“Blue Ribbon Bash – Celebrating 70 years” was the theme for the 2015 Berrien County Youth Fair! And celebrate we did – 125,013 fair visitors came through the gates to view the 11,929 youth exhibits showcased by 2,064 Berrien County youth ages 5-20.

Thanks to all the fair visitors who attended to enjoy the youth exhibits, commercial exhibits, grandstand show, carnival rides and “fair food”. We hope fair visitors did not miss the Wonders of Birth barn (four baby goats and nine guinea pigs were born), agricultural exhibits in the Ag Expo Building, entertainment in the USA Building and on the Al Barbott Memorial Mall Stage, Craig Tornquist entertained daily outside the Ag Expo/USA Building, the Civil War Roundtable of SW Michigan featured in the Historical Building and the Tractor/Truck pulls, Bullmania, Circus Continental, Eric Paslay with special guest Paul Erdman and Vince Gill with special guest Seth Cook in the grandstand.

Although we missed all the exhibits in the Poultry Barn in 2015 due to Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development statewide ban on showing of poultry, we look forward to filling the barn in 2016 with chickens, turkeys, ducks, geese, pigeons and other fowl.

The small and large animal livestock auctions were held on Thursday and Friday totaling $497,635 — thanks to all the buyers who supported the exhibitors. A special thanks to Matthew Koebel who donated the proceeds from the Grand Champion Gallon of Milk to the Expo Arena project ($10,650).

As always, our volunteers and staff make the BCYF run smoothly. Board members, superintendents, assistant superintendents, exhibit area committee members and volunteers take vacation or rearrange their schedules to cover the many activities that showcase the Youth of Berrien County. Throughout the year, over 1,000 volunteers from all communities in Berrien County plan and then execute to make our one week during August a huge success.

Mark your calendar for the 2016 Berrien County Youth Fair — Aug. 15-20 — and plan to “Kick Up Your Heels.”

 

Karen M. Klug

BCYF Secretary and

Executive Director