Clinton County Fair Council Commits to County Fair This Year

With less than one month remaining before the start of the Clinton County 4-H Fair, the Clinton County Fair Council is trying to make sure that nothing happens between now and then that might derail this year’s fair which is scheduled July 11-18.

“We’re getting a lot closer (to having a fair) after this meeting tonight,” said Fair Council Chairman Jamie Blacker. “We have a lot of details to work out, especially this year. Everybody’s going to have to keep an open and make these changes happen.”

Blacker also dispelled rumors that the fair wouldn’t take place.

“We are planning on having a county fair starting on July 11 and running through the 18th,” said Blacker.

Blacker said the fair council received a grant from the Indiana Standard Breed Association for upkeep of their barns.

“They are finishing that project this week,” said Blacker. “Actually, it’s all new metal, roof, windows and doors. We’re excited about getting that barn completely redone. It use to be the old llama barn. We have a tenant from Illinois that wants to move here.”

In other news, fair council board member Kody Miller gave an update for the Queen Pageant.

“June 24 is the deadline to turn in applications,” said Miller. “The Queen Pageant will be held on Friday, July 10 which is a lot closer the fair than what we’re use to. But it will be the same format.”

The Queen Pageant will start at 7 p.m. on July 10.

Earlier this month, Caren Crum, the 4-H Youth Development Director for Clinton County, released a statement regarding this year’s Clinton County 4-H Fair as well as a schedule.

“As you may have heard, we are planning to have a face-to-face fair with restrictions in place. In order for this to be successful, we need everyone’s help. We are very fortunate to be having a fair this year and are grateful to be doing it in person! During fair week, it is preferred immediate family only be in attendance, and registration will be required. With that being said, if you or your family members are not comfortable in attending the fair, please sit this one out. If you are sick or have symptoms, PLEASE DO NOT COME TO THE FAIRGROUNDS AS YOU WILL BE ASKED TO LEAVE IMMEDIATELY. Coming to and showing at the fair is a privilege, not a requirement.

“All projects can be completed with a signed record sheet as in years passed. Also, all livestock shows will be live-streamed (more details to come) so that they can be viewed from the comfort of your home. If you do choose to come to the fair, know it will look quite a bit different than in previous years. Extension staff, 4-H adult volunteers, and 4-H members will be wearing face coverings when social distancing is difficult to do. This is probably in the show arena and penning areas. Please start practicing with your face coverings on, so your livestock get used to you in a mask. Also, please provide your own face covering(s) when you come to the fairgrounds.

“Sanitation will be done frequently throughout the day as well. We will have the 4-H (barn) area fenced off with registration stations available. You will enter and exit off of the south State Road 39 entrance. Please see attached map for more details. Once on the fairgrounds, your contact info will be verified and a series of questions answered when you complete registration. You will then be given a colored wrist band each day. You will also be directed where to park trucks and trailers on show day. Please note there will only be one large species show per day, and no livestock will be staying overnight. Most animals will be shown off trailers, but if pens are needed only the swine barn will be used for penning (please see below info telling us about pens needed in fair entry).

“It will be show and go to minimize time and contact on the grounds. Livestock will be fitted at home prior to coming to the fair. Please look for an email with info from your livestock superintendents on particulars for each species. Please also know there will be no extra events. We are blessed to be able to showcase the 4-H members hard work, but there will not be a livestock auction or market trucks. We will not participate in the fair parade, 4-H day on the midway, or have a foods auction. Please see revised fair schedule attached. We are all going to have to roll with the punches. We think this schedule is set in stone, but last minute changes may be made. We all need to be flexible this year, and remain appreciative and calm.

“I just wanted to let you know that both online entries for in.4honline.com and clintoncounty.fairentry.com are due by June 26. We know the July 1 deadline was set by the state fair. Here in the county, we would really appreciate it if you could PLEASE RE-ENROLL IN BOTH SITES BY JUNE 26 as that would be super beneficial to us printing labels and making show bills. We really need you to visit both sites. It may be easiest to get them completed together prior to the deadline of June 26! The first sitein.4honline.com is to enroll you and your projects in 4-H. The second is to register your projects for the fair. Like last year, you will need to tell us exactly what projects and animals will be coming to the county fair through the clintoncounty.fairentry.com website. Instructions are attached. Please note on building projects, you will need to give us a brief item description. On the livestock projects, we will need to know if you are showing off your trailer or if pens for the day will be needed for each species. If you are only bringing building projects, you will still need to answer these questions as Not Showing Livestock. Please see attached example. This site is where we print name labels, make show programs, as well as record results. It is super important to do your entries on both sites.

