Kane County Fair 'culmination of the year' for 4-H

Although the Kane County Fair runs for only five days, members of the Kane County 4-H have spent nearly a year getting ready for it.

"The fair is the culmination of the year for them to show off what they have learned in their 4-H project," said Doris Braddock, who is the 4-H program coordinator of the University of Illinois Extension-Kane County.

4-H is a global network of youth organizations working to develop members' citizenship, responsibility, leadership and life skills through different programs.

Preparations for the fair began in September when the 4-H members picked a project that seemed interesting to them. Projects can be anything from taking care of a horse to starting a garden to dabbling in robotics.

"I think it's wonderful that they've completed work to show off, that they've learned something through the year. They're proud of the work they've done," Braddock said.

During the judging process, judges will ask questions about the members' projects such as how they went about the project, what they would have done differently and what they learned.

"(The judges) tell me how much they have learned from the exhibits," Braddock said. "Judges teach the kids and the kids teach the judges."

When it comes to the livestock aspect of the fair, attendees can expect to see horses, goats, sheep, pigs, chickens and rabbits in the barns on the fairgrounds.

Horse and pony judging takes place on different days with different aspects being judged each day. Horse and pony measuring is from 4:30 to 5:30 p.m. Wednesday, July 20. English-style judging takes place at 8:30 a.m. Thursday, July 21, while Western and showmanship are at 8:30 a.m. Friday, July 22. Dressage is at 8 a.m. Saturday, July 23.

Goats and sheep are judged at 6 p.m. Wednesday, July 20 with dairy judging happening at 9 a.m. on Thursday, July 21.

Swine judging is at 9 a.m. Thursday, July 21 with beef judging at 9 a.m. Friday, July 22. Judges are looking at the weight of the beef.

Poultry judging is at 8 a.m. Wednesday, July 20 as well as at 3 p.m. Thursday, July 21, and rabbits are judged at 6 p.m. Friday, July 22.

Overall, judges are looking for how well the animals have been taken care of. showmanship of the animal and how the 4-H members can handle the animal.

"The average public is pretty impressed with what the kids have accomplished and have learned," Braddock said.

Some of the 4-H members may sell their livestock at the Blue Ribbon Sale at 1 p.m. Sunday, July 24.

But even more prevalent in 4-H's participation in the fair this year are the general project exhibits, where members present non-animal related projects.

Between 250 and 300 members have registered to showcase their projects for judging on Tuesday, July 19. These general projects can be related to clothing, food, family life, visual arts and much more.

"They enjoy coming to the fair and spending time with their friends as well as exhibiting their projects and talking to judges," Braddock said.

After members choose what project they would like to pursue, they are given a manual on the project that they have to follow.

"By progressing through the manual they learn," Braddock said. "Sometimes they end up not liking their project, but other times they get excited about it, and they'll continue that project through the years."

Though general project judging is not open to the public, people can see what 4-H members have made from 3 to 9 p.m. on Wednesday, July 20 and Thursday, July 21, noon to 9 p.m. Friday, July 22 and Saturday, July 23 as well as from noon to 4 p.m. on Sunday, July 24.

Besides having their projects judged, 4-H members also participate in different activities such as the milking derby at 5:30 p.m. Saturday, July 23 in which members compete to see who can get the most milk from a cow or goat in an allotted amount of time.

Only 4-H members can participate in the Barnyard Olympics where some of the organization's ambassadors lead the members in games such as a water bucket relay, a three-legged race and tug of war. Fair attendees can watch the 4-H members compete against one another in the Barnyard Olympics in the Livestock Arena on the fairgrounds.

The Kane County Fair gives members an opportunity to share their 4-H experiences and what they've learned with others.

"If you stop and talk to one of them, you will find that they excel in public speaking," Braddock said. "Talk to them about 4-H and any questions you have, they're happy to answer."