4-H and FFA Achievement Show kicks off this week

By Bob Fenske, editor@nhtrib.com

Val Horner’s wishes for the Chickasaw County 4-H and FFA Achievement Show are simple: The Chickasaw County ISU Extension director wants the county to support its young people, and would like cooler days and dry weather.

“I know I’m asking for a lot on the last two,” Horner said with a laugh, “especially with the way the last week has been. But on the first one, I really hope people come out and support these 4-H and FFA kids. They put so much work in their projects and animals, they deserve that.”

Animal and livestock shows kick off on Wednesday and will be held through the weekend, and the Ag Olympics will return on Saturday and be held from noon to 3 p.m.

New to the Achievement Show this year is the “Conservation Station” that will be on the Big Four Fairgrounds from noon to 4 p.m. Saturday.

This will mark the first Achievement Show in which the Chickasaw County Fair queen will not be crowned. Instead, Isabel Pool, who was named the 2019 queen last summer, will represent Chickasaw County at the Iowa State Fair in August.

A new queen will be crowned at the Big Four Fair over the Labor Day weekend and her reign will run through the 2020 State Fair.

“The Big Four Fair has always sponsored the queen, and it just seems right that they have her crowned at their fair,” Horner said. “And really, it’s a more ‘natural’ reign in that instead of going to the State Fair right away, they can end their time at the State Fair.”

The Sunday cookout and awards program remains on the schedule. The Chickasaw County Cattlemen’s Association will provide the meal from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. and the awards program, which will include the introduction of the queen candidates, will start at 6 p.m.
The fair will wrap up Monday morning with a pancake breakfast and the livestock auctions.

“We have a lot of things going on during the week,” Horner said. “We’ll have water games, bean bags, horseshoes, sidewalk chalk, a bouncy house … seriously, what I’d tell people is come out, support the kids and we’ll provide some fun for you.”

4-H and FFA Achievement Show schedule highlights:

Wednesday: Dog Show, 8 a.m.; Pet Show, 1 p.m.; Exhibitor Dinner, 5 to 7 p.m.

Thursday: Horse Show, 8 a.m.; “water fun,” 3 to 4 p.m.; Having S’More Fun with 4-H; 3 p.m.; Rabbit Show, 5 p.m.

Friday: Beef Show, 8 a.m.; Bottle Bucket Calf Show,, noon; Carcass scan presentation, 1 p.m. (time approximate); “water fun,” 3 to 4 p.m.; Having S’More Fun with 4-H, 3 to 4 p.m.; Poultry Show (followed by the rooster crowing contest); Horse Games, 7 p.m.

Saturday: Swine Show, 8 a.m.; Fun at the Fair (for K-3 grades), 9 a.m. to noon; bouncy house, face painting and games, noon to 4 p.m.; Ag Olympics, noon to 3 p.m.; Conservation Station trailer tours, noon to 4 p.m.; Meat Goat and Sheep Show, 3 p.m.; Figure 8 Races, 7 p.m.

Sunday: Dairy Show, 11 a.m.; bouncy house, face painting and games, noon to 4 p.m.; Little Clovers Costume Contest, 2:30 p.m.; State Fair photos and County Council pictures, 3:30 p.m.; working exhibits, educational presentations and Share the Fun, 4:30 to 6:30 p.m.; 4-H and FFA Family Barbecue, 4:30 to 6:30 p.m.; Achievement Show Program, 6 p.m.

Monday: Pancake Breakfast, 7:30 to 9 a.m.; Livestock Auction, 9 a.m.