By: Donovan W. Mann – [email protected]
Humboldt, IA – The Humboldt County Fair is right around the corner but for those who are presenting projects, the work is put in year round.
A huge part of each fair is that is provide 4-H participants a chance to show off the projects they put hard work into. Youth Program Coordinator with Extension and Outreach Kiersten Gatewood says that most 4-Hers start their projects in August right after one fair concludes.
She says that a “4-H” year is considered to be August to July. “Livestock side that usually starts almost at the beginning of the year and then they work with those animals until fair comes around in July.”
Those presenting static projects will sometime put a whole year’s worth of work in as well. “Some of those kids do work on some of those projects when they are in school and in club meetings.” Gatewood says the exhibits can be a year’s worth of work like livestock.
The standard that 4-H participants are asked to meet is just to show growth and improvement. “We just asked them to do their best, you know, everyone has different success levels,” says the youth coordinator. “We just ask to make the best better and continue to grow throughout their 4-H years.”
There is a May 15 deadline for livestock projects to get their ID. Then the third week in June livestock projects must be registered if they plan to be to participate in the fair.
Gatewood says the fair has always been her favorite because she gets to see the hard work by those presenting come to the front. “Just seeing those kids being able to grow” is special to the youth coordinator. A lot of them have started their time in 4-H with the Clover Kids in kindergarten and go all the way through their final years in high school.
“It’s just great to see the process that they gain and the successes that they have all throughout those years.” Gatewood says the fair is always “fun” to see what projects have been thought up by 4-H participants and the growth that happened while raising livestock.
The first day of the fair on July 20 will be for the judging of exhibits. Livestock judging will be going on all throughout the fair starting July 21-25 with the livestock auction happening on the final day, July 26.
Gatewood says she wants to thank all who are involved in making the Humboldt County Fair happen.