First year 4-H member Justin Donato with his showcase pig. The 2023 Wood County 4-H and FFA Summer Showcase will be held Tuesday through Saturday at the Wood County 4-H Camp on Butcher Bend Road in Mineral Wells. The showcase is an opportunity for local 4-H and FFA members to show their livestock projects. (Photo Provided)

MINERAL WELLS — The Wood County 4-H and FFA Summer Showcase will be held Tuesday through Saturday at the Wood County 4-H Camp on Butcher Bend Road in Mineral Wells.

This year, special guest Mikel Hager, the 2023 Mountaineer, will make a special appearance on Wednesday at 4 p.m.

The Wood County 4-H and FFA Summer Showcase is open to the public Tuesday through Friday from 3-9 p.m. and Saturday is open for the Junior Livestock Sale and a concert at 6 p.m. by Division Street, a local rock band. Craft and food vendors will be on site all week.

At the showcase, 4-H, FFA, CEOS and community members will exhibit projects for judging. Anyone interested in youth and adult open exhibits should contact the WVU Extension office at 304-424-1960.

“Our main goal is and always has been to provide an opportunity for our youth to complete and exhibit their 4-H and FFA projects,” said Jodi Smith, 4-H Extension Agent. “We also want to introduce other youth in our community to 4-H and FFA and provide opportunities for them to showcase some of their work.”

The 2023 Wood County 4-H and FFA Summer Showcase will feature a number of still projects where 4-H, FFA, CEOS and community members will exhibit projects for judging. Open exhibit categories for youth include art, photography, and gardening, and adult categories include arts and crafts, photography, quilting, sewing, canned goods, and gardening. (Photo Provided)

Check in for all open exhibits is Monday, July 17. Open exhibit categories for youth include art, photography, and gardening, and adult categories include arts and crafts, photography, quilting, sewing, canned goods, and gardening.

“This week is all about the kids and families,” said JJ Barrett, Agriculture and Natural Resources Extension Agent. “The Wood County 4-H and FFA members will show their livestock in the mornings Wednesday-Friday, and in the evenings on Tuesday-Thursday, with the Austin Shawver Master Showman Competition rounding out the week on Friday at 5 p.m.”

Members of the 4-H and FFA will auction their animals at the Wood County Junior Livestock Sale on Saturday, July 22, at noon.

Business owners and other leaders of the community are encouraged to support youth by purchasing livestock. Purchases are tax deductible, and donors can bid in person, by proxy, or contribute to the Buyers’ Club – a pool of funds that will be used to purchase youth livestock during the sale or help increase price per pound.

For more questions about how to support the Youth Livestock Sale, contact the WVU Extension office at 304-424-1960.

Special guest Mikel Hager, the 2023 Mountaineer, will make a special appearance on Wednesday at 4 p.m. at the 2023 Wood County 4-H and FFA Summer Showcase which will be held at the Wood County 4-H Camp on Butcher Bend Road in Mineral Wells. (Photo Provided)

“We appreciate all of the businesses and community members for supporting the kids,” said Jody Lindsey, president of the Wood County Junior Livestock Committee. “Several of our 4-H and FFA members use the funds from the sale to help pay for tuition and post-secondary education expenses.”

Family-friendly events are scheduled throughout the week, and families can enjoy food from Mountain State Barbecue, Blessed Bites, Dips & Dogs, D’Paulo’s Pizzeria, Zul’s Frozen Lemonade, River City Kettle, and Sycamore Sweets. Toys for Tots will sponsor a fun Karaoke night on Tuesday at 8 p.m.

“We are very excited that some of our food vendors are 4-H and FFA members and families, and one is also playing in the Division Street Band,” Smith said.

There will be a pet parade sponsored by Warner Kia, a bicycle rodeo, Birds of Prey presentation, Mountaineer Beekeepers presentation, and Friday afternoon will feature activities for the kids, including inflatables and pedal tractor pulls. Alpaca Run Farm will be there with a family-friendly petting zoo. There will also be an antique tractor show and commercial vendors.

CEOS members will be hosting craft classes that are open to the public. Interested individuals should call Dee Dee Adams at 304-200-1001. Classes will be held on Wednesday and Thursday and participants must register in advance. The Americana star is $10 and the Napkin Basket class is $12.

Alyssa Tennant, 2022 Grand Champion Senior Sheep Showman, during the 2022 Wood County 4-H and FFA Summer Showcase. The 2023 Showcase will be held Tueday through Saturday at the Wood County 4-H Camp on Butcher Bend Road in Mineral Wells. (Photo Provided)

The craft building will also feature several crafters including Kimble’s Crazy Chaos, 9320 Custom Designs, Family Affair Crafty Creations, Paparazzi, Thirty-One and the Broken Wheel Tack Shop.

