Summertime makes life fun in Minnesota. County fairs, threshing shows and ice cream socials abound. June and July have been fun-filled months, complete with vacations, family get-togethers, picnics, outdoor activities, gardening and much more. There is also the ever-popular Freedom Days in Becker and Spud Fest in Big Lake (both held annually in June) and Clearwater Heritage Days this past weekend. Sherburne County and Wright County Fairs recently came to a close and had successful and well attended events.
Thank you to all fair board members and organizers, who work tirelessly behind the scenes year-round to plan and implement a well rounded fair for people to enjoy. I, for one, was thanking the Lord for wonderful weather for the most part for most area celebrations and county fairs!
Besides 4-H entries, there is the open class category for county fairs and the Minnesota Sate Fair. Several hundred open class entries earned blue and purple ribbons for their hand-made quilts, state fair apples and scrumptious baked goods, just to name a few. For families who cannot commit to 4-H, people can enter projects of all kinds.
Sherburne County Fair was held in mid-July and offered a wonderful fair experience. The Benton County Fair in Sauk Rapids just wrapped up another eventful and well attended fair this past week. Many Becker, Clear Lake and Palmer area kids involved with 4-H were at the local fairs in July and August showing animals and submitting exhibits.
Project options span the gamut and include showing a variety of animals (llama, horse, rabbits, poultry, goats, sheep, beef and more). 4-H’ers submitted entries in scores of categories such as areospace, robotics, photography, sewing, baked goods, canning, crafts, flower gardening and a plethora of additional categories. Even children age five through second grade can submit exhibits as Cloverbuds (pre 4-H program).
Ann Olson of Becker is the 4-H Program Coordinator for Benton County and commented how the Benton County Fair currently has 21 active clubs involving over 500 kids and 150 or more valuable volunteers.
4-H was a way of life for the Erickson family growing up. Except for church functions, 4-H was the cornerstone of our social life much of our childhood. We took exhibits to the fair each summer for many years. Local county fairs hold a special place in my life - and not just for Proms' Cheese Curds and corn dogs (although they rank up there!
Grace Kampa lives near Palmer and is a member of Shooting Stars 4-H Club. Grace attends Becker schools and started showing horses in second grade. She credits her grandmother (Ginny Kampa) for sparking her interest in horses at the age of two. Grace really enjoys trail rides and horse camping.
Grace was riding a Shetland pony when she was just 18 months old! “My grandma and my mom and dad would lead me around the farm and I really never stopped riding horse after that”, Grace said. At age four, Grace started riding an Arabian horse named Allah and then got a horse named Titan when she was eight.
Titan was the first horse that Grace showed at the county fair. For the past three years, Grace has been riding and showing Monte (16 year old Palamino). “I love to ride Monte”, Grace said.
“I enjoy 4-H and how everyone involved is willing to help others”, Grace said. Grace cherishes the friendships she has formed while showing horses and being involved in 4-H, including many friends from other schools she would have never met if not for 4-H and showing her horse. Grace and her friends look forward to spending a few days together each summer while they show their horses at the annual county fair.
If you want to volunteer for 4-H in your area, visit the University of Minnesota website and fill out an application at http://www.extension.umn.edu/youth/mn4-h/volunteer/
Enjoy the rest of this wonderful summer season!
