4-H reports fair events 'incredibly successful'

By all accounts, 4-H's activities at this year's Great Northern Fair were incredibly successful, from the students presentations to the shows and the livestock sale, practically everything saw bigger crowds and made more money than last year.

Montana State University Hill County Extension Agent Kati Purkett said the livestock sale brought in just less than $215,000, up $32,000 from last year, and featured more market beef, lambs and pigs.

Purkett said all of 4-H's animal shows went well without any major logistical or technical hiccups and she said she wanted to thank the Hill County Fair Board and Great Northern Fair Grounds Manager Frank English for their work getting the word out about the shows.

"Collaboration with the county fair board and the fair manager was very good," she said.

She said there were some issues 4-H encountered at the fair, but none of them fell outside the normal issues with putting on big events.

She said 4-H is all about problem solving, and it was nothing they couldn't handle.

Purkett said attendance at the shows was higher than it was even pre-pandemic.

However, she said, the large animal shows weren't the only aspect of 4-H that impressed her.

She said the non-agriculture projects were also really impressive, so much so, that she didn't want to choose a favorite.

"The kids put their heart and soul into those projects," Purkett said, "They spend lots of hours up a the fair whether they're taking care of an animal, or taking a chuckwagon shift, keeping an eye on the exhibits, cleaning up the grounds. The kids had a great time and they were all very involved."

She said interview day showed that every single student put their full effort in and every one of them added value to the fair.

And a large number of entries were at this year's fair.

Purkett said there were four entries in level 1 bike, two in level 1 robotics, two in level 1 small engines, two in level 1 welding, 12 in level 1 woodworking, four in level 2 woodworking, two in level 3 woodworking, three in air rifle, seven in archery, four in shotgun, three in level 1 child development, one in home environment, three entires in level 3 sewing, one in beginner crochet, one in intermediate embroidery, three in beginner quilting, three in advanced quilting, one in level A gardening, three in level 1 leathercraft, three in level 2 leathercraft, 12 in level 1 photography, nine in level 2 photography, four in level 3 photography, one in videography, three in visual arts getting started in arts, one in visual arts painting and printing, 17 entries from cloverbuds, six in level 1 cake decorating, four in level 2 cake decorating, one level 3 cake decorating, four in cooking 101, six in cooking 201, 15 in baking 1, three in baking 2, seven in baking 3, three in food and nutrition independent studies, six in cat and cat showmanship, 10 in level 1 cat, two in level 3 cat, three in dog obedience, three in dog showmanship, two in dog level 1, two in dog level 2, two in western showmanship, four in ranch horse, one in horse showing, five in western equitation, five in horse showmanship, five in trail riding, nine in general horse projects, one in pocket pet and pocket pet showmanship, six in poultry, three in poultry showmanship, one in level 1 poultry, two in level 2 poultry, two in level 3 poultry, eight in rabbit breeding, seven in rabbit showmanship, 12 in rabbit level 1, two in level 2 rabbit, two in level 3 rabbit, and one in veterinary science.

Purkett said non-ag entries into 4-H are still down from previous years and she wants to get the word out for next year that 4-H is more than just the big animal shows. She said she wants people of all interests to look into working with 4-H.

"We just want people to take their personal interests that co-align with 4-H and get involved and expand on them," she said. "... They can do it all."

She said even people who are interested in large animals but don't have the space to take care of one can still do large animal projects like educational displays.

Registration for 4-H begins Oct. 1, and those interested in learning about the program can contact the Hill County Extension Office in the county courthouse.

She said the 4-H Chuckwagon also saw an increase in visitors this year, partially because the fair itself was bigger than it has been in quite a few years.

Purkett said she's not surprised more people showed up, given that so many people have spent a lot of the last year cooped up at home, but she's glad people were able experience the unique food the chuckwagon can offer.

She said their tornado potatoes did well, as did their milkshakes and, thanks to the donation of a lamb to the chuckwagon, they were also able to make lamb meatballs with tzatziki sauce.

"There's always something unique in the 4-H Chuckwagon," she said, adding, "Plus, we have air conditioning."

Overall, she said, this year's fair, her first as a Hill County Extension agent, went very well.

She said she's developed a lot of relationships with community members in her previous job and being able to interact with them as an agent has been great.

Purkett said she wanted to thank the community for their continued support, not just for 4-H but for the Great Northern Fair as a whole.