4-H’ers Readying for County Fair to Open
Faith Hittle (left) was crowned 2022 Hamilton County 4-H Fair Queen on Friday night at the Hamilton County 4-H Fairgrounds in Noblesville, with 2021 Hamilton County 4-H Fair Queen McKinley Underhill (right) crowning her. The daughter of Joshua and Billie Hittle, Faith Hittle reign over the Hamilton County 4-H Fair, which runs Thursday through Monday at the 4-H Fairgrounds in Noblesville. Read more about the new 4-H Fair Queen and her court in Wednesday’s edition of The Times.
The Hamilton County 4-H Fairgrounds in Noblesville is bustling with activities this week as the Hamilton County 4-H Fair opens on Thursday.
4-H’ers began descending upon the Fairgrounds Sunday, bringing in their 4-H projects that will be judged this week and will remain on exhibit through the Fair, which runs through Monday.
I caught up with a couple of 4-H’ers who were turning in their 4-H projects.
Briley Sanford, 9, Cicero, a Hamilton Heights Elementary School third-grader, was checking in her Archery project on Sunday afternoon.
What’s she like most about 4-H? “I like to learn things, like how to shoot a bow, and I like the fair. It’s fun.”
Her favorite 4-H project? “Horses,” said the first-year 4-H’er, who will be showing her horse, Lucky, during the Hamilton County 4-H Fair’s Horse & Pony Show this week. She’s a member of Heartland 4-H’ers and the Giddy-Up Gang and took Mini 4-H before 4-H. She is showing Horses, Foods and Archery projects this year.
Favorite fair food? “Barbecue pork.” Favorite activity at the 4-H Fair? She enjoyed participating in the pig competition for non 4-H’ers at last year’s fair. How’d she do? “Pretty good.” She is the daughter of Jason and Amy Sanford and has a brother, Blake, 20, a 10-year 4-H’er.
McKinley Stalbaum is ready to go into the fifth grade at Westfield Intermediate School and is the daughter of Darrell and Melissa Stalbaum.
McKinley Stalbaum is ready to go into the fifth grade at Westfield Intermediate School. Her dog is named Mini, a miniature Aussiedoodle. She’s a member of Shamrock Shakers. She is the daughter of Darrell and Melissa Stalbaum. She has two brothers, Braxton, 12, and Levi, 8, who are both in 4-H programs, including Levi, in Mini 4-H. She’s taking nine projects at the 4-H Fair. Favorite project? “Dogs.” She competed in Agility yesterday and then showed showmanship.She’s also taking Arts & Crafts, Sewing, Consumer Clothing, Lawn and Garden, Dogs, Pigs, Goats and Poultry. Favorite fair food? “Grilled cheese.” Favorite activity at the fair? “I like to show my pig and also Mini (the dog). During the 4-H Fair, she sees a lot of friends there. She plans to sell her pig this year at the fair’s live auction just as she did last year. Last year’s pig sold for about $300, which she saves for the next year’s animal care. The meat will be donated to Hamilton County Food Bank.
This year’s pre-fair activities include: open judging for 4-H Photography, 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.; open judging for 4-H Arts & Crafts and Models and Woodworking (levels 1 and 2), at 8:30 a.m.; open judging for Woodworking (levels 3 and 4), 1 p.m.
Briley Sanford, 9, Cicero, a Hamilton Heights Elementary School third-grader, checks in for her Archery project on Sunday afternoon.
On Wednesday, there will be open judging of 4-H Food Preparation (levels A and B), 9 a.m.; and level C and D, 12:30 p.m.; Food Preservation and Microwave, Grades 3-6, 9 a.m.; open judging of Food Preparation and Microwave, Grades 7-12, 11 a.m.; open judging of 4-H Floriculture and Strawberry projects, 9:30 a.m.; open judging of 4-H Garden, 10:30 a.m.; and open judging of Cake Decorating, 9 a.m. and 10:30 a.m.
Here’s what’s happening at the 4-H Fair:
On Thursday, the food is Grilled Cheese Sandwiches, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., with a Joint Producers’ Barbecue 11 a.m. to 9 p.m., and Extension Homemakers serving up meals in the Exhibition Center, with spaghetti the day’s special. (A special is usually offered each day of the Fair.) The day’s activities include: 4-H Bucket Calf Show, 9 a.m.; 4-H Senior Llama Showmanship, 9:30 a.m.; 4-H Crops Judging, 10 a.m.; 4-H Horse & Pony English Show, 10 a.m.; 4-H Poultry Show, 10 a.m.; 4-H Robotics activities, 10 a.m.; 4-H Dairy Show, 10:30 a.m.; 4-H Tractor Driving Contest, 1 p.m.; 4-H Pygmy Goat Show, 1 p.m.; 4-H LLama pack Obstacle, 1:30 p.m.; Indiana Blood Center Blood Drive, 3-7 p.m.; Extension Homemakers Flower Show, 4:30 p.m.; Purdue Extension Celebrates!, 6 p.m.; 4-H Rabbit Ambassador Contest, 6 p.m.; Do-Si-Squares Exhibition, 6:30 p.m.; 4-H Clogging Exhibition, 7 p.m. The 4-H Fair sponsor for the day is VIP Animal Care in Noblesville.
