Open class and 4-H exhibits will be on display in Community Building

There is more to the 2023 Fulton County 4-H Fair than livestock exhibitions. In fact, even those who are not 4-H members have a variety of opportunities to participate.

Open class exhibits are available to any Fulton County resident or member of the Fulton County Extension Homemakers Club. At the same time, many 4-Hers are involved with a number of exhibits, such as scrapbooking, electronics, photography and many more. All of these activities will be available to the public throughout the fair in the Community Building.

Open class exhibits in this year’s fair include quilting, needle arts, photography, flowers, Christmas at the fair, arts and crafts, including scrapbooking, wearable art, appliquéd or machine-sewn item, toile painting or folk art, fine arts, “trash to treasure” recycled item and adult coloring page.

Food categories are a favorite. These include baked goods, food preservation and candy or snack mixes.

There is also a children’s category for 8 year olds and under. This category includes photography, cookies, single flower and simple crafts.

All exhibits in open class categories are to be checked in from 9-11:30 a.m. Saturday, July 8. Exhibits must remain in place in the Community Building until they are released at 9 a.m. Saturday, July 15. Until then, fairgoers can view the wide variety of exhibits, including those which have earned their creators’ ribbons.

The cookie contest happens on Ladies Night at the fair, which is 5 p.m. Thursday, July 14. Judging for the open class baking contest will take place, sponsored by Fulton County Extension Homemakers Club. Cookie entries can be the same recipe as what’s submitted for open class or an entirely different recipe. This year’s special ingredient category is blueberries. Entry fee per plate of six cookies is $2. Cookies must be entered into contest between 4-5 p.m. and must be accompanied by their recipes.

For more information on 4-H open class exhibits, contact Ellen King, open class chair, (574) 835-0227, or Jessica Riggle, extension educator HHS Purdue Fulton County Extension Office, (574) 223-3397.