4-H fair exhibits see increase

By TOM LAVENTURE

[email protected]

SAXON, Wis. - A fair without 4-H is not much of a fair.

Around 41 members of 4-H will present more than 250 projects at the Iron County Fair from Friday through Sunday in Saxon, the most in recent memory, said Neil Klemme, the area 4-H director and youth development educator for the University of Wisconsin-Madison, Division of Extension. Members of the Hurley Lucky Clovers, the Iron County Green Team, the Saxon Emerald Knights and the Penokee Range 4-H Livestock Club will be showing their stuff all weekend.

"We just finished up judging the non-animal projects," Klemme said. "We always do that on Sunday and Monday to get them done ahead of time for display in the 4-H building."

The fair is an opportunity for kids to showcase the work they've been doing all year, he said. It's also a chance to show how much they've learned and how much more responsible they've become, he said.

"A lot of kids brought some pretty cool stuff so stop by and check it out," Klemme said.

The area 4-H clubs each decide pretty much what kinds of things they want to learn about throughout the year, he said. The clubs hold regular meetings that include an education component and that is usually reflected in the projects that will be displayed in the fair booths that are also decorated by the members.

"This year there was a focus on entomology and the kids brought bugs to the fair that they made out of recycled items," Klemme said. "Some turned out super cool, including a giant dung beetle and a huge bumble bee that was presented with the 4-H Award of Excellence from the judges."

There are many project displays including arts and crafts, cooking, gardening and woodworking, he said. Most of the projects have a community service focus and the kids will also be teaching arts and crafts to visitors, he said.

Kids involved with animal projects and livestock auction animals are part of the Penokee Range 4-H Livestock Club. All the animal experts are in one club to teach proper care of animals.

"There are quite a few animals this year and the more the better," Klemme said.

The consistent message of all 4-H programs is about building confidence that comes from presentations about what they learned from a project, he said. Whether raising pigs, sewing, cooking or robotics - all teach vocational and critical thinking skills, he said.

"The positive youth development is what we want the kids to get from 4-H," Klemme said. "If it were just about showing then 4-H wouldn't still be around."

The Iron County Fair is also the primary 4-H fundraising event, he said. The silent auction, pie auction and dairy booth all go to support 4-H club activities and field trips throughout the year.

"The business community really stepped up and gave over 100 items from gift certificates to golf packages, swings and other cool things," Klemme said.

The silent auction bidding is open throughout the fair until 5:30 Sunday evening, he said.

The public is invited to submit a pie for judging at the fair by 1 p.m. Sunday. After the judging in youth and adult categories the pie auction starts at 4 p.m.

"It always chokes me up to see someone bid that much on pie," Klemme said. "The amount of support that people show for these kids is amazing."