b'FEATURE |y o u t h Its Showtime! Polk County Youth Fair toBe Bigger Than Ever This Yearby SHAYLYNN MARKSphotos by TOM HAGERTY (2025)T Polk County BOCC, Risk Management and the THE POLK COUNTY YOUTH FAIR is one of the most anticipated events of the year forExtension office to address those issues and find youth involved in agriculture across the county, bringing together students, families andsolutions until the new facility is completed. volunteers for a week focused on community. SERVING YOUTH AGES 818In its 79th year, the fair centers on youth live- Southeast, typically featuring more than 400 pigs.Thefairservesyouthages8to18through stock shows, plant exhibits and leadership devel- The fair runs from Jan. 23 through Jan. 31,programs such as 4-H, FFA, FCCLA and YLPA. opment opportunities tied to agricultural educa- beginning with hog weigh-ins and a horse show.Organizers say accommodating a wide range of tion programs. Events include market hog shows,Fowler noted one schedule change this year in- experience levels is central to the fairs structure.cattle and poultry exhibitions, horse shows, plantvolves the plant sale, which has moved from Fri- Weofferage-appropriateclassesanddivi-and horticulture displays and a range of domesticday to Saturday. sions, Fones says. It allows all ages from begin-skills competitions such as baking and other pro- PLANNING FOR A GROWING FAIR ners to seasoned exhibitors to learn and grow and ject-based entries. Beyond the events themselves, fair organizershopefully have a positive experience.ScottFowler,whohasservedonthefairsemphasize the preparation that takes place longJustin Sharpless, a board member of the Polk board for about 20 years and has been presidentbefore opening day. County Youth Fair, says involvement in youth ag-for the past four years, says the fair continues toThere isnt a day that we are not planningriculture programs can have a lasting impact.grow each year. someaspectoftheyouthfair,saysTashaY.Every kid needs to find their niche in life, We average about 1,400 kids that participate,Fones, Polk County Youth Fair project manager. he says. This is an area where some kids really he says. Fones says committee members and directorsthrive."According to Fowler, the Polk County Youthdocument what works and where improvementsLESSONS BEYOND COMPETITIONFair is one of the largest market hog shows in theare needed during each fair as part of the plan- As a former FFA adviser and also a former ning process. 4-H club leader, I would say that, first off, this is a As soon as the fair ends, we begin officiallyfamily project, Sharpless says. This should be all planning for the next year immediately, she says. hands on deck.Oneofthebiggestlogisticalchallenges,ac- Sharplessexplainshowthefairemphasizes cording to Fones, is balancing growth with lim- skills students can carry beyond the show ring.ited space. They have to have record bookshaving to The fair continues to grow, but our facilitydo a cost analysis, Sharpless says. doesnt.If theyre exhibiting a project that will be sold, While plans are in place for a new multiusewhether its a plant, livestock or even a baked item, facility in Homeland, Fowler says the project ismarketing is important for them to learn, he says. still in its early stages. That means communication, sending things like Were probably three to five years out. a buyers letter, going face-to-face with business Until then, organizers work closely with Polkowners and saying, Hey, this is my project. This is Countyofficialstomanageparking,spaceandthe hard work I put into it.safety. Sharpless says those expectations mirror real- ParkingandspacearethebiggestongoingCONTINUED ON PAGE 24challenges,Fonessays.Weworkcloselywith 8 | CFAN FloridaAgNews.com'