By Staff
BERRIEN SPRINGS – Your family has enjoyed attending the Berrien County Youth Fair over the years, and now your children are interested in being an exhibitor. So where do you start?
All of your questions can be answered on Thursday, May 8 as the Berrien County Youth Fair offers a First Time Youth Exhibitor's open house.
Fair secretary and entry office chairperson, Karen Klug, said "we don't want anyone to feel intimidated or overwhelmed about entering an exhibit at the fair, so we're offering this open house to walk kids and their parents through the process."
The open house is a free event, held at the Berrien County Youth Fair in the Youth Memorial building on May 8 beginning at 6:30 p.m.
A short orientation kicks off the program with information on where to get exhibitor handbooks and entry forms, their deadlines, and how to fill out entry forms and entry tags.
Fair Manager, Chris Carlin, said that "each species is different, and superintendents for each animal building will be on hand to answer specific questions."
Participants will also learn about additional documentation entry requirements that may be necessary, such as registration papers, identification numbers, and health regulations.
Fair Entry Coordinator, Gail Holmes, said that community members are "wanting to know how and where to purchase animals, and whether you need to be in a 4-H club to exhibit (you don't!), and this open house will be able to answer those questions and hopefully get even more kids involved."
Some benefits of being an exhibitor include receiving a free week-long pass to the fair, possibly winning ribbons and prize money and creating lifelong memories and a sense of pride.
The open house will focus not only on animal exhibits, but will also have information regarding still exhibits in floral, horticulture, home economics, and crafts.
Entry day procedures will be explained, and future exhibit clinics for many divisions will be announced at the open house.
If you would like to attend the open house, please RSVP by phone at (269) 473-4251 or by e-mail at bcyf@bcyf.org.
Important registration deadlines to know include: June 1 large animals; July 1 small animals; Aug. 1 still exhibits.
Exhibitor handbooks and entry forms are available now at all public libraries in Berrien County and at the fair office.
Youth age 5-20 can exhibit stills, and youth 6-20 can exhibit animals. For more information, see www.bcyf.org or contact the fair office at 269-473-4251.
The 63rd annual Berrien County Youth Fair is Aug. 11-16 with this year's theme "The Experience of A Lifetime."
First Time Exhibitor's Open House: Thursday, May 8 at 6:30 p.m. at the Berrien County Youth Fair's Youth Memorial building.