Clermont County Senior Fair Board Honored as Friend of 4-H

The Clermont County 4-H Committee recognizes the Clermont County Senior Fair Board as the 2020 Friend of 4-H.  The Friend of 4-H award recognizes individuals, families, businesses or organizations for their leadership and support of the Clermont County 4-H program.  The Senior Fair Board has been a longstanding partner in providing a positive youth development experience each year for our 4-H members.  However, the Board stepped up in a big way this year, to ensure that 4-H and FFA members were able to safely exhibit their projects during a global pandemic.

The county fair is the highlight of the summer for many youth as it is the culmination of weeks, months or even years of hard work, learning, practicing, discovering and creating through their 4-H project work. A year’s worth of work, planning and investment goes into putting on a fair.  This year’s fair was complicated by ever-evolving circumstances and guidelines.  The Board of Directors took a risk and made the decision to cancel the Senior Fair and focus their efforts on the heart and soul of their fair, 4-H and FFA youth.

This decision meant the board would not generate revenue to support the 2021 fair, while spending a significant portion of their funds.  It also meant having to find new ways of putting on a fair; implementing public health rules, social distancing exhibitors and spectators, enforcing mask wearing and limiting vendors.  While seemingly impossible, board directors, volunteers, parents, youth, businesses and the community pulled together to meet the challenge.  This gave 1,129 youth the opportunity to exhibit their livestock and general projects at the Clermont County Fair!

In addition to this year’s efforts, the Clermont County Senior Fair Board has made significant investments in the improvements of the fairgrounds in just a few short years.  These improvements include the new Holman Livestock Complex, Lykins Pavilion, Rabbit and Poultry Barn and parking lot repairs.

We are continually grateful for our partnership with the Clermont County Senior Fair Board and their support of our 4-H program!

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *