OREGON, Ill. - Approximately 685 4-H project exhibits and 767 animal exhibits will be showcased by Ogle County’s 300 4-H club members in 12 clubs during the 2023 Ogle County Fair, Oregon, August 2-6. 

4-H Fairs are held nationally to allow youth the opportunity to exhibit projects that have resulted from in-depth yearlong studies of areas that interest them. 

As part of the exhibition, non-animal exhibitors meet one-on-one with project judges to receive feedback about their displays and gather ideas for future project expansion. 

Animal judging tests 4-H’ers abilities to produce, maintain, and select healthy animals with excellent breeding and market potential.  Animal showmanship classes provide 4-H’ers with the opportunities to develop and refine their animal presentation skills.

At the 4-H Fair, competition exists at two levels.   4-H’ers first compete against themselves for exhibit ratings.  Every exhibit--animal or non-animal--is assigned a rating of blue, white, or red.  Blue ratings are awarded to youth with entries that meet class guidelines and represent high quality work.  White ratings are assigned when entries do not meet class guidelines or exhibits are of low quality.  Red ribbons are assigned for exhibits falling somewhere in between.   

Once ratings have been assigned, all the blue award winners compete against one another for the chance to become class champions or overall division winners.    A number of blue awarded non-animal exhibits are also selected each year to represent Ogle County 4-H at the Illinois State Fair.

Beyond the competition and learning, the Ogle County 4-H Fair is a celebration!   It marks the end of a year of youth development, club and county activities and community service, new friendships, and family building.  

Many thanks go to the hundreds of 4-H leaders, helpers, fair committee members, judges, auctioneers, and supporters who make this annual educational extravaganza possible!

4-H is the youth development program of University of Illinois Extension.  For information, call the Ogle County Extension Office at (815)732-2191 or visit on-line at https://extension.illinois.edu/bdo.  The 4-H year will begin again on September 1.  The fair is an excellent place to explore 4-H and decide if it might be right for your family.  Youth, ages 5-18 by September 1, 2023, can join for the coming year. You can visit various clubs to find the right fit or create your own!