Your special family recipe, homegrown vegetables or creative project could earn you a blue ribbon at this year’s Mercer County 4-H Fair, planned for July 28 and 29 at Howell Living History Farm in Hopewell Township.
There are many “Open Division” categories for public entries — you do not need to be a 4-H member to exhibit. Any class listed, including arts and crafts, photography, foods, gardening, clothing, woodworking and more, may be entered under the Open Division.
This year Mercer County 4-H is marking 100 years of annual 4-H fairs. On Saturday, July 28, 4-H will celebrate the centennial with special music and cake as well as an old-fashioned country dance, complete with a caller and live music.
Please visit http://mercer.njaes.rutgers.edu/4h/fair, where you will find the fair exhibitor catalog and a complete schedule. Projects will be received from the general public for entry in the fair on Thursday, July 26, from 3 to 8pm at Howell Farm. The fair will run from 10am to 8pm Saturday, July 28, and 10am to 4pm Sunday, July 29. Admission and parking are free. Children’s activities, hay rides, animal shows, music, farm tours and exhibits will take place throughout the fair. Plenty of food and drink, including homemade ice cream, will be available. The opening ceremony will take place at 1pm July 28 in the Show Tent.
4-H, a youth development program operated by Rutgers Cooperative Extension, provides research-based, hands-on learning experiences for youth in Mercer County. The fair is an opportunity for 4-H members to showcase projects they have worked on throughout the year.
For more information about 4-H or entering projects in the fair, please contact Altaira Bejgrowicz at the Mercer County 4-H Office at (609) 989-6830 or [email protected].
Howell Farm is owned by the County of Mercer and maintained by the Mercer County Park Commission. It is located on Valley Road, just off Route 29, in Hopewell Township. The GPS address is 70 Woodens Lane, Hopewell Township, NJ 08530. Regular hours are 10am to 4pm Tuesday through Saturday and noon to 4pm Sundays.
