of 5 standard size boxes/paper bags per vehicle.

–The free community shred event will end once the shred truck is full.

–Drive-Thru Drop Off (please plan to stay in your car).

October 10th: East Central Indiana | Out of the Darkness Walk
Location: Wayne County Fairgrounds

You can find more details about the East Central Indiana Out of the Darkness Walk at afsp.org/richmondin and register

Date: Saturday, October 10th 2026
Location: Wayne County Fairgrounds | Richmond, IN
861 Salisbury Rd, Richmond, IN 47374

Registration and Community Activations: 10 AM EST
Opening Ceremony & Honor Bead Ceremony: 11 AM EST
Walk follows the ceremony

For more information, please contact:
Contact Name: Cortney Baudendistel and Jess Przybysz
Contact Email: [email protected]

Funds raised for AFSP support lifesaving research, advocacy, education, and programs that give hope and help prevent suicide in our communities.

** As the walk date approaches, the East Central Indiana Walk Page (afsp.org/richmondin) will be updated with more details.

When you walk in the Out of the Darkness Walks, you join with hundreds of thousands of people to raise awareness and funds that allow the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP) to invest in new research, create educational programs based in current science, advocate for public policy, and support survivors of suicide loss.

The Indiana Chapter won the prized Richard E. Kirkoff Overall Chapter of the Year Award (out of 74 AFSP Chapters) for the first time at our 2023 annual AFSP Chapter Leadership Conference.
The Indiana Chapter won Chapter of the Year Mid-size Market for our work in 2024 and 2025.

Why We Walk:
Every year suicide claims more lives than war, murder, and natural disasters combined, and yet suicide prevention doesn’t get the attention and funding given to other leading causes of death. It’s up to Walkers like us to make Mental Health a priority in Indiana.

#AFSPIndiana works year round to change the way our communities, schools, churches, professionals, family and friends talk and think about mental illness and suicide.

For more information about AFSP, Indiana Chapter activities or to learn how YOU can get involved in this movement, contact the Indiana Chapter of AFSP at afsp.org/indiana or [email protected].

October 14th: Schrader Auction | Land Auction
Location: First Bank Kuhlman Center

LAND AUCTION – 224+/-ACRES OFFERED IN 8 TRACTS IN WAYNE COUNTY, INDIANA

OPEN HOUSE/INSPECTION DATES

Wednesday September 16, 2026 from 10am-12pm
Wednesday September 30, 2026 from 10am-12pm
Wednesday October 7, 2026 from 10am-12pm
Meet Agent at Tract 5

PROPERTY LOCATION

3230 Log Cabin Rd, Centerville, IN 47330
From the intersection of US 40 and Morton Avenue at the stoplight in Centerville, travel west 1/4 mile to Willow Grove Rd. Turn left on Willow Grove Rd. and Continue 3 miles to McConaha Rd. Then right 3/4 miles to Log Cabin Rd. Frontage also on McConaha Road.

AUCTION LOCATION

Wayne County Fairgrounds (First Bank Kuhlman Center)
861 N Salisbury Rd, Richmond, IN 47374

October 17th: Indiana Hunter Education
Location: Exhibit Building

Indiana Hunter Education Courses will provide instruction in the areas of safe firearm use and handling while hunting, as well as in the home, hunter ethics and responsibility, game identification, and conservation management. Anyone born after December 31, 1986 is required to be certified in Hunter Education before they can purchase a hunting license.

October 17th: Kiwanis Clubs of Richmond | Big Band Saturday Night 5
Location: First Bank Kuhlman Center

🎷 Big Band Saturday Night 5🎶
A Swingin’ Night for a Great Cause!

Join us for an unforgettable evening of music, dancing, and community spirit at Big Band Saturday Night 5, a fundraiser for Riley Children’s Hospital—presented by the Kiwanis Club of Richmond, Indiana.

 📅 Saturday, October 17, 2026
First Bank Kuhlman Center, 

Wayne County Fairgrounds

861 Salisbury Rd Richmond, IN
🕗 Doors open at 6:30 PM 🎺

Featuring the sensational Richmond Jazz Orchestra, this event promises high-energy big band hits that will get you on your feet and swinging on our huge dance floor! 🎟️ Tickets: $30.00
Includes:
🍰 Cake & snacks
🍹 Cash bar available
💃 Plenty of room to dance the night away! All proceeds go directly to support the life-saving work at Riley Children’s Hospital. Costumes welcome, bring your dancing shoes, and support a cause that truly matters.

Grab your tickets early !!!!

October 18th: Fall Gathering | Buffalo Springs Boutique
Location: Exhibit Building

Buffalo Springs is hosting the Fall Gathering! Our second fall event and bringing all the fall vibes!!

Sunday, October 18
1-4 PM
Exhibit Building (Sheep Barn) – Wayne County Fairgrounds
861 Salisbury Rd, Richmond, IN

Join us for a cozy market filled with small businesses, unique vendors, fall favorites, kids’ finds, sweet treats, fun drinks, and more!

October 22nd: Gifts from the Home | Wayne County Extension Homemakers
Location: First Bank Kuhlman Center

Join the Wayne County Indiana Extension Homemakers for their Gifts from the Home event!

Please bring the dish or craft you submitted for our pitch-in meal and craft display.

Send recipe & craft submission to Jessica at [email protected] or drop off at the extension office.
Submission deadline: 10/16/2026

October 24, 26-31 & November 3: Vote Center
Location: First Bank Kuhlman Center

You can find voting times and more information here: https://www.co.wayne.in.us/clerk/election/voters_info.html

October 28th: Wayne County Systems of Care Mixer | Harvesting Hopeful Collaborations
Location: First Bank Expo Hall

Join us for the annual SOC Mixer for networking, resource sharing, a presentation from the Stride Center and Talk Saves Lives training!

Register using the QR code below:

October 30th: Wayne County Health Department | POD Simulation
Location: First Bank Expo Hall

🎃 Preparedness Meets Halloween! 🛡️

On Friday, October 30, 2026, the Wayne County Health department will conduct a Point of Dispensing (POD) functional simulation as part of a mock public health response to a potential anthrax exposure.

Location: Wayne County Fairgrounds Expo Hall
Date: October 30, 2026
Public Simulation Walk- Through: 11:00am – 2:00pm

This exercise will give public health and response partners an opportunity to practice coordination, test procedures, identify gaps, and strengthen our ability to respond quickly and effectively during a public health emergency.

And because it’s Halloween, participants will receive candy instead of actual medications during the simulation. 🍬

This exercise provides an opportunity to practice coordination, test procedures, identify gaps, and strengthen our ability to respond quickly and effectively when our community needs us most.

Preparedness is a team effort—and practice makes us stronger!