Delaware County 4-H Summer Fair August 12-13

FREE FAMILY FUN AT DELAWARE COUNTY 4-H SUMMER FAIR

August 12 - 1 to 8:00 p.m.

August 13 - 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

The annual country 4-H fair draws area families to the 4-H Farm for a series of activities, contests, displays, pony and hay rides, and animal showing.  Located at 395 Bishop Hollow Road in Newtown Square, the fair also serves as a showcase for 4-H youth to present their completed projects from the past year.  The fair begins on Friday with a horse show at 1:00 p.m., followed by opening ceremonies at 6:00 p.m. and sheep and pig showmanship. Visit the used book sale and silent auction, beginning at 6:00 p.m.  Both activities benefit the Delaware County 4-H Program.  The used book sale offers a variety of children's and adult books, while the silent auction offers a variety of goods and services from local stores and businesses to those interested in bidding.  

Saturday's schedule begins at 9:00 a.m. with livestock showing, silent auction, various contests, a small country store, a used book sale, and a live auction which begins at 2 p.m.  Visitors are encouraged to tour the centuries-old barn and meet the resident horses, sheep, pigs, chickens, and cows.  New this year:  Mom’s Bake at Home Pizza will offer freshly baked pizza, sodas and bottled water at family-friendly prices.  Try the breakfast pizza on Saturday morning!  Always a crowd pleaser, delicious ice cream and milkshakes will be available as well. 

 Additional snacks such as soft pretzels, sno-cones, fruit cups and baked goods will also be for sale.   There’s even something for the dogs in your life:  the 4-H Dog Club will sell home-baked dog biscuits.  All proceeds benefit 4-H club programs in Delaware County.

Penn State Master Gardeners will answer your gardening questions and help to solve your pest problems from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday.  Youth are invited to do a “make it and take it” craft project. There is a small fee for pony rides and hayrides, which run regularly from 10 - 2 on Saturday.  The 4-H Sewing Club will sponsor a fabric and pattern sale on Saturday from 10 a.m.-3 p.m.  You’ll find a variety of pieces and sizes.  Proceeds benefit sewing club activities. 

All are invited to participate in the various activities, including the Hula-Hoop Contest at 11 a.m. and Watermelon Seed Spitting contest at 12 noon on Saturday.  Youth classes will be divided by child (10 and under) and teen (11 -16); adults will be one class (17 and up).  For the Hula-Hoop contest you will compete to see if you can "hula hoop" for the longest time in your age category.  You may bring your own hula hoop or 4-H will have some to borrow.  You can also test your skill at spitting watermelon seeds for distance.  Winners in each class will receive ribbons.  Come try your luck!  A soda bottle rocket launch is scheduled for 1 p.m.  Bring a one or two liter soda bottle, or 4-H will supply one for you, if you’d like to participate.

At 2 p.m. market animals, hand-raised by youth members at the farm, are sold to bidders at the live auction.  Vegetable, poultry, and educational exhibits remain on display throughout the fair. The fair closes at 4:00 p.m. Saturday. 

The public can also submit items for the Open Vegetable Show.  Vegetable gardeners are encouraged to enter their produce in open competition.  Entries must be submitted on Thursday, August 11 between 3:00 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.  

(This is the event that Chester's 'I Can I Will' Community Garden headed by won Best of Show last year)

Delaware County 4-H gives suburban children unique opportunities to get hands-on experience at a working farm by raising and caring for livestock and horses.  Members end their market animal projects by offering hogs and sheep for sale at the livestock auction.  Poultry members who have been caring for laying hens and harvesting their eggs select their best bird to be judged.  Experienced members of the horsemanship program, which introduces proper horse care and riding to 4-H youth, demonstrate their horse handling and riding ability at the horse show.

Details about the fair, including contest requirements and awards, are available on line at http://extension.psu.edu/delaware/events/files/summer-fair-information.  

For additional questions, call the 4-H staff at the extension office at 610-690-2655 or on the day of event at the Farm at 610-356-6210.  4-H is the youth component of Penn State Extension, Delaware County.  For more information about the Fair, stop in the Extension Office or call us.  You can also check us out on the web at http://extension.psu.edu/delaware.