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If you're ready for an extravaganza of food and family fun as well as 4-H and FFA spirit, the Mifflin County Youth Fair is the place for you.
The Juniata County Youth Fair just ended, and now their counterparts from Mifflin County are preparing to take their place in the spotlight. It officially opens on Monday and runs until Saturday, Aug. 10.
If you haven't gone, you're really missing it. 4-H members not only actively engage in a variety of activities that showcase their skills and projects, but it provides them with an opportunity to present what they worked on for the past year.
Typically, members exhibit their projects, ranging from livestock to arts and crafts. Again, this is a year in the making so it's a culmination of their hard work and dedication. It's not something that is just thrown together on the fly. There's a tremendous amount of thought and planning that goes into displaying projects.
Members compete by showing animals they've raised, such as cows, goats and sheep. The competitions can be quite challenging but also fun, as the animals become like teammates to the 4-H and FFA members.
There are educational exhibits where fairgoers can learn more about the animals and the work it takes to raise them. Members share their knowledge and answer questions.
The fair is also an opportunity for 4-H and FFA members to engage with the community, helping them to understand the vital role that agriculture and livestock management plays in the Juniata Valley.
These activities not only provide a platform for 4-H and FFA members to demonstrate their accomplishments but also serve as an educational experience for the public, fostering a deeper appreciation for agricultural practices and youth development programs.
There are also plenty of other highlights, including the 4-H and FFA Livestock Auction, with the sale order including scholarships, awards, flea market flips and baskets, along with hogs, goats, rabbits, dairy feeder cattle, steers and lambs.
You also won't want to miss the Celebrity Milking Contest happening on Monday in the horse arena. It's going to be a blast watching prominent figures Mifflin County School District Superintendent of Schools Vance Varner, School Board President Mark Baker, Juniata River Valley Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Rhonda Kelley, Mifflin County Commissioner Noah Wise and others take part.
No fair would be complete without live entertainment and the fair features talented performers like Remington Ride, Chris Strait, Velveeta, Chris Woodward and Shindiggin, Hillbilly Diesel and Chris Ruble.
There are plenty of other things, too, as the community comes together to put on this event.
A trip to the Mifflin County Youth Park in Reedsville for this year's fair would be time well spent. If you missed the Juniata County Youth Fair, there's always next year. Make certain you check them out!
The efforts of future generations are on display. If their work ethic is any indication of what lies ahead in the future, then agriculture in the Juniata Valley has a bright future.
As their motto goes, "Flourishing with opportunity, rooted in agriculture." Join them as they celebrate.