Post 30/2024 / Elkhart County 4-H Fair / Goshen, Indiana. Nine days of all things 4-H gave fairgoers oodles to chose from. For starters: Parade through Goshen. Animals. Exhibits. Grandstand entertainment. Harness racing. Carnival. Commercial vendors. Food (75 vendors).

One had a choice of many, many activities from the gates opening at 8am until the end of the night shows. As I write, the noise of the tractor & truck pull reaches our home two miles away. Once, years ago, we watched up-close; once was enough for such an earsplitting event. Don’t miss the Demolition Derby but the Rodeo would be nice. The evening concerts, too, would be fun, but we took a pass.

We went on Tuesday, July 23, Senior Citizens’ Day. There were at least 65 event options during the day, not to mention the evening Grandstand entertainment, food vendors, and so on. The day included Senior Citizen Cookie Baking Contest. Silly Safari Live Animal Show. and Senior Talent Showcase. Greencroft Communities was the Senior Citizens’ Day sponsor. (Monday featured Disabilities and Special Groups Day).

We saw the 4-H exhibits, Home & Family Arts, some of the animal entries, and harness racing. Missed the apple peeling contest, Miracle of Life Calving, 4-H Rooster Crowing and Chicken Imitation contest, Space Adventures Thrill Show, RED – A Taylor Swift Tribute, and Dog Soccer Games. Sorry to miss the latter. Left before the Ferris Wheel started up. Enjoyed ice cream and a hot pretzel.

The Elkhart County 4-H Fair covers 384 acres and welcomes 200,000 guests to the nine-day event. The facilities are used for many other events during the year, including the annual Michiana Mennonite Relief Sale, the fourth Saturday in September.

I am glad we spent part of the day at the fair. The weather proved amenable. The options too many. My gratitude centers on the children and youth who are learning the lessons of Head, Heart, Hands and Health.

The 4-H pledge:

I pledge my head to clearer thinking,
my heart to greater loyalty,
my hands to larger service,
and my health to better living,
for my club, my community, my country, and my world. 

Good luck in finding a four-leaf clover. And advancing the field of youth development.

-John