It is fair time in Barton County! Barton County kicks off one of the first county fairs in Kansas. This is my first fair season as an extension agent so I’m looking forward to lots of learning opportunities as well as meeting new people, families, and children. I attended some of the pre-fair activities last week and learned all about buymanship, fiber arts, life skills and clothing construction. Wow! Those kids put a lot of work into their projects. The sewing projects were impressive. I admire families that are teaching their kids this skill. That is just one of the projects I mentioned, but kids learn so many life skills just by entering something into the fair. It can improve their self-esteem by showing off something they made. Kids can also learn how to improve projects by sitting down and talking one on one with the judges. They learn that they have follow the rules in whichever class they enter. I will be attending opening day of the fair to help with the foods judging.

The fair offers so much fun and excitement from concerts to events and of course, the projects that have been entered. 4-H and open class offers many different projects to look at. It could also help you think of ideas that you might want to enter into next year’s fair. I remember attending fairs when I was little, the carnivals and the animals were the most interesting for me. There really is something for everyone!

Please plan to attend the Business Appreciation Breakfast and Chamber Coffee. There will be great food and prizes. The breakfast begins today at 7:30 a.m.

Whether you have entered something in the fair or not, come out and have a good time and support our community and 4-H! It is also the first fair for several of our other agents. Jay Harris is our new District Director, Tamara Robertson is the new 4-H Youth Development Agent, both out of the Ellis County office and Karissa Winkel is our new Family and Community Wellness Agent, who is out of the Great Bend office. I’m looking forward to the fun, the kids, the projects, and meeting everyone. Please stop by and say “hi”!  

For more information about the Barton County fair, visit bartoncountyfair.com. 

Monique Koerner is the Family and Community Wellness Agent with K-State Research and Extension – Cottonwood District. You may reach her at: 785-628-9430 or moniquek@ksu.edu.