HAPPY NEW YEAR! Can you smell that? It smells like pigs, cows, barbecue, cake, walking tacos, and hay! Where can you catch the scent of all of this in one place? The Polk County Youth Fair! It’s the time of year that every local FFA and 4-H member has been waiting for!
Starting on Friday, January 23, at 6 p.m. will be the market hog weigh-in, but beginning on Saturday this weeklong county fair will have events happening every day! There is something for everyone to do! Whether you are coming to buy a market hog or a steer; walk around the W.H. Stuart Conference Center in Bartow to check out the different exhibits that range from cakes, jams, photography, home decor, table-setting, storytelling, and more; or if you’re coming to see the whip popping contest, the attractions going on during the fair are endless!
For anyone traveling through Bartow during the week of January 24-30, make sure you take the time to stop in and experience the fair for yourself! Trust me, it’s something you don’t want to miss!
Check out some of the events listed below and plan a day to come! Please note: Some of these times will be pushed back due to ongoing events.
CREDIT
column by ABBY CRAWFORD
ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Abby is the president of the Haines City High School FFA chapter as well as the voice behind 97 Country’s segment, “Ag Time with Abby,” which airs the first Friday of every month during the “Breakfast Club with Roger and Melissa.” Abby is also the 2014 Polk County Farm Bureau Youth Speech Contest Winner. For questions, FFA news, or FFA story ideas, email Abby at abbigailreis@gmail.com.
POLK COUNTY YOUTH FAIR SCHEDULE
SUNDAY, JANUARY 25, 2015
10:00 am (first half begins) – Market Hog Show
1:00 pm – 2:30 pm – Intermission of Market Hog Show
2:30 pm (second half begins) – Market Hog Show
12:00 pm – 2:00 pm – Stuart Center Exhibits open to public
MONDAY, JANUARY 26, 2015
8:30 am – 4:00 pm – Archery Competition
9:00 am – 3:30 pm – Table setting & Menu Planning Contest
10:00 am – Market Hog Showmanship Contest
1:00 pm – 4:00 pm – Goat Tying Skills Contest
3:00 pm – Rabbit Showmanship (Rabbit Barn)
5:00 pm – 7:00 pm – Working Booths, Scrap Off Contest & Mannequin Modeling
6:00 pm – Whip-Popping Contest
TUESDAY, JANUARY 27, 2015
9:00 am – Market Hog Sale
9:30 am – 12:00 pm – Sew Off Contest- Individuals
10:00 am – Cake Auction – first five of ten cakes
12:00 pm – Cake Auction – last five of ten cakes
12:30 pm – 2:30 pm – Sew Off Contest – Teams
3:30 pm – 5:30 pm – Storytelling Contest
4:00 pm – Commercial Heifer Show/Showmanship
WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 28, 2015
8:30 am – 12:00 pm – Stuart Center open to Public
9:00 am – 10:00 am – Decorative Food Centerpiece Contest
1:00 pm – 3:00 pm – Stuart Center closed to public
1:00 pm – 5:00 pm – Chili Cook Off Contest
2:30 pm – Poultry Showmanship (Hayman Arena)
3:00 pm – 7:00 pm – Stuart Center open to Public
5:00 pm – Dog Showmanship Class
7:00 pm – Breeding Goat Show
THURSDAY, JANUARY 29, 2015
8:00 am – Dog Show
9:00 am – Demonstrations
9:00 am – noon – Poultry & Egg Judging Contests, Rabbit Skillathon
10:00 am – 4:00 pm – Purebred Beef Show/Showmanship
1:00 pm – Illustrated Talks
5:00 pm – 7:00 pm – Mannequin Modeling, Working Booths
6:00 pm – Market Steer Show/Showmanship (Open and Commercial)
FRIDAY, JANUARY 30, 2015
9:00 am – 9:45 am – Horticulture Judging Contest
10:00 am – noon – Working Booths, Mannequin Modeling, livestock Judging Contest
12:00 pm – Judging Contest Awards Presentation
12:30 pm – Horticulture Awards Presentation for Exhibitors
1:00 pm – 3:00 pm – Blueberry, Citrus, Peach & Ornamental Plant Sale
3:30 pm – 4:30 pm – Tri-Color Presentation
5:00 pm – Parade of Champions
5:30 pm – Commercial Heifer Sale
6:30 pm – Market Steer Sale
