View from the Cab: Fair time
By: Kent Casson
Time to grab a corn dog and funnel cake because fair season is here!
You know back to school time can’t be far off now that we are in the heart of summer with fairs in just about every county. Our family had a great time at last week’s Livingston County Fair at 4-H Park near Pontiac as Kasen showed his dairy calves and other projects.
Fair week is always a busy one but, like anything these days, it comes and goes very fast. The dairy barn was our second home for four days but our family wouldn’t have it any other way. The kids enjoy washing the calves each morning, helping with chores and showing off the animals to curious fair visitors.
I had a blast being emcee for the Livingston County Fair king and queen crowning and the always fun 4-H ag games. It is also great wandering the grounds to record interviews with fair participants and organizers. Each county fair has its own story to tell.
There were some impressive numbers for Livingston County this year with 294 4-H exhibitors, 1,592 projects exhibited and 393 youth enrolled.
Our attention turns to a couple of other county fairs this week. The Woodford County 4-H Show runs through Thursday at Farm Bureau Park in Eureka with 262 4-H exhibitors, 1,512 projects and 370 youth enrolled in 4-H. Farm Bureau Park is located at 1448 County Road 1000 N in Eureka.
What is billed as one of the world’s largest county fairs gets underway this Wednesday and runs through Sunday in Bloomington. The McLean County Fair at the Interstate Center features 585 4-H exhibitors, 4,012 projects and 973 youth enrolled in 4-H.
4-H Youth Development programs let youth express themselves and build communication and lifelong skills by showing projects at the fair. University of Illinois Extension’s Alcha Corban says kids can learn, practice and demonstrate skills while exploring the interests important to them by exhibiting and supporting others around them.
Typical fair activities here in Central Illinois include style fashion review shows, livestock classics, junior horse shows and more.
For more on Extension and the various 4-H programs, reach out to the Livingston County Extension Office at 815-842-1776, Woodford County Extension at 309-467-3789 or McLean County Extension at 309-663-8306. More opportunities can be viewed online at https://go.illinois.edu/LMW4H.
Now, we look ahead to August with the Illinois State Fair, Cullom Junior Fair and Fairbury Fair.
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