By Staff
BERRIEN SPRINGS – The deadline for registration of small animals to be exhibited at the 2009 Berrien County Youth Fair is Wednesday, July 1.
Small animals include rabbits, pocket pets, poultry, dogs and cats.
A photo of cats and dogs shown at the fair must be provided at registration with the name of the animal.
Exhibitor handbooks and entry sheets are available at the fair office, MSU Extension office in Benton Harbor and all Berrien County public libraries.
The Exhibitor Handbook is also available online at www.bcyf.org.
Registration is open to any Berrien County resident, ages 6 to 20 years of age.
A few special classes are available for 5-year-olds.
The exhibitor age is as of Jan. 1, 2009.
Entry forms may be brought to the fair office between 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. before July 1; postmarked on or before July 1; or placed in the drop box outside the fair office after office hours until midnight on July 1.
The fair office is open Tuesday, June 30, until 4 p.m.; and Wednesday, July 1, special hours from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. to accept entries, but exhibitors are encouraged to get registrations in as early as possible.
Other upcoming deadlines include the Berrien County Youth Fair king and queen contest, which is open to any high school 11th or 12th grade student of the past school year who is a current BCYF exhibitor.
The king and queen contest deadline is Wednesday, July 1.
Exhibitor families with camping units wishing to register to camp during fair week must have their registration forms in by Wednesday, July 1.
Camping information and forms are available at bcyf.org.
Finally, registration for all still exhibit areas (crafts, flowers, horticulture and home economics) is Aug. 1.
Registration for still exhibits is open to Berrien County residents ages 5 to 20.
No late entries will be accepted. Questions can be addressed by contacting the fair office at (269) 473-4251. Berrien County Youth Fair dates are Aug. 17-22 with the theme "A Blue Ribbon Celebration."