I have always thought of the county fair as a great place to meet up with neighbors and friends. It has also been the place for a little friendly competition to see who has the best woodworking project and who made the best cherry pie or the best quilt. I remember as a younger 4-H member waiting for the moment the building doors were opened and we were allowed in to see what ribbon we had earned. We did not get to visit with the judge as our young people do today. 

The best part about bringing a 4-H exhibit to the fair is that there is consultation judging for almost every project. The judge gets to ask the member how they made the project, why they chose that project and what they learned from the process. Parents are asked to stand back and listen and the young person has to speak for themselves. It is a great learning process.

The first pre-fair activity is the 4-H Dog Show. This is today, Sunday, June 26th  beginning at 8:00 am in the Expo III building. The 4-H Dog Show includes Showmanship, Obedience, Rally and Agility competition.

The next pre-fair event is Clothing, Fashion Revue and Fiber Arts scheduled for Wednesday, June 29th. The 4-H Fashion Revue is an opportunity for clothing and fiber arts members to share their accomplishments. The judging will take place in the morning and the public Fashion Revue is at 7:00 pm at the Crest Theater. The public is invited to join us for this event.

A major 4-H event at the Barton County Fair is the 4-H Beef and Pork Barbeque. The serving time is from 11:30 am to 1:30 pm on Sunday, July 10th at the Expo I building. If you join us for inside dining, iced tea will be included with the meal. Some people choose to drive through and pick up their meals and the beverage is not included at the drive through. 

 4-H members have been contacting friends, family and business acquaintances to sell tickets. If you have not been contacted, please stop by the Extension Office by July 1st or stop by the fair office in Expo I during fair week to purchase your tickets. All proceeds from the BBQ go to Barton County 4-H Council and help pay for many youth activities, including camp expenses, 4-H Day and Achievement Banquet

If you have questions about any of the events at the Barton County Fair, you can check out the website at www.bartoncountyfair.com or call 797-FAIR. The Extension Office will be closed on Monday for the July 4th holiday but feel free to leave a message on our answering machine, or email us at bt@ksre.ksu.edu 

We have a lot to be proud of in Barton County. We are very proud of our 4-H youth and of the parents and leaders who support the 4-H program. You are all invited to come to the Barton County Fair and support our youth in their activities and events!

Berny Unruh is the 4-H and Youth Development Extension Agent in Barton County. She is a guest columnist for the Great Bend Tribune. She can be reached at 620-793-1910 or at bunruh@.ksu.edu.