Now in Its 79th Year, Polk Youth Fair to Take Place Jan. 23-31
by SHAYLYNN MARKS
photos by TOM HAGERTY (2025)
The Polk County Youth Fair is one of the most anticipated events of the year for youth involved in agriculture across the county, bringing together students, families and volunteers for a week focused on community.
In its 79th year, the fair centers on youth livestock shows, plant exhibits and leadership development opportunities tied to agricultural education programs. Events include market hog shows, cattle and poultry exhibitions, horse shows, plant and horticulture displays and a range of domestic skills competitions such as baking and other project-based entries.
Scott Fowler, who has served on the fair’s board for about 20 years and has been president for the past four years, says the fair continues to grow each year.
“We average about 1,400 kids that participate,” he says.
According to Fowler, the Polk County Youth Fair is one of the largest market hog shows in the Southeast, typically featuring more than 400 pigs.
The fair runs from Jan. 23 through Jan. 31, beginning with hog weigh-ins and a horse show. Fowler noted one schedule change this year involves the plant sale, which has moved from Friday to Saturday.
Planning for a Growing Fair
Beyond the events themselves, fair organizers emphasize the preparation that takes place long before opening day.
“There isn’t a day that we are not planning some aspect of the youth fair,” says Tasha Y. Fones, Polk County Youth Fair project manager.
Fones says committee members and directors document what works and where improvements are needed during each fair as part of the planning process.
“As soon as the fair ends, we begin officially planning for the next year immediately,” she says.
One of the biggest logistical challenges, according to Fones, is balancing growth with limited space.
“The fair continues to grow, but our facility doesn’t.”
While plans are in place for a new multiuse facility in Homeland, Fowler says the project is still in its early stages.
“We’re probably three to five years out.”
Until then, organizers work closely with Polk County officials to manage parking, space and safety.
“Parking and space are the biggest ongoing challenges,” Fones says. “We work closely with Polk County BOCC, Risk Management and the Extension office to address those issues and find solutions until the new facility is completed.”
Serving Youth Ages 8–18
The fair serves youth ages 8 to 18 through programs such as 4-H, FFA, FCCLA and YLPA. Organizers say accommodating a wide range of experience levels is central to the fair’s structure.
“We offer age-appropriate classes and divisions,” Fones says. “It allows all ages from beginners to seasoned exhibitors to learn and grow and hopefully have a positive experience.”
Justin Sharpless, a board member of the Polk County Youth Fair, says involvement in youth agriculture programs can have a lasting impact.
“Every kid needs to find their niche in life,” he says. “This is an area where some kids really thrive.”
Lessons Beyond Competition
“As a former FFA adviser and also a former 4-H club leader, I would say that, first off, this is a family project,” Sharpless says. “This should be all hands on deck.”
Sharpless explains how the fair emphasizes skills students can carry beyond the show ring.
“They have to have record books…having to do a cost analysis,” Sharpless says.
“If they’re exhibiting a project that will be sold, whether it’s a plant, livestock or even a baked item, marketing is important for them to learn,” he says. “That means communication, sending things like a buyer’s letter, going face-to-face with business owners and saying, ‘Hey, this is my project. This is the hard work I put into it.’”
Sharpless says those expectations mirror real-world responsibilities students will encounter later in life.
Fones adds that collaboration is key to supporting students throughout the process.
“It’s definitely a team effort,” she says. “Educators and the extension office provide programs that teach structure, education and guidance, and families are going to be able to offer day-to-day support and encouragement.”
That support helps build confidence, particularly through programs like the fair’s Ambassador Program.
“They’re extremely helpful,” Fowler says. “They help us with the public, answer questions and really represent the Youth Fair well.”
The program gives students meaningful opportunities to interact with the public while supporting the fair.
“Watching those students go out into our community and be able to confidently speak in front of businesses and groups of adults is incredible,” Fones says.
Community Support and Involvement
Community members are encouraged to attend and support the fair, even if they do not have a student participating.
“The youth fair is for everyone,” Fones says. “Attending supports youth education and hands-on learning.”
Support can include attending shows in person or online, participating in auctions, volunteering or encouraging exhibitors.
“Every bit of involvement helps invest in the next generation,” Fones says.
For Fowler, the mission of the fair has remained consistent over the decades.
“What we do is work, but it’s a privilege to do it,” he says. “I want people to be able to say he served, and he didn’t do it out of obligation, but he did it from the standpoint that it was a privilege to do it.”