LEWISTOWN, Ill. - Ask a 4-H member their favorite part of being in 4-H and more than likely they will tell you something about the “fair.” Their favorite memories may be about working in the food stand, earning a Best of Show or State Fair ribbon, hanging out with their 4-H friends while they wait to have their project judged, or showing their livestock. Both the stories and the learning opportunities are endless when it comes to the 4-H Shows.
University of Illinois Extension, Fulton County 4-H members will be exhibiting their projects during different events throughout the summer: Pet Show, General Show, 4-H Horse Show, and the Fulton County Fair (dog and livestock shows).
To kick off the busy summer show season is the Pet Show. This show will be held on Wednesday, June 11 at 6 p.m. at the Illinois Extension office in Lewistown. 4-H members may exhibit cats, rabbits, caged birds, hamsters, gerbils, and other small pets during this show.
A large, one-day General Show will be held on Saturday, June 21, at Cuba Junior-Senior High School, south of Cuba starting with the Clothing Show at 10 a.m. Examples of general projects judged at this event include clothing, foods, visual arts, environment, natural resources, horticulture, engineering, and much more. The 4-H members spend time talking to a judge about their exhibit such as how they made it, what they learned, and goals for the future.
The official 4-H Horse & Pony Show will be held on Saturday, July 12, at 9 a.m. at the Fulton County Fairgrounds Horse arena in Lewistown.
Dog care and dog obedience projects are judged beginning at 9 a.m. on Monday, July 21, at the fairgrounds in Lewistown. 4-H livestock shows are held in conjunction with the Fulton County Fair livestock shows, on July 22, 23, and 24. While they are held at the same location, the 4-H judging is a separate rating system.
The public is invited to visit these 4-H shows and see the wonderful work our Fulton County 4-H members have done. If you are a person who needs a reasonable accommodation to attend any of these events, contact the Extension office at 309-547-3711.
University of Illinois Extension develops educational programs, extends knowledge, and builds partnerships to support people, communities, and their environments as part of the state's land-grant institution. Extension serves as the leading public outreach effort for University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and the College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences in all 102 Illinois counties through a network of 27 multi-county units and over 700 staff statewide. Extension’s mission is responsive to eight strategic priorities — community, economy, environment, food and agriculture, health, partnerships, technology and discovery, and workforce excellence — that are served through six program areas — 4-H youth development, agriculture and agribusiness, community and economic development, family and consumer science, integrated health disparities, and natural resources, environment, and energy.