In less than a month pre-fair activities will be history and the opening day of the 2015 version of the Barton County Fair will be here. I hope many of you reading this column will consider making an exhibit of your own this year. Whether it is a jar of jelly or freshly baked pie, a crocheted afghan, quilt, or other handiwork, there is a class for just about everything. I am always amazed at the talent shown by exhibitors in the arts and crafts, woodworking, and photography division. Garden produce and flowers may also be entered and they really add a lot of interest for those visiting the Fair.
Of course for 4-H families the fair is a chance to showcase the completed projects the kids have been working on throughout the year. But for the past 20 plus years anyone who is a Kansas resident may enter exhibits in the open division of the Fair. The best way to learn about the various categories you may enter is to visit the web site: www.bartoncountyfair.com  Besides viewing the fairbook and pre-entry information on-line you will see links to the entertainment, schedule and contact information.
4-H’ers may pre-enter on-line and we will follow up with printed tags that are attached to each entry on opening day. I always look forward to the June 15th deadline because then I can start putting the schedule together for the fiber arts and fashion revue judging. July 1st will be a busy day on the calendar for 4-H families who participate in the clothing/fiber arts divisions because we have the judging in the morning and the public revue set for 7 p.m. at the Crest Theater.
Exhibit check-in begins on Wednesday, July 8th. Open class foods, garden produce and flowers come in the following morning, July 9th. Another fun event to mark on your calendar is the Business Appreciation Breakfast set to begin serving at 7:30 a.m. on Thursday, July 9th. We are so fortunate to have the Dick Dougherty family serving up a pancake and sausage breakfast that morning. Our Extension board members will be on hand to help serve. Another important date to share is our 4-H beef barbecue set for the final day of the Fair. This fund raiser helps support the many 4-H activities throughout the year. 4-H members will have tickets available for $7.50 throughout the month of June. Prices go up after July 1st.
So mark your calendars for July 8th – 12th and plan to visit the Barton County Fair!