On Sunday, Aug. 11, 2013, 2,490 exhibitors (down 11 from 2012) entered 14,937 exhibits (up 292 from 2012) to showcase throughout the week. Berrien County’s youth (ages 5 to 20) brought livestock, dogs, cats, pocket pets, crafts, horticulture flowers and home economics exhibits to fill over 20 barns with exhibits for fair goers to view.

Monday was the only day with rain to settle the dust – Tuesday through Saturday were just about perfect “fair days” *cool nights with sunshiny days). Thanks to Mother Nature, attendance was up by 5,030 over 2012, totaling 124,773.

Thanks to all the fair visitors that attended – we hope you enjoyed your exhibits, commercial exhibits, free attractions, grandstand shows and fair food. Your suggestions are always welcome – even consider joining one of our over 70 committees and become a BCYF volunteer.

As always, our volunteers and staff make the BCYF run smoothly. Board members, superintendents, assistant superintendents, exhibit area committee members ad 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 execute to make our one week during August a huge success.

As we now look toward 2014, our committees will gather to recap 2013 and begin the planning process. We hope to see you all back Aug. 11-16, 2014 for the 69th Berrien County Youth Fair.

— Karen M. Klug, BCYF Secretary