COLUMBUS, Ohio (Diya TV) — Second Lady Usha Vance and Ohio First Lady Fran DeWine came together to celebrate Family Day at the 2025 Ohio State Fair Monday. The event took place at the Ohio Department of Natural Resources Pavilion in the Natural Resources Park. Their visit highlighted the importance of early literacy and outdoor learning for children across the state.
The two leaders hosted a book-themed scavenger hunt and reading event for children and families. Their goal was to promote the Second Lady’s Summer Reading Challenge, a national initiative aimed at helping children stay engaged with reading during the summer months.
Usha Vance, the wife of U.S. Vice President JD Vance, created the Summer Reading Challenge earlier this year. The program encourages students in kindergarten through eighth grade to keep reading while school is out. During the event at the fair, she spoke to families about the challenge and shared her passion for literacy.
“It was a pleasure discussing the Summer Reading Challenge with First Lady of Ohio Fran DeWine and sharing our love of reading with kids at the State Fair,” Vance said. “I am grateful for her support of my Summer Reading Challenge and encourage everyone to pick up a new book today.”
Vance has made several stops across Ohio to promote the challenge. Last month, she visited a summer camp in Loveland to kick off the program. Her message remains the same at each stop: reading opens doors and builds brighter futures for children. Ohio First Lady Fran DeWine has long supported early childhood education and literacy.
She is a strong advocate for Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library of Ohio, a program that mails free books each month to children from birth through age five. At the Ohio State Fair event, DeWine joined Usha Vance in reading to children and encouraging them to explore the outdoors. The two women also guided families through a scavenger hunt that used books to highlight Ohio’s natural beauty.
“Early literacy is so important to ensuring Ohio kids are ready to go when they reach kindergarten,” DeWine said. “It was so special to be with Second Lady Usha Vance today at the Natural Resources Park at the Ohio State Fair to read to kids and challenge them to explore nature and encourage a love of reading.”
Family Day at the fair served as an ideal setting to reach young readers and their parents. The Ohio State Fair draws thousands of visitors from across the state each year. The reading event offered a fun, educational experience for children while supporting statewide literacy goals.
The Natural Resources Park, where the event took place, gave kids a hands-on way to connect with nature. This unique setting helped blend the message of literacy with the wonder of the outdoors. Usha Vance and Fran DeWine both emphasized that reading doesn’t need to stop when school lets out. Their message encouraged children to make reading a habit, even during summer vacation.
The Second Lady’s Summer Reading Challenge remains open to all K–8 students nationwide. Families can learn more about the program and how to participate by visiting www.wh.gov/read.
With events like the one held at the Ohio State Fair, the challenge aims to build a culture of reading and learning among young Americans. The program also supports parents in finding new ways to keep children engaged throughout the summer months. The 2025 Ohio State Fair runs from July 23 through August 3 at the Ohio Expo Center in Columbus. Families visiting the fair can explore many educational exhibits and interactive activities throughout the week.
