WELCOME BACK TO THE SULLIVAN COUNTY YOUTH FAIR! Written by Kaitlyn S Conklin, 4-H Youth Development Educator
This year the Sullivan County 4-H program was able to host the annual Sullivan County Youth Fair at the Grahamsville Little World’s Fair in August. There was even more excitement than usual around the 2021 fair as Sullivan County youth were able to return to the fairgrounds after having virtual opportunities to show their 2020 project last year. The familiar sights and sounds that filled the barns were very much welcomed by participants, volunteers, and fairgoers alike. The projects varied greatly in variety and categories, giving an excellent snapshot of all the different project areas youth have the opportunity to participate in through the 4-H Program. In total, 75 youth participants showed 300 exhibits in
Page 10
the areas of: Cloverbud, Personal Development & Leadership, Communications & Expressive Arts, Consumer & Family Sciences, Visual Arts, Horticulture, Environmental Sciences, Entomology, Science Engineering and Technology, Swine, Sheep, Goat, Diary Cattle, Horse, Poultry, and Rabbit. One thing was obvious to anyone who came to the fair and visited the youth departments. Although
Extension Connection
October 2021
much of the world around them was put on hold due to circumstances that were very much out of their control, the youth of Sullivan County never stopped. They never stopped being creative, imaginative, passionate, or caring. They did not lose their drive for their projects or their desire to try new things or to challenge themselves. They remembered the importance of giving back to their community in anyway they could. Most importantly, they truly cracked the code of how to make the best better no matter the circumstance. Congratulations to all the youth who participated in the Fair. I hope the residents of Sullivan County and all those who visited the fair are as inspired by and proud of the youth of this program as I, and many others are.
