Historic Sunbeau Valley Farm, home to Balloon A-Fair for decades, to be auctioned

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Sunbeau Valley Farm, the Ravenna Township horse farm that housed Ravenna Balloon A-Fair for decades, is going on the auction block.
The historic farm, named for the champion thoroughbred racehorse it once housed, will be auctioned Sept. 5. The auction opens at 10:30 a.m., with property going on the block at 11 a.m., according to Kiko Auctions.
"Sunbeau Valley Farm has long served as a cornerstone of Portage County's equestrian and public event scene – from the Portage County Charity Horse Show to the iconic Ravenna Balloon-A-Fair," the Kiko website states. "This 43+ acre, well-maintained facility offers endless possibilities for your next event space, equestrian business, or private estate."
Kiko's listing states that the 43-acre site includes two horse barns with 29 permanent stalls, a heated barn with 11 stalls, and two outdoor arenas. The property also includes apartments, which could be used for staff or rented as an "income opportunity." Tractors and other farm equipment are included in the auction.
Brooks Ames, a Realtor and auctioneer with Kiko, said the property is being sold as a horse farm. If the buyer wants to do something else with the land "it will be up to them to follow the deed restrictions (if any) and contact zoning in regards."
History of a horse farm
The farm was known for decades as the home of the Ravenna Balloon A-Fair, but it was always a horse farm.
Sterling Smith, who owned White Rubber, named the farm after his thoroughbred racehorse, Sunbeau. The horse was inducted into the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame in 1996, decades after his death.
Ravenna Mayor Frank Seman, who also is a horse farmer, said Smith had a number of horses, but boarded some at his Ravenna Township farm and some on the east coast.
Seman said Smith, who showed horses nationwide, and made his farm a home for equestrian shows featuring hunters and jumpers. The Clydesdales even performed there one year.
"You've got to have some people with money to afford the kind of horses Sterling had," Seman said.
Smith became friends with Herb Kane, an attorney who owned a prominent building in downtown Ravenna. When the building went up for auction, Seman was on vacation but sent his daughter to buy two paintings that had belonged to Smith, one featuring his horse Happy Landings, another of his dog, Smitty.
"I didn't want them to leave the city," the mayor said.
After Smith died, the farm was sold to Don and Kay Viall, whom Seman describes as friends of his family. His son was married to their daughter at one time, and Seman's daughter is veterinarian to their animals.
Seman noted that there have been many changes in equestrian shows over the years. Many large shows now take place at a venue in southern Ohio, between Columbus and Cincinnati, which has shows year-round.
For more than 60 years, the farm was home to the Portage County Charity Horse Show, started by Smith. Ron Wilson then took over the event and ran it for 50 years. Other horse-related events, such as the Pink Ribbon Classic, came later.
And for more than 40 years, the farm was synonymous with an event that had nothing to do with horses.
Up, up and away
The Ravenna Balloon A-Fair hosted its balloon launches at the farm from 1980 to 2024, said Sean Short, president of the Balloon A-Fair committee.
Short said launches were at the farm every year of the festival's 45-year history except the first, in 1979, when balloons were launched at Brown Middle School. Next month, events traditionally held at Sunbeau will move to Portage County Randolph Fairgrounds, 4215 Fairground Road in Randolph. The festival will run Sept. 25-28.
Short said the Portage County Engineer's Office approached the committee saying sewer construction on the Chinn Allotment would limit traffic on Brady Lake Road and Wall Street to one lane for the next two years. With traffic and parking already a problem, the committee was forced to find another location.
Daniel Blakely, director of water resources for the county, said the contractor, United Earthworks, was authorized to proceed in January, but still hasn't started construction, aside from some tree removal. The completion date for the project is slated for 2027.
Short said he didn't know that the property would be sold, or that an auction would be weeks prior to the festival.
"I guess it ended up being a blessing in disguise," he said.
Short said it's not clear if the event would ever return to the farm, noting that it depends on who buys the land.
"It's sad to see because Sunbeau has been around for so long," he said. "Balloon A-Fair was a staple at Sunbeau ... Hopefully, someone buys it and does something good with the property."
Reporter Diane Smith can be reached at [e-mail].
This article originally appeared on Record-Courier: Historic Sunbeau Valley Farm in Ravenna Twp. to be auctioned Sept. 5
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