The 2019 Kentucky Extension Community Assessment report for Mercer County showed top priorities for ‘increased support for small business’ and ‘more market opportunities for farmers.’  The Mercer County Cooperative Extension Service partnered with the Mercer County Fair Board, Arts Council of Mercer County, and Extension Leaders (including Homemakers, Master Gardeners, Cultural Arts Groups, and Farmers Market Vendors) to develop a successful 2019 County Fair Floral Hall event.  Throughout the year, these groups utilize the Extension facility and attracting new clients and volunteers.  There are various opportunities for citizens to learn and practice leadership skills, however the best example of this holistic impact in Mercer County is the County Fair Floral Hall Experience which targets over 20 Extension trained volunteers, with an average of 2-4 new volunteers each year.  Since 2006, the Extension Agent for Family & Consumer Sciences [FCS] has implemented regular and incremental changes to improve the processes and thereby improving the experiences of both exhibitors and volunteers.  Such changes include delineating appropriate volunteer positions and implementing a volunteer orientation which over 20 volunteers attend prior to the Floral Hall check-in day; this training explains the organization of the event, as well as provides leadership and customer service information empowering volunteers.  The Mercer County Fair Floral Hall Experience regularly utilizes 20-30 volunteers from ages 8 to 88.  In 2019, there were 120 exhibitors and 768 exhibits totaling $2200.00 in premiums monies given out and 695 exhibit visitors over the week-long event.

The FCS Agent coordinates and communicates each and every aspect of this event including ensuring background checks and volunteers forms to comply with client protection guidelines.  The County Fair Floral Hall Experience attracts exhibitors and visitors from 4 or more counties who utilize local businesses.  The FCS agent worked with three individuals to utilize the Kentucky Department of Agriculture (KDA) State Fair Drop-Off Program, a partnership with the Kentucky State Fair and Kentucky Cooperative Extension Service.  This program allowed residents to exhibit at the State Fair by dropping off entries at five extension office locations across the Commonwealth.  Each of the three individuals won ribbons at the State Fair – one 1st place, two 2nd place, one 3rd place, and one 4th place, for a total of five ribbons.

Considering the Novel Corona virus circumstances, Mercer County Cooperative Extension Agents and staff continued the collaborations with Mercer County Fair & Horse Show Board and Mercer County FFA to develop plans to continue with its long standing, rich tradition of the county fair.  Extension Agents worked diligently with the Mercer County Health Department and Mercer County Judge Executive to develop a plan approved to hold Open Class and 4-H Floral Hall events, as well as Livestock Shows (Beef, Dairy, Goat, Poultry, Rabbit, Sheep and Swine).  One of the key pieces of this plan required pre-registration of all entries (livestock and floral hall) in order to anticipate capacity and gather information for contact tracing.  To accomplish this effort, FCS Agent took the lead in consulting with an online entry company to move all entries online.  The agents and staff worked diligently in June 2020 to get the system set up and information sent out to fair exhibitors for July 1, 2020.  This system will contribute to more efficient use of agent and staff time before, during and after county fair by simplify entry and reporting aspects.