Local non-profit youth organizations will be collecting a $3 per car donation at the gate (Tuesday-Friday) and $5 per car donation on Saturday.

Proceeds from the donations will support the 4-H, FFA and the youth non-profit organization of the day. All proceeds from this event will be used to fund future shows.

4-H is a program of WVU Extension and is America’s largest youth development organization, empowering children with skills which will last a lifetime, organizers said adding FFA is a program of Wood County Schools and prepares members for leadership and careers in the science, business and technology of agriculture. The CEOS is a program of WVU Extension and is one of the largest educational organizations in the nation.

For more information about The Wood County 4-H and FFA Summer Showcase or about the 4-H and CEOS programs, contact the Wood County WVU Extension Office at (304) 424-1960 or join the Facebook event page at https://www.facebook.com/WoodCoShowcase.

Brayden Keeney, Emily Kent, and Remington Blair during the 2022 poultry show during the 2022 Wood County 4-H and FFA Summer Showcase. The 2023 event will be held Tuesday through Saturday at the Wood County 4-H Camp on Butcher Bend Road in Mineral Wells. (Photo Provided)

Showcase Schedule

TODAY

* 12 p.m.: Commercial Exhibit Check-in

* 2-6 p.m.: CEOS/OpenAdult Exhibit Check-in

* 4-8 p.m.: 4-H Still/OpenYouth Exhibit Check-in

Emily Kent, Grand Champion Poultry Show, during the 2022 Wood County 4-H and FFA Summer Showcase. The 2023 Showcase will be held Tuesday through Saturday at the Wood County 4-H Camp on Butcher Bend Road in Mineral Wells. (Photo Provided)

TUESDAY

* 9 a.m.: 4-H/CEOS/Open Exhibit Judging

* 1 p.m.: 4-H Shooting Sports Exhibit (Arena)

* 2:30 p.m.: 4-H Pet Show Sponsored By: Warner Kia

* 3 p.m.: Exhibits Open to the Public

* 6 p.m.: 4-H & FFA Goat Show (Show Barn); 4-H & FFA Sheep Show (Show Barn)

* 8:30 p.m.: Karaoke with Toys for Tots(Pavilion)

WEDNESDAY

* 9 a.m.: 4-H & FFA Poultry Show (Barn)

* 2 p.m.: Birds of Prey Presentation ( Pavilion)

* 3 p.m.: Exhibits Open to the Public; Bicycle Rodeo (Pavilion)

* 4 p.m.: WVU Mountaineer (Pavilion)

* 6 p.m.: 4-H & FFA Swine Show (Show Barn)

THURSDAY

* 9 a.m.: 4-H & FFA Rabbit Show (Barn)

* 3 p.m.: Exhibits Open to the Public; Sleepy Holler Beekeeping Presentation

* 6 p.m.: 4-H & FFA Beef Show (Show Barn)

FRIDAY

* 8:30 a.m.: 4-H & FFA Horse Show (Arena)

* 12-6 p.m.: Inflatables

* 3 p.m.: Exhibits Open to the Public

* 2 p.m.: Pedal Tractor Pulls (Pavilion)

* 2:30 p.m.: Corn Hole – (Pavilion area)

* 5 p.m.: Austin Shawver Master Showman

* 8 p.m.: Cow Patty Bingo (Arena)

SATURDAY

* 12 p.m.: 4-H & FFA Junior Livestock Sale

* 3 p.m.: CEOS/Open Adult Project Checkout

* 5 p.m.: 4-H Still/Open Youth Project Checkout

* 6-8 p.m.: Division Street Concert

The event will also feature a craft show, antique tractor show, commercial vendors, and local food. Parking is $3 per car Tuesday-Friday from 3-7 p.m., $5 per car Saturday from 1-7 p.m. and a family weekly pass is $10 for all immediate family.

For more information contact WVU-Wood County Extension Office at 304-424-1960. Open exhibit information is on the Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/WoodCoShowcase.

No representative of WVU Extension Service or Wood County Schools including faculty, staff, or volunteers will assume care, control, or custody of minors during any activity.

Mason Lewis showing his goat at the 2022 Wood County 4-H and FFA Summer Showcase. The 2023 Showcase will be held Tuesday through Saturday at the Wood County 4-H Camp on Butcher Bend Road in Mineral Wells. Participants will be judged on how their animal looks, the participant’s knowledge of the animal, how well they can control it and more. (Photo Provided)