“Please note most of pre-fair judging is CLOSED. No youth will enter the building. There are only a couple of caveats to this rule, such as fashion revue and performing arts. These projects will be open judging with masks and social distancing guidelines in place. As you can see from the attached revised pre-fair schedule, building projects can be brought in early! We will have tables set up outside the 4-H Building & Clinton Hall to drop projects off. Please put members name, project title, and project level on the back of posters and/or on the projects somewhere, so Extension staff can correctly label your projects. Projects can still be brought in the day of judging as well. Foods, garden, crops, and floriculture will need to be brought in the day of judging. Another change this year is that our projects will be displayed in Clinton Hall throughout the week of the fair. So to reiterate, pre-fair judging, located at the 4-H Building & Clinton Hall, is closed and no youth will enter. Properly labeled projects (name, project, and level listed on back) will be place on tables outside of the 4-H Building & Clinton Hall during judging, and projects will be displayed in Clinton Hall during fair week.

“Again, we are doing what we need to do to make this fair happen in person. We are so happy to have your cooperation in this endeavor. Please let me know if you have any questions. Thanks so much.

2020 CLINTON COUNTY 4-H FAIR SCHEDULE

4-H projects in Clinton Hall open daily 5 p.m. – 9 p.m.

Midway opens daily at 5 p.m.

Showmanship will be at the beginning of each show

Saturday, July 11

6:30 – 8:45 a.m. – Rabbit Check-in @ CIS Livestock Show Arena

9:00 a.m. – Rabbit Show @ CIS Livestock Show Arena

7:00 a.m. – Horse & Pony Check-in @ Horse Show Arena

8:00 a.m. – Horse & Pony Show @ Horse Show Arena

8:30 a.m. – Check-in for Crops and Floriculture @ Clinton Hall

9:30 a.m. – Check-in for Garden @ Clinton Hall

2:30 p.m. – Check-in for Model Tractor @ CIS Livestock Show Arena

3:30 p.m. – Model Tractor Pull @ CIS Livestock Show Arena

5:30 p.m. – Performing Arts Check-in @ Edward Jones 4-H Community Building

6:00 p.m. – Performing Arts Judging @ Edward Jones 4-H Community Building

Sunday, July 12

9:00 a.m. – Cat Show check-in @CIS Livestock Show Arena

10:00 a.m. – Cat Show @ CIS Livestock Show Arena

2:00 p.m. – Public Fashion Revue & Public Performing Arts Performance @ Edward Jones 4-H Community Building

4:00 p.m. – Beef check-in @CIS Livestock Show Arena

6:00 p.m. – Beef Show @ CIS Livestock Show Arena

Monday, July 13

6:30 – 8:45 a.m. – Poultry Check-in @ Poultry barn

9:00 a.m. – Poultry Show @ Poultry barn

6:00 a.m. – 9:00 a.m. – Sheep Check-in @ CIS Livestock Show Arena

Noon – Sheep Show @ CIS Livestock Show Arena

5:00 a.m. – Horse & Pony Contesting Show Check-in @ Horse Show Arena

6:00 p.m. – Horse & Pony Contesting Show @ Horse Show Arena

Tuesday, July 14

8:00 a.m. – 10:00 a.m. – Goat Check-in @ CIS Livestock Show Arena

12:30 p.m. – Goat Show @CIS Livestock Show Arena

Wednesday, July 15

6:00 a.m. – 9:00 a.m. – Swine Check-in @ CIS Livestock Show Arena

1:00 p.m. – Swine Show @ CIS Livestock Show Arena

Thursday, July 16

8:00 a.m. Lama Check-in @ CIS Livestock Show Arena

9:00 a.m. – Lama Show @ CIS Livestock Show Arena

8:30 a.m. – Tractor Driving Contest Check-in @ Horse Show Arena

9:00 a.m. – Tractor Driving Contest @ Horse Show Arena

Friday, July 17

6:00 p.m. – 10 year 4- H member Recognition @ CIS Livestock Show Arena

7:00 p.m. – Supreme Showmanship @ CIS Livestock Show Arena

Saturday, July 18

8:00 a.m. – Dog Show Check-in @ Breezeway between Cattle Barn and CIS Livestock Show Arena

8:30 a.m. – Dog Show @ CIS Livestock Show Arena

8:30 a.m. – Barbeque Contest Check-in @ Antique Machinery Building

9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. – Barbeque Contest @ Antique Machinery Building

Noon – 2:00 p.m. – Project Check-out @ Clinton Hall

2:30 – 3:30 p.m. – Junior Leader Clean-up @ Concession Stand