The theme of the 2025 Barton County Fair is Barnyard Mardi Gras and we are ready to start the fun with a couple of pre-fair events!
Saturday kicks things off with our Fashion Revue, Sewing & Textiles, and Fiber Arts judging. These are lifetime skills that go well beyond sewing a straight seam. Learning to coordinate clothing that fits well, complements your body and style, is appropriate for a specific environment, and works within your budget are skills that many of us continue to use. Hobbies such as crochet, knitting, macramé, or needle arts provide creative outlets and beautiful handmade gifts for others. I learned to crochet from my grandmother as a child and had several crochet projects exhibit at the Kansas State Fair as my skills improved. It is still an activity that I enjoy and I love carrying on my Grandmother’s tradition of gifting baby blankets to friends and family.
Our 4-H Dog Show is scheduled for Sunday afternoon. Our six competitors have worked hard to build a team with their dog. We’ll have a poster at the fair with photos and results so be sure to check it out.
Wednesday will begin early with exhibit check-in and our 4-H Foods judging starts at 8:30 a.m. Four judges will work through well over 130 entries. The 4-H members must know their recipe well and be able to tell the judge about their process whether they are a little one making snack mix or an accomplished one making macaroons or a chiffon cake. Learning to read a recipe, understanding time and temperature requirements, practicing measuring, and using good food safety practices are skills for a whole life!
Wednesday will also have judging for Visual Arts. I am absolutely not crafty or artistic but I love the creativity on display! We will also have the Rabbit and Poultry shows.
Thursday is another whirlwind day of judging many project areas as well as the Business Appreciation Breakfast. The morning starts off with the swine show and ends with the bucket calf show with the horse halter classes in the afternoon.
Friday morning starts with the dairy goat show followed by the meat goat and sheep show. This is a great day to check out all of the fair entries as everything will have been judged. The day ends with the 4-H Beef Show which is one of my favorite events.
Saturday, June 28 is Kids’ Day at the fair. There are lots of open class livestock shows, the 4-H Horse riding classes, and a world of other events happening throughout the day. Be sure to check out the 4-H Fashion Revue at 6 p.m. on the stage in Expo II followed by several 4-H youth sharing a variety of talents!
Join us on Sunday, June 29 for Round Robin. The top showmen and women in each of the 4-H species have the opportunity to show off their skills beginning with the small animal Round Robin at 10 which includes bucket calf, dog, dairy goat, rabbit, and poultry. This will be followed by the large animal Round Robin with beef, swine, sheep, goats, and horse. The Barton County Fair Association will host a Celebrity Livestock Showmanship contest at 1:30 p.m. which is always a lot of fun! The 4-H Awards begin about 2 p.m. followed by the 4-H Premium Auction for the Sale of Champions which includes each livestock species as well as several top-placing foods items.
While we are deep in fair activities here, 4-H Shooting Sports member, Madison Gaddis, will be competing at the National 4-H Shooting Sports competition as part of the Kansas team! We wish her well and can’t wait to see results.
Keep learning. Keep showing grace and kindness!
Michelle Beran is the 4-H and Youth Development Agent for the Cottonwood District, Barton County office. Email Michelle at mberan@ksu.edu or call 620-793-1910.
