Braxton Fordyce and his sister Layleigh feed calves in preparation for the Wood County 4-H and FFA Summer Showcase Monday through Saturday at the Wood County 4-H Campgrounds on Butcher Bend Road in Mineral Wells. The event will include animal showing, judging and a livestock sale among other events. (Photo Provided)

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

Members of 4-H, FFA and Community Education Outreach Service will exhibit projects for judging. Livestock shows also will be held throughout the week, including the Wood County Junior Livestock Sale, slated for noon on Saturday, July 24.

Last November, local extension and agriculture leaders told the Wood County Commission they could no longer participate in the West Virginia Interstate Fair and Exposition because the fair was moving to June 22-26 this year.

The new fair dates did not allow local youth the time they needed to have their animals ready to show, so it was decided to hold the shows at the best time for the participants.

This year’s event, the first held at the Wood County 4-H Camp in more than a decade, will be small and open to friends and family of the 4-H and FFA programs.

Morgan Wicker sheers her lamb, getting ready for the Wood County 4-H and FFA Summer Showcase Monday through Saturday at the Wood County 4-H Campgrounds on Butcher Bend Road in Mineral Wells. Local members of 4-H and Future Farmers of America will show and sell their livestock. (Photo Provided)

During the week, 156 youths will exhibit 198 4-H and FFA livestock and still projects. The Wood County CEOS will also display their projects, including photography, canned goods, recycled items and quilts.

For some students, the showcase also provides an opportunity to earn class credit for their projects.

“FFA students are enrolled in the Wood County Technical Center Agriculture Sciences program and can raise animals for the showcase as part of class credit,” said FFA adviser Kari Brown.

WVU Extension Service 4-H Agent Jodi Smith said everyone is excited about the Summer Showcase.

“Our 4-H and FFA members have worked very hard all year on these projects, and with COVID and all of the uncertainty, we are just thrilled to be able to hold this event for the kids,” she said.

Wood County 4-H member Katie Daley cuts an onion for a Zoom cooking class. Local 4-H members will participate in the Wood County 4-H and FFA Summer Showcase Monday through Saturday at the Wood County 4-H Campgrounds on Butcher Bend Road in Mineral Wells. In addition to still project displays, a number of other demonstrations and activities will be going on. (Photo Provided)

In addition to exhibits and the Youth Livestock Sale, many educational activities sponsored by the WVU Extension Service will be offered throughout the week including the Ag Olympics, Rethink Your Drink, livestock skill-a-thon, livestock judging contest and a youth pop-up farmers market where all 4-H and FFA members will get $4 in free produce and the opportunity for friends and family to make purchases. The West Virginia Department of Natural Resources will also be offering a wildlife demonstration during the week.

On Friday, July 23, a contest named in memory of longtime 4-H member Austin Shawver, will give all the senior Grand Champion Showmen in each livestock category the opportunity to compete for a $1,000 scholarship and earn the honor of “Master Showman” of the week.

The Summer Showcase will wrap up with the Wood County Junior Livestock Sale at noon Saturday, July 24.

Animals will be sold individually to the highest bidder. Business owners and other leaders of the community are encouraged to support youth by purchasing market hogs, market steers, feeder calves, market lambs and goats, poultry and rabbits.

“Investment in our youth is a great asset to Wood County and the State of West Virginia. Many youths save the money from their 4-H and FFA projects and use the funds to pay for post-secondary education,” said Ryan Vaughn, president of the Wood County Junior Livestock Sale Committee.

Local 4-H Members in a leadership class learn about teamwork at the Wood County 4-H Camp on Butcher Bend Road. The Wood County 4-H and FFA Summer Showcase will be held Monday through Saturday at the campgrounds with youth exhibiting projects such as woodworking, robotics, leadership, photography, sewing, healthy cooking, shooting sports, mechanics and dozens of other categories. (Photo Provided)

A lot of dedicated 4-H and FFA volunteers, youth and families have worked hard to make this event possible, Smith said.

“Thanks to these hardworking people and the generous support of donors, we have been able to make a lot of upgrades to our barn area and other areas of the Wood County 4-H Camp, including the addition of a new extension to our barn,” she said.

4-H is America’s largest youth development organization, providing nearly 6 million children with skills which will last a lifetime. FFA prepares members for leadership and careers in the science, business and technology of agriculture.

More information about the Wood County 4-H and FFA Summer Showcase is available from the Wood County WVU Extension Office at 304-424-1960.

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Wood County 4-H & FFA Summer Showcase

Schedule 2021

Friends and family participation only for 2021. All activities must follow WVU COVID-19 guidelines

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MONDAY

* 6 a.m. to 3 p.m.– Livestock check-in (West Virginia Department of Agriculture Health Inspector Tent)

* 3 p.m. — All livestock must be on the 4-H Campgrounds

* 4-8 p.m. — 4-H still project and CEOS exhibit check-in (Assembly Hall)

* 5 p.m. — Junior livestock weigh-in (Show Barn)

* 6:30 p.m. — Livestock meeting, all species (Pavilion) immediately following weigh-in

* 7 p.m. — Poultry and rabbit weigh-in (Small Animal Barn)

TUESDAY

* 8 a.m. — All livestock pictures

* 9 a.m. — 4-H & CEOS still exhibit judging

* 2 p.m. — Youth Farmer’s Market

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

WEDNESDAY

* 9 a.m. — 4-H & FFA Poultry Show and Showmanship

* 2 p.m. — DNR Wildlife Demonstration

* 3 p.m. — Rethink Your Drink (WVU Family Nutrition)

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

THURSDAY

* 9 a.m. — 4-H & FFA Rabbit Show

* 10 a.m. — Skill-A-Thon for all species (Show Barn)

* 2 p.m. — Ag Olympics (Livestock Area)

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

FRIDAY

* 9 a.m. — 4-H & FFA Horse Show (Showmanship Classes First)

* 10 a.m. — Livestock Judging Contest (Show Barn)

* 5 p.m. — Austin Shawver Master Showman Contest (Show Barn)

* 6:30 p.m. — Sale Ring setup, help appreciated

SATURDAY, JULY 24

* Noon — 4H & FFA Junior Livestock Sale

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