News from the Noteworthy from Cornell Cooperative Extension Schoharie and Otsego Counties

4-H Fair Projects Reflect Ag Mission

Although many people think of a trip to the county fair in terms of rides on the midway, games of chance, and fried dough, many traditional activities that reflect the Otsego County Fair’s “agricultural society” roots are thriving, including 4-H and “open” exhibits of projects and animal shows, stall decorating contests, and even the tractor pull. The Fireman’s Parade includes “agricultural” floats that promote agriculture and 4-H project themes.

Otsego County 4-H youth have been showing off their “projects”—animals, vegetables, baked goods, sewing, and many other areas—for generations. There are more than 200 youth registered in Cornell Cooperative Extension Schoharie and Otsego Counties’ Otsego County 4-H Youth Development program and the hard work of about 125 Otsego County 4-H members will be represented in over 1,100 4-H exhibit entries in Martin Hall and the barns nearby.

Teresa Adell, Otsego County 4-H Program educator, suggests, “If you are visiting the Otsego County Fair, check out the 4-H projects in Martin Hall and consider attending some of the 4-H beef, dairy, goat, horse, poultry, rabbit, sheep and swine shows that are featured in the show ring.

“Or plan your trip to the fair around the celebratory Parade of Champions and 4-H Livestock Auction (Saturday, August 3) or the 4-H Supreme Master Showman Competition (Sunday, August 4),” Adell continued. “And while you’re visiting Martin Hall and the barns, look for the 4-H exhibits with “Best in Show” and blue ribbons—they are heading to the New York State Fair!”

Adell stressed that, no matter what color ribbon a 4-H member receives, as each project is evaluated youth are guided by judges who offer feedback, encouragement, tips and advice. This experience helps youth improve skills, learn the importance of following rules carefully, gain confidence in interacting with evaluators and speak with confidence about their projects.

A week later, close to 100 members of CCESO’s Schoharie County 4-H Youth Development program have registered almost 800 projects to be shown at the Sunshine Fair in Cobleskill. Schoharie County’s fair is also deeply rooted in the agricultural traditions of the county. Check out hundreds of 4-H project exhibits in Progressland, visit the 4-H Fair Garden—a collaboration between Schoharie County 4-H and Schoharie County Master Gardener Volunteers—explore the animal showmanship on exhibit in the barns and the showring, and visit “open” agricultural exhibits in the Hall of Agriculture.

In addition to featuring 4-H projects at both county fairs, each day CCESO staff and volunteers will be on hand—in Martin Hall and Progressland—offering engaging hands-on activities and great resources from the CCE agriculture, horticulture, and nutrition programs.

According to New York State 4-H, fair projects and exhibits offer 4-H members the opportunity to grow in many ways: exhibiting helps youth learn to set goals, work toward those goals, develop standards, get a sense of achievement, and communicate effectively about what they have done.

Projects and exhibits give 4-H members opportunities to share their knowledge of civic engagement, STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics), healthy living, agriculture and other 4-H topic areas. New York State 4-H emphasizes that while many youth continue working with animals, growing things in their gardens, or refining their sewing and cooking skills, 4-H contests and exhibits have expanded to reflect the evolving interests of youth in the world today.

The Otsego County Fair runs from Tuesday, July 30 through Sunday, August 4 at the fairgrounds, 48 Lake Street, Morris. The Schoharie County Sunshine Fair takes place from Tuesday, August 6 through Sunday, August 11 at the Cobleskill Fairgrounds on Sunshine Drive.

Liz Callahan is the executive director of Cornell Cooperative Extension Schoharie and Otsego Counties.