By Sadie Hunter
The Hamilton County 4-H Fair is returning this week July 21 to 25 for its 78th year in Noblesville.
The first fair was in 1938, and 4-Hers in grades three through 12 from across the county will descend on the fairgrounds at 2003 Pleasant St. with livestock and various other projects they’ve completed throughout the year.
Kathleen Bohde, 4-H Youth Extension Educator, said approximately 1,900 kids will participate in this year’s fair, and a significantly higher number will come out from the community to join in on the fun.
“Estimated attendance is 10,000 to 15,000 due to weather over the course of the five days,” Bohde said. “(The) Hamilton County 4-H Fair is free … (and) is a way to showcase the talent of our 4-H members and life skills they have learned through a 4-H project. Each day has something different to offer. The fair is a free, fun, safe, family-friendly environment.”
WHAT’S NEW AND FEATURED
“Hamilton County 4-H partners with many community organizations to put on educational exhibits during the fair,” Bohde said. “Co-Alliance is sponsoring a Farm Safety simulation all day July 24.”
Other new safety and educational exhibits include a free Car Seat Clinic that will be from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. July 22 near the Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office tent and the Noblesville Fire Safety House from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. July 25.
To celebrate the state’s bicentennial, the fairgrounds also will participate in Bison-tennial, an art project by the Indiana Association of United Ways that features a 5-foot decorated, fiberglass bison.
On July 21, the first day of the fair, Hamilton County 4-H Robotics will have a demonstration from 10 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. “The robotics youth are very excited to show off their robots they have been working on throughout the year,” Bohde said.
CLASSIC EVENTS
At 6 p.m. July 24, the fair’s annual Pet Parade, an event to showcase kids’ (ages 2 to 8) favorite animals and their pets, will return.
“Pet Parade is open to the public to participate,” Bohde said. “Pets can be all kinds of different animals such as dogs, Guinea pigs and rabbits.”
Many other popular events will grace the week-long fair as well, including tractor pulls and driving, the Indiana Pacers Fan Van, dance recitals and performances from local musicians.
“Each day is jam packed with 4-H judging contests, hand-on activities and entertainment,” Bohde said. “Some (other) popular events are 4-H Clogging, Fashion Revue and the Homemade Ice Cream Making Contest.”
FOOD
“Each of the fair-food vendors are non-for-profit organizations here in Hamilton County,” Bohde said. “Fair food goes from very healthy fruit options to traditional fair food, (like) fried elephant ears. There is something for every food palate.”
Joint Producers’ BBQ will serve food from 5 to 9 p.m. each day of the fair except for the first day, when they will serve from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Guests also will be able to enjoy the Pork, Sheep and Beef Producers’ BBQs from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. July 23-25. A rabbit and poultry BBQ will be from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. July 22.
Each day of the fair, Hamilton County Extension Homemakers will cook a daily special except the last day, July 25. Fair-goers can expect spaghetti July 21, chicken and noodles July 22 and beef and noodles July 23 and 24.
