Everyone is encouraged to visit the Washtenaw Farm Council Grounds July 24-July 29 for the 2016 Washtenaw County 4-H Youth Show.
This free, family-friendly, public event showcases 4-H Youth Development and the interesting opportunities available to Washtenaw county youth. 4-H is a community of young people across America who are learning leadership, citizenship, and life skills through club involvement and projects such as crafts, food preparation, collections, horses, archery, or livestock.
Admission and parking for the event is free.
4-H friends and alumni are invited to come back for this event as well as to help staff the Washtenaw County 4-H Service Club’s Youth Show Food Booth anytime that week. The 4-H Service Club is made up of alumni who use funds raised during the 4-H Youth Show to support ongoing 4-H programming, and event scholarships year round.
The show kicks off on Sunday, July 24 at 10 a.m., with the youngest horse participants. Dog obedience and showmanship classes begin at 6:30 p.m. Monday, July 25, “Still” (non-animal) projects will be on display in Building A, and most livestock will be arriving throughout the day. Tuesday, July 26, all projects, including animals, will be on display.
The USDA’s Food Safety Discovery Zone truck display will be at the 4-H Youth Show Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday, July 26-28. The Food Safety Discovery Zone is an interactive exhibit that travels the country and teaches consumers about safe food handling practices by focusing on the 4-Steps of Food Safety.
A safe archery try-it station will be available Thursday afternoon, July 28. This program was funded in 2015 by a Michigan 4-H Foundation grant to purchase felt-tipped arrows and recurve bows for kids to try archery using chalk and a canvas target.
This year, the Entrepreneurship Silent Auction of youth-made craft items continues. Silent auction items are on display and open for bids July 24-28. Silent Auction proceeds go to the selling 4-H member. The entrepreneurship project prepares our future entrepreneurs for the business world by helping them develop skills in product development, marketing, finance, etc.
An interactive “Commodity Carnival” game activity will be on display several days that week. This helps youth learn about costs and risks of raising livestock for sale, and ultimately ends in a game of plinko, which determines what price they will earn at market.
The public is invited to the Activity Tent on Thursday from 9 a.m. – noon for hands-on, take-home activities for youth of all ages.
Livestock are auctioned Thursday evening, July 28 beginning with the 4-H Small Animal Silent Auction at 6 p.m. and 4-H Large Animal Livestock Auction at 6:30 p.m. under the open pavilion/Building B. All are welcome and encouraged to attend. Arrive an hour early for a free Buyers’ Dinner sponsored by the Jackson Road Meijer, as well as to learn the auction process. Staff and volunteers on-site will assist any new buyers with step-by-step details and give you all the information you need regarding how we handle the post-auction animal processing for you.
Friday is a full afternoon of unexpectedly fun classes to watch: Ag-Olympics, Animal costume contests, and 4-H archery contest.
Also on Friday, from 4-7 p.m., do not miss the BBQ Dinner sponsored by Zingerman’s Roadhouse and hosted by Washtenaw County 4-H Advisory Council for only $10 per person. Come for the food, stay for the Horse and Pony Grand Entry at 5 p.m., followed by the top show-persons from each animal species participating in Sweepstakes Showmanship at 7 p.m.
The 4-H Youth Show is held at the Washtenaw County Farm Council Grounds at 5055 Ann Arbor-Saline Road, between Ann Arbor and Saline. The show is open to the public from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Sunday, and from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday through Friday.
For additional information, contact Washtenaw County MSU Extension Office at 734-997-1678, or during the 4-H Youth Show at 734-429-3145.
