July 06, 2009 11:13 am
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By Anne Hershewe
news@joplinglobe.com
Members of 4-H and Future Farmers of America will have a chance to showcase their accomplishments at upcoming youth fairs in Jasper, McDonald and Newton counties.
Exhibitors at the fairs will range in age from 5 to 21.
Jasper County will hold its fair Thursday through Saturday, July 18, at Municipal Park in Carthage.
Bob McNary, youth development specialist for 4-H in Jasper County, said organizers expect between 300 and 400 exhibitors with a wide variety of exhibits. McNary also said they will have several hundred adult volunteers to help out during the fair.
Youths at the fairs will be displaying agri-science accomplishments as well as showcasing animals such as swine, rabbits and sheep. The fair will also hold pageants for queen and princess and Little Mister and Miss as well as a car and tractor show. Judging is set to begin on the afternoon of Wednesday, July 15.
McNary said the fairs are the culmination of the hard work and dedication the Missouri youths have put into their projects.
“It shows them responsibility and the ability to get things done,” he said. “(They) set goals and see them through to the end.”
The skills the youths are developing are beneficial and lifelong, McNary said.
Newton County
The Newton County Youth Fair will be combined with the Newton County Fair, to be held Wednesday through Saturday in Neosho.
Combining the two events means people of all ages will be able to have exhibits, from age 5 to senior citizens. The fair will also offer open divisions which mean people don’t have to be affiliated with any organization to enter the contests or have exhibits.
Exhibits will range from livestock to equipment to zucchini, and will be held indoors and outdoors. Live entertainment is promised for each night of the fair alongside a carnival. The fair is also crowning its own king and queen.
The fair is put on by the Newton County A&M Society and is organized by a board of about 13 people.
“Over the years the fair has expanded — it’s not just agricultural,” said James Langford, a member of the board or directors.
Langford said that the board believes the Newton County fair is the largest county fair in Southwest Missouri, aside from the one in Springfield. He said that a great thing about the event is that it’s free.
“They could come down and not spend a penny,” he said. “The fair is for the people, for the public.”
McDonald County
McDonald County High School will be hold McDonald County’s Youth Fair, scheduled for July 16 to 18.
The fair will feature exhibitions of goats, swine, sheep, beef, dairy as well as a horse show. There will also be open exhibitions for children of all ages to display their creations in woodworking, crafts, photography and sewing.
Dewey Pierce, chairman of the McDonald County Fair Association, has been helping out with the fair for 30 years. He said one of the main reasons he has been with the fair association for so long is because of the kids.
“I like to see the youths taking pride in their exhibits,” he said.
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