Hamilton County 4-H Photography Project Leader Kelly Michaels (right) on Sunday checks in 4-H’ers’ Photography projects in preparation for open judging on Tuesday and kickoff of the 4-H Fair on Thursday.
On Friday, the food fare will offer a Rabbit and Poultry Barbecue, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Joint Producers’ Barbecue, 5-9 p.m.; Extension Homemakers’ special chicken and noodles.The day’s activities include: 4-H Rabbit Show, 8:30 a.m.; 4-H Beef Grooming Contest, 8:30 a.m.; 4-H Chicken Barbecue, 9 a.m.; 4-H Intermediate Llama Showmanship, 9:30 a.m.; 4-H Horse & Pony Western Show, 10 a.m.; Sheep Fitting Contest, 11:30 a.m.; Silly Safari Animal Show, 1 p.m.; 4-H Llama PR Obstacle Class, 1:30 p.m.; Indiana Blood Center Blood Drive, 3-7 p.m.; 4-H Dairy Goat Show, 3 p.m.; Llama Costume Contest, 5 p.m.; 4-H Meat Goat Show, 6 p.m.; 4-H Beef Barbecue Contest, 6 p.m.; Leaping Llama Exhibition, 6 p.m.; 4-H Sewing & Consumer Clothing Revue, 7 p.m.; Walk-A-Llama (open to public), 7:30 p.m.; Blue River Band, 8 p.m. The 4-H Fair sponsor for the day is The Farmers Bank.
On Saturday, food will be Pork Producers’ Barbecue, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Joint Producers’ Barbecue, 5-9 p.m.; and Extension Homemakers’ special is meatloaf. The day’s activities include: 4-H Swine Show, 8 a.m.; 4-H Horse & Pony Dressage, 8 a.m.; 4-H Public Speaking Contest, 8:30 a.m.; Master Gardener Fair Fun, 9 a.m.; 4-H Llama Junior Showmanship, 9:30 a.m.; 4-H Demonstration Contest, 11 a.m.; Birds of Prey Animal Show, 12:30 p.m.; Antique Tractor Pull, 1 p.m.; 4-H Llama Field Obstacle, 1:30 p.m.; Extension Homemakers’ Food & Craft Show, 3 p.m.; 4-H Cat Show, 5 p.m.; 4-H Dog Drill Team Demonstration, 5 p.m.; 4-H Horse & Pony Contesting Show, 6 p.m.; Homemade Ice Cream Contest, 6:30 p.m.; Youth Swine Exhibition, 7 p.m.; and DJ Charlie Van Wieringen, 7 p.m. The 4-H Fair sponsor for the day is Good Samaritan Network of Hamilton County.
On Sunday, food featured will be Sheep Producers’ Barbecue, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Joint Producers’ Barbecue, 5-9 p.m.; Extension Homemakers’ special, beef and noodles. The day’s activities include: 4-H Sheep Wool Judging, 9:30 a.m.; Worship Service at 10 a.m.; 4-H Horse & Pony Hunter Show, 10 a.m.; 4-H Sheep Show, 10 a.m.; 4-H Pocket Pet Show, noon; Caravan Classes Kids’ Crafts, noon to 4 p.m.; 4-H Lawn & Garden Tractor Contest, 1 p.m.; Walk-A-Llama (open to public), 1 p.m.; Stones Crossing Live Music, 2 p.m.; Youth Pedal Tractor Pull, 2 p.m.; 4-H Parents’ Llama Show, 2:30 p.m.; Youth Sheep Exhibition, 4:30 p.m.; Antique Tractor Parade, 5 p.m.; Food & Microwave Auction, 5 p.m.; Pet Parade, 6 p.m.; Farmer Olympics, 7:30 p.m. The 4-H Fair sponsor for the day is Dani Robinson Homes.
On Monday, there will be a Beef Producers’ Barbecue, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Joint Producers’ Barbecue, 5 to 9 p.m.; Extension Homemakers’ Kitchen, 8 to 11 a.m. The day’s activities include: 4-H Beef Show, 9 a.m.; 4-H 1/16th Tractor Pull, 9:30 a.m.; 4-H Horse & Pony Versatility Show, 10 a.m.; 4-H Llama Youth Judging, 10 a.m.; Color Me Green Fun Run, 11:30 a.m.; 4-H Rocket Launch, 1 p.m.; Youth Talent Contest, 2 p.m. and 3:30 p.m.; Royal Showmanship, 3 p.m.; and Supreme Showmanship 7 p.m. The 4-H Fair sponsor for the day is Peterman Brothers.
Exhibits and displays are open 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Thursday-Monday. The Fairgrounds are open 5 a.m. to midnight.
Contact Betsy Reason at betsy@thetimes24-7.com