Our La Plata County Fair will be here before you know it. Mark your calendars for Aug. 9 to 13 at the La Plata County Fairgrounds. Come out and enjoy some fair food, awesome projects, cute animals and carnival rides.
Starting Aug. 9, our Extension Building will be full of our 4-H general, natural resources and home economics exhibits. These are projects that our 4-H members have built, made and created from their own imaginations. Our youths are so talented and creative, you will be in awe and inspired after walking through this building.
The Exhibit Hall is full of entries from our noon-4-H community. We have two floors full of entries showing off the talents of our neighbors and community members. The Bunny Barn is where you will find our fluffy bunnies and much-loved poultry. Our livestock barn is home to our beef, sheep, swine and goats. This is always a highlight of the fair because you can get up close to all of the animals, meet their 4-H owners and learn all about them. Education is a big part of the 4-H program, so if you have the opportunity, please talk with our 4-H members about their projects.
Don’t forget to mark your calendar for our annual fundraiser, the 4-H Community BBQ from noon to 4 p.m. Aug. 12. We will be at a new location, the south baseball field at the La Plata County Fairgrounds. Look for the big white tents. Our menu includes: local beef and pork, Olathe corn on the cob, garden salad, bread from the famous Bread bakery, cookies, ice cream and a beverage generously donated from Durango Coca-Cola. Tickets are $15 at the door or $12 in advance for adults and $8 for those 65 and older and 7 and younger. You can purchase BBQ tickets at the La Plata County Extension Office or online at https://4HBBQ.eventbrite.com. The BBQ is a fun-filled community event that supports our great local 4-H program, and you will not leave hungry.
Special thank you to all of our BBQ cooks; K Power, LLC; Enduring Resources; IKAV; and Aztec Well Services; and our sponsors: Bread, Serious Texas BBQ, Durango Coca-Cola, City Market, Basin Co-op, La Plata County Cowbelles, The Gillen Family, La Plata County Energy Council, Durango Party Rental and Trash Panda.
Our Junior Livestock Sale is at 6 p.m. Aug. 12. This is a wonderful way to support our local youths. For many 4-H/FFA members, the money they receive from selling their animals is used to pay for their college education. This is your chance to invest in the youth and the future of La Plata County by purchasing an animal. We anticipate auctioning 45 beef, 26 goats, 23 sheep, 39 swine, 1 rabbit and 13 poultry. If you are interested in becoming a buyer, you are welcome to register the day of the event at the Livestock Office located in the livestock barn.
We will wrap up Aug. 12 with our 4-H Family Dance with Wild Country. The dance is held on the patio between the Exhibit Hall and Extension Building, starting at 9 p.m. until midnight. Cost is only $5 per person at the door.
For more information about the La Plata County Fair, visit laplatacountyfair.net, check out its Facebook page @Laplatacountyfair and the 4-H Facebook page @laplatacounty4h or call the La Plata County Extension Office at 382-6465.
Angela Fountain is the La Plata County 4-H youth development agent. Reach her at angela.fountain@co.laplata.co.us or 382-6460.