MAP LEGEND
1. 4-H Fair Office
2. Exhibition Center Hall A
3. Exhibition Center Hall B
4. Exhibition Center Hall C
5. Extension Homemakers Dining Room
6. First-Aid Tent
7. Centennial Pavilion
8. O.V. Winks Building
9. Annex Building
10. Small Animal Barn
11. Sheep Barn
12. Cattle and Goat Barn
13. Show Arena
14. Horse Arena
15. Llama Barn
16. Horse Tower
17. Master Gardener’s Garden
18. Swine Barn
19. Hamilton Co. Sheriff’s Tent
20. Commercial Tent
21. Antique Tractor Association
22. Horse Barn
23. Make-Up Arena
24. Tractor-Pull Strip
25. 4-H Commons
FAIR SCHEDULE
*Exhibit buildings open 10 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. each day
Thursday, July 21
- 9 a.m. 4-H Bucket Calf Show
- 9:30 a.m. Llama Pack Obstacle
- 10 a.m. Robotics Demonstration, 4-H Crops Judging, 4-H Poultry Show
- 10:30 a.m. 4-H Dairy Show
- 1 p.m. 4-H Pygmy Goat Show, 4-H Tractor Driving Contest
- 2 p.m. 4-H Horse & Pony English Show
- 2 to 6 p.m. Indiana Blood Center Blood Drive
- 3:30 p.m. Robotics Demonstration
- 4 p.m. Extension Homemakers’ Flower Show
- 6 p.m. 4-H Llama PR Obstacle, 4-H Rabbit Ambassador Contest, Ballerina’s Academy of Dance
- 7 p.m. 4-H Clogging Exhibition
Friday, July 22
- 8:30 a.m. 4-H Rabbit Show, 4-H Beef-Grooming Contest
- 9 a.m. 4-H Chicken BBQ
- 9:30 a.m. 4-H Aquatic Science Judging
- 10 a.m. 4-H Horse & Pony Western Show, 4-H Llama Youth Judging, Extension Homemakers’ Flower Show
- 11:30 a.m. Sheep-Fitting Contest
- 1 p.m. Adult Sheep Showmanship Class, Ballerina’s Academy of Dance
- 2 to 4 p.m. Indiana Pacers Fan Van
- 2 to 6 p.m. Indiana Blood Center Blood Drive
- 3 p.m. 4-H Dairy Goat Show
- 5 p.m. Llama Costume Contest
- 6 p.m. 4-H Beef BBQ Contest, 4-H Meat Goat Show, Leaping Llama Exhibition
- 7 p.m. 4-H Sewing Fashion Revue
- 7:30 p.m. Linda Lee Concert
- 7:45 p.m. 4-H Consumer Clothing Revue
Saturday, July 23
- 8 a.m. 4-H Swine Show, 4-H Horse & Pony Dressage
- 8:30 a.m. 4-H Public Speaking Contest, 4-H Llama Showmanship
- 11 a.m. 4-H Demonstration Contest
- 11:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. Mini 4-H projects on display
- 1 p.m. Antique Tractor Pull
- 2:30 p.m. Llama Field Obstacle
- 3 p.m. Extension Homemakers’ Food & Craft Show
- 5 p.m. 4-H Craft Show, 4-H Dog Drill Team Demonstration
- 6 p.m. 4-H Horse & Pony Contesting Show
- 6:30 p.m. Homemade Ice-Cream Contest
- 7 p.m. Cook & Bell concert, Youth Swine Exhibition
- 8:30 p.m. Cook & Bell concert
Sunday, July 24
- 9:30 a.m. 4-H Sheep Wool Judging
- 10 a.m. Worship service, 4-H Horse & Pony Hunter Show, 4-H Sheep Show
- 12 p.m. 4-H Pocket Pet Show, Mini 4-H projects on display
- 1 p.m. 4-H Lawn & Garden Tractor Contest, Walk-A-Llama
- 2 p.m. Blackberry Jam Bluegrass Band, Youth Pedal Tractor Pull
- 2:30 p.m. 4-H Parents’ Llama Show
- 4:30 p.m. Antique Tractor Parade
- 5 p.m. Food & Microwave Champion Auction
- 5:30 p.m. Westward Road concert
- 6 p.m. Pet Parade
- 7:30 p.m. Farmer Olympics
Monday, July 25
- 9 a.m. 4-H Beef Show
- 9:30 a.m. 4-H 1/16th Tractor Pull
- 10 a.m. Noblesville Fire Safety House (until 2 p.m.), 4-H Horse & Pony Versatility Show
- 11:30 a.m. Color Me Green Fun Run
- 2 p.m. Youth Talent Contest
- 3 p.m. Royal Showmanship
- 3:30 p.m. 4-H Rocket Launch
- 4:30 p.m. Youth Talent Contest
- 7 p.m. Supreme Showmanship