The Fair Must Go On...

The 4-H fair is going to happen this year, July 29-31. It will probably look a little different than previous years but the one thing that stays the same is 4-H kids learning life skills, exhibiting their project work and families and the community coming together to support their learning endeavors. 4-H youth have been working hard and are excited to show off their projects.

The schedule will be different; condensed to reduce the amount of time families spend at the fair, but the shows will be essentially the same.

The top priority of 4-H programs across the state is the health and safety of our youth, families, volunteers, faculty, staff, and supporters throughout our communities. It is everyone’s responsibility to be vigilant to protect those around us - especially our vulnerable populations.

As important as the county fair is, this is not where all of the lessons of a successful 4-H experience begin or end. They rest in a sense of belonging, an opportunity to master a skill or interest, the confidence to influence your own future, and serving others while transitioning to a caring and capable adult. The fair experience this year will be different than that of the past. There is a lesson in this as well. The health and well-being of ourselves and others depends on our actions and the small sacrifices we make are a service to our community.

We have put a few measures in place that follow guidelines offered by Valley County, Montana State University, the Montana Department of Health and Human Services and the CDC. We appreciate your support in following these guidelines along with our 4-H families.

Cloth face masks are strongly recommended for 4-H members, parents, volunteers, staff, and visitors while at the fair, especially in situations where a six-foot distance between individuals cannot be maintained. We also ask that the public helps us maintain physical distancing and appropriate group size throughout the fair.

It cannot be stressed enough that the top priority of the 4-H program across Montana is the health and safety of our youth, families, volunteers, faculty, staff, supporters, and the public throughout our communities. With this in mind, it is imperative that all 4-H volunteers, members, parents, and faculty acknowledge and support this priority.

The 4-H Horse Show kicks off the fair this Thursday and Friday, July 23-24. Members will show their horse projects beginning at 8 a.m. both days at the Northeast Montana Fairgrounds.

Livestock shows begin at 2:30 p.m. Wednesday, July 29, and will go through Friday July 31, with the Round Robin Showmanship Contest.

The sale will still occur with a live, in-person format with a live streaming option. The sale is July 31 at 1 p.m. this year with previewing beginning at 12:30 p.m. We will not be presenting awards at the arena, they will be presented at the 4-H Awards Program this fall. Anyone interested in bidding on the project animals is asked to fill out a colored buyer card so we have your name, address and phone number. This may be done previous to the sale by calling or stopping in at the Extension Office. Cards may be picked up the day of the sale. Bleachers will be identified by color and buyers are asked to sit in their designated areas. If you would like to bid on the animals but do not feel comfortable attending the sale, please contact the Extension Office and we can make arrangements for proxy bids or to take bids over the phone. Payment options this year include having an invoice sent to you or your business for mail in payments as well as paying the day of the sale. If you would like a presale flyer please contact the Extension Office at 228-6241.

How can you support the 4-H Fair?

Watch the shows either in person or over livestream.

Bid on animals during the sale live or via the phone

View the member exhibits in the 4-H Quonset July 29-31.

However you choose to participate in the fair this year in person, via technology or in spirit, we thank you for your support of our 4-H Youth Development Efforts.

See below for the full 4-H schedule of events.