Jessica Horne, 13, of Fruitport, blows on her Holland lop rabbit during the pre-teen division of the rabbit competition at last year's Muskegon County Youth Fair. FRUITPORT – Come one, come all to this year’s Muskegon County Youth Fair.
“It’s a good day away for the family, and it’s free,” said Jenny Erffmeyer, a 4-H leader and member of the Muskegon County Fair Association. “It is one of the few fairs that you don’t have to pay to get in.”
Fair food, crafts, livestock, baked goods, horse events, commercial exhibitors and more will all be present next week for the 84th Annual Muskegon County Youth Fair at the Muskegon County Fairgrounds in Fruitport.
“I think the fair is a good family event,” Erffmeyer said. “It’s nice fairgrounds that are shaded and on even ground. Everything is within close proximity.”
New this year is a 5K-trail run/walk to raise money for fairground improvements. It’s for all ages and begins at 8 a.m. Saturday. The cost to enter is $25 in advance or $30 the day of the race. Participants should register online. Part of the run will be on the Musketawa Trail and the rest will be in the woods. Everyone who takes part will get a T-shirt, and there will be prizes awarded.
IF YOU GO
Muskegon County Youth Fair
• When: Monday through July 30
• Where: Muskegon County Fairgrounds, 6621 Heights-Ravenna Rd.
• Admission: Free
• Info: muskegonfairgrounds.com or call 788-4568
Stephen Erdman, of Whitehall, is a member of the Northside Riders 4-H club. Being 18 years old, this will be Erdman’s last year taking part in the Youth Fair.
“I think it’s a lot of fun. You get to meet new people and learn different things,” he said of being in 4-H. “I did a lot of things that I probably would not have done without it.”
Erffmeyer, of Ravenna, has been involved with 4-H since she was 8 years old. She has been a 4-H leader for about 10 years and this is her seventh year with the Youth Fair. Now, her four daughters – ages 8, 10, 13 and 14 – are involved.
“It’s a good learning experience for the kids. There are lots of things they can be involved with like crafts, cooking, baking and shooting sports,” Erffmeyer said. “4-H, in general, is a good way for the community to support the kids and see their accomplishments.”
The Youth Fair features approximately 400 exhibitors and 30 different 4-H groups.
Jenny ErffmeyerA new club, organized last October, is the Muskegon County Marksmen 4-H. Members of this group will participate in a BB-gun and archery competition on Friday at the fairgrounds. Next year, organizers would like to open this event to the public.
“The best part is just being with all my friends,” Erdman said. “Some of them I show with occasionally, and others I only see during fair.”
Tuesday through Saturday, there will be fair games that are free and open to the public. The friendly competitions will include an egg run, eating contests, horseshoe toss, sack run, horse/ball water fight, feed the horse, and more.
“The fair games are really huge,” Erffmeyer said. “It’s become pretty popular and has really grown.
Here's a schedule of some Youth Fair highlights:
Monday
3-8 p.m. Entry of all Horses
4-7 p.m. Entry and Judging of all Inanimates and Baked Goods
Stephen Erdman4-8 p.m. Entry of Dairy and Breeding Livestock
4-8 p.m. Entry of Poultry
5-7 p.m. Entry of Rabbits
4-6 p.m. Swine Weigh-in
6-8 p.m. Sheep and Goat Weigh-in
6-8 p.m. Dairy Feeder Beef and Market Beef Weigh-in
8:30 p.m. Opening Ceremonies and Crowning of 4-H Royal Court
Tuesday
8 a.m. Horse Judging for Showmanship, Halter, Bareback
9 a.m. Poultry Judging
11 a.m. Exhibit building and Silent Auction opens
1 p.m. Goat Judging
1:30 p.m. Fair Games: Toss the Pig
3:30 p.m. Fair Games: Egg Run
4 p.m. Horse Judging for Versatility
5:30 p.m. Fair Games: Brain Freeze Ice Cream Eating Contest
6 p.m. Market Steer Judging
7 p.m. Tractor Pulls
Winners get trophies in several divisions.8 p.m. Exhibit Building and Silent Auction Closes
9 p.m. Musical Entertainment
Wednesday
8 a.m. Swine Judging
9 a.m. Horse Cloverbud Classes
11 a.m. Horse Judging for Western and Driving Classes
11 a.m. Exhibit building and Silent Auction opens
1 p.m. Dairy Cattle Judging
1:30 p.m. Fair Games: Horse Shoe Toss
3:30 p.m. Fair Games: Sack Run
5:30 p.m. Fair Games: Blueberry Pop Tart Eating Contest
6 p.m. Sheep Judging
7 p.m. Talent Show
7:30 p.m. Fair Games: Horse Ball Water Fight
8 p.m. Exhibit Building and Silent Auction Closes
9 p.m. Musical Entertainment
Thursday
8 a.m. Horse Judging for English Classes, Dressage
8 a.m. Rabbit Judging
11 a.m. Exhibit building and Silent Auction opens
1:30 p.m. Fair Games: Don’t Spill the Beans
3:30 p.m. Fair Games: Water Balloon Toss
4-7 p.m. Summer Steak Fry by Muskegon County Farm Bureau
5 p.m. Horses - Gymkana/Speed
5:30 p.m. Fair Games: Cow Pie Eating Contest
6 p.m. Large Animal Auction
8 p.m. Exhibit Building and Silent Auction Closes
9 p.m. Musical Entertainment
Friday
8 a.m. Horse Judging for Western Riding, Costume, Trail
9 a.m. Dog Project
9 a.m. Exhibit building and Silent Auction opens
10 a.m. Shooting Sports (BB, Pellet, Archery) at the Fairgrounds
1:30 p.m. Fair Games: Feed the Horse
3:30 p.m. Fair Games: Egg Toss
5:30 p.m. Fair Games: Pickle Peck Eating Contest
8 p.m. Exhibit Building and Silent Auction Closes
6 p.m. Showman of Showmen
4-7 p.m. Sheriff’s Posse Steak Fry
7 p.m. Autocross Event
9 p.m. Musical Entertainment
July 30
8 a.m.-5 p.m. Open Horse Show
8 a.m. 5K Family Fun Run
8 a.m. Exhibit building and Silent Auction opens
10 a.m. Open Pet Show
12 p.m. Fair Games: Disc the Field
2 p.m. Small Animal and Baked Goods Auction
7 p.m. Closing Ceremonies
7 p.m. SJO Super Cross Races
Brielle Vance is a Chronicle correspondent.