Success StoryCommunity Collaboration Makes a Successful County Fair



Community Collaboration Makes a Successful County Fair

Author: Verlene Congleton

Planning Unit: Jackson County CES

Major Program: Community Engagement

Plan of Work: Leadership and Community Development

Outcome: Intermediate Outcome

The Cooperative Extension Service has been instrumental in the planning of the local county fair and in collaboration with other civic groups and community leaders for the past 20 plus years.  Throughout the years changes have occurred that have led to a decline in the popularity of the county fair within the community. The Cooperative Extension has had an active voice throughout the year in planning and preparation on the local Fair Board. The Cooperative Extension Service takes charge of the Community and 4-H Exhibits.  This is a week long process that takes many volunteers working long hours who help set up, judge and take down exhibits during the week.  This year their were near 300 youth 4-H exhibits entered and close to 100 adult exhibits.  In years past, teachers would bring their classrooms up to view the exhibits as a field trip but due to the high expense of transportation, classrooms had not been to view the exhibits in about 7 years.  This year in collaboration with the local Job workforce office transportation was made possible for two classrooms to come visit the exhibits while the Cooperative Extension Service led the youth on an educational tour.  A total of 60 youth were able to learn all about their local county fair and 4-H exhibits in hopes that these youth will also consider entering their projects in the next county fair.






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