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Wood County commissioners, 4-H reps talk fair concerns

By Brett Dunlap 6 min read

PARKERSBURG -- Local 4-H officials said they could no longer participate in the West Virginia Interstate Fair and Exposition because of a change in the date of the event, local 4-H officials told the Wood County Commission on Thursday.

Representatives from local 4-H Clubs, the WVU Extension Office, the Future Farmers of America and others appeared before the commission to discuss why the decision was made to not participate in the annual fair held on Butcher Bend Road.

County officials were recently informed that the fair was moving the event forward from mid-to-late July to mid-to-late June. Right now the fair is currently scheduled to be held June 22-26, 2021.

"In a nutshell, it was a process," said WVU Extension Agent Jodi Smith. "It didn't just happen.

"We found out in July they decided to change the date of the fair to June."

4-H officials had a online meeting with the fair officials and expressed their concerns in August. The fair board still voted to move the fair to June.

The new fair date creates problems due to the annual Wood County 4-H camp on their grounds across from the fairgrounds. They do three weeks of residential camp in June.

"That would limit our ability to do a full week of camp in June," Smith said, adding it would limit more people's ability to participate in the camp and the fair at the same time. They have volunteers involved in both 4-H programs and the fair which would have been hard for them to do both.

Other activities, such as band camp, would also be impacted as more kids would have to make choices about what they are participating in, Smith said, adding they rent out their grounds to church camps, band camps and for other activities that already have dates set.

"We respect (the fair board's) decisions, but this just wasn't feasible for us," Smith said.

They conducted a survey of 4-H and FFA families and around 85 percent of those responding were in favor of keeping their regular show dates in July on their property rather than moving to a June fair date, Smith said.

The 4-H's Leader's Association and their trustees voted to support that decision.

"It was a very well thought out decision," Smith said. "It wasn't a decision that was made quickly."

Smith reiterated they respect the fair board's decision.

"They have good reasons for wanting to move to increase traffic and attendance at the fair," she said. "It just didn't work for all the programs we do.

"We don't just do the one week of fair. Our summers are our busiest time of year."

Commission President Blair Couch said 4-H, the FFA and other organizations help people grow into responsible and productive adults.

"When we think about what we need to do, we need to support you," he said. "What is the fair without the livestock?

"However, if they can get more crowds and more audiences then it will be a win-win for everyone."

Smith said a capital campaign was started over a year ago in order to do renovations and repairs to the 4-H facilities on their 70 acres of ground on Butcher Bend Road. Smith said they are working on a way to do their livestock shows out there, having already raised $200,000 in their campaign and through grants. The goal is $500,000. Construction will start soon on a new barn facility.

Wood County Agricultural Extension Agent JJ Barrett talked about how the new fair date made it difficult to be able have animals ready to show.

They have over 100 youth who show livestock every year and a sale a couple years ago made a record $250,000.

"The kids learn so much," Barrett said. "It is hands-on learning where they are learning responsibility, taking care of an animal, record keeping and more.

"Those skills carry on. (A study conducted by Perdue University) showed employers liked kids who were in 4-H and FFA, because they know how to handle their own affairs."

The livestock shows demonstrate the kid's skills of preparation, he said, adding many families are involved with their kids in showing the animals.

"These kids are learning hands-on skills," Barrett said.

4-H officials estimate that thousands of kids' lives have been touched by 4-H programs, whether they show livestock or not. Other members do a variety of projects that teach them responsibility and being involved in the community, they added.

Other officials and volunteers talked about how if they had to change their schedule for the new fair date, it would cause problems for raising and caring for the animals. There is a specific time when the animals are born and need to be cared for to get them ready for fair. They would have to change their entire program to accommodate the new fair date.

A couple of 4-H and FFA members talked about participating in 4-H and the livestock shows.

Local 4-H member Kate Evans, 14, has been apart of 4-H her entire life. She is a member of Lubeck Lucky Clovers 4-H Club, as been a Teen Leader, involved in State Camp and more. She helps at the 4-H camps and still attends regular camp.

"I plan my year around it," Evans said.

Evans said she was disappointed in some of the choices she would have to make between 4-H and band camp and other activities.

"My leadership skills have grown so much in 4-H," she said.

Linda Dearth, president of the local 4-H Leaders Association, has been in 4-H her entire life and her family has been involved for years from her parents to her grandchildren. She talked about one grandchild who has benefited from 4-H and has developed leadership skills.

"That is what we are trying to do for all 4-Hers," she said. "Give them a place to belong in this crazy world.

"We want a place where they can come and safely exhibit their animals."

Blennerhassett FFA and 4-H Club member Jordyne Lockhart talked about how 4-H has impacted her life. She gets up every day to care for her pigs which has taught her responsibility and building confidence in being able to show her animals.

"It is a great program to grow up in," she said.

Commissioners will be hearing from fair board members soon to discuss the problems and issues they are facing.

Contact Brett Dunlap at bdunlap@newsandsentinel.com

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