VALLEY — As the end of the school year rapidly approaches, many of us find ourselves planning our summers. For me, that means thinking about the San Luis Valley Fair. The 4-H program, which I manage, has had a long-standing partnership with the area fair. Youth enrolled in the 4-H program use the event to show off the projects they’ve been working on all year.

County and regional fairs have a long history in the United States. The first county fairs started in the Northeast in the early 1800s. In the San Luis Valley, we’ve had a fair for more than 100 years. These events started as a way for rural folks to come together to socialize, learn about new agricultural technology and best practices, exhibit their handiwork, and connect with what was going on in their communities.

The fair is still valuable for those same reasons today. Fairs serve as an important educational opportunity, and a way for people to connect with agriculture and celebrate traditions. Livestock and horse shows, as well as educational exhibits, provide opportunities for the public to learn about agriculture, livestock production, and a number of other areas.

The San Luis Valley Fair is the premier space for local 4-H and Future Farmers of America (FFA) youth to show off their project work. Youth compete in animal shows, in areas like swine, beef, horse and dog, and exhibit projects such as woodworking, cake decorating and sewing. Having this competition opportunity helps to reward hard work, and teach kids how they can improve and set future goals.

The area of largest participation for 4-Hers and FFA members at our fair is livestock. Youth in this project area use the fair to show off the animals they raised and cared for throughout the year. This is a huge undertaking that helps kids build life skills like responsibility, time management, and grit. Kids in market projects have the opportunity to sell an animal at the end of the week.

Besides livestock, many youth exhibit their horses or dogs in a variety of shows. These events are an opportunity to display the hours of training and hard work the kids, and animals, put in. They’re super fun to watch, too!

Many members choose to exhibit other projects, from cake decorating to woodworking to sewing. These exhibits are a chance for kids to demonstrate learning and mastery. Top exhibits in each category are selected to represent the SLV at the Colorado State Fair. Many projects, such as robotics and cake decorating, also have live on-site contests at the fair. At these events fairgoers can see the youth’s skills on display in a really dynamic way.

The 2018 fair will run August 4 to 10 at Ski Hi Park in Monte Vista. Start thinking now about how you can fit it into your summer plans! If you’re a member of the general public, of any age, who has a hobby or passion, consider entering the Open Class shows. Enter your baked goods, canned goods, sewing, needlework, crafts, art, photography, gardening, or handiwork for recognition and prizes. Look for the Fair Book, which contains complete entry information, around mid-June at the fair’s website www.sanluisvalleyfair.com.

If you’re a local business, consider donating to support the fair. The event is run by volunteers and is made possible with support from the SLV counties, as well as sponsorships from local businesses. It means a ton to the kids and community who benefit from this event to have this support. Learn more about sponsorship on the fair’s website, or call Fair Board Member Betsey Strawn at 719-580-5983.

If you’re a 4-H or FFA member, keep working on your projects and record books to get ready for fair! If this is your first year in the program, consider joining us on May 29 from 6-7:30 pm at the Extension office in Monte Vista for a Fair 101 class. This class will help you learn about what to expect if you’re exhibiting at the fair for the first time.

The SLV Fair is an important part of our history, a valuable educational tool, and a fun way to spend an afternoon. Keep up to date on all things fair at the SLV Fair’s website or search for them on Facebook.  We hope to see you out there in August!

Amy Henschen is the 4-H Youth Development Agent for Colorado State University Extension. To find out more about Extension and the 4-H program visit http://sanluisvalley.colostate.edu or call 719-852-7381. Extension programs are available to all without discrimination.