Come one, come all to the 2014 La Plata County Fair.
The annual county fair, which will be held through Sunday, is a great opportunity for the public to enjoy many family fun activities. You can partake in carnival rides, antique tractor pulls, food vendors, 4-H/FFA Jr. livestock shows, and viewing heritage arts, food preservation, handicrafts and many more exhibits on display.
For more than 300 4-H youth members in La Plata County, the fair represents the completion of their 4-H projects and 4-H program year. This week, members have completed and turned in their 4-H record books. They have been interviewed by a knowledgeable judge in their project. Furthermore, many 4-H members have taking part in demonstration, creative cooks and cake-decorating contests, and also horse, dog, goats, rabbit and poultry quizzes.
The 4-H program believes in our motto of “learn by doing.” The record books, interviews, contests and quizzes engage our youths in an evaluation model that encourages self-learning. Our 4-H volunteers do an amazing job at creating a compassionate environment to assist youths in their learning objectives and goals. All 4-H volunteers receive a symbolic blue ribbon for their efforts in creating such valuable positive youth-adult partnerships.
If you make it to the fairgrounds, please take the time to talk with our 4-H members about their projects. The extension building will have all the unique 4-H general, natural resources and home-economics exhibits on display. The Bunny Barn will host the rabbits and poultry projects, and the covered pavilion will have the goat, sheep, swine and cows on display.
Once again, we will be hosting the best barbecue of the summer as our annual fundraiser. The 4-H barbecue will be held from noon to 5 p.m. Saturday at the Durango-La Plata Senior Center lawn. The menu includes: local Sunnyside beef and pork, Olathe corn, garden salad, country bread from the famous Bread bakery, Serious Texas Cobbler, ice cream and a beverage generously donated from Durango Coca-Cola. Tickets are $10 dollars for adults at the door or $8 in advance, and $5 dollars for seniors and children. It’s a great deal and helps support a great program.
Big thanks go out to our barbecue sponsors and cooks. This year’s cook-off will include some amazing barbecue masters you won’t want to miss. This year’s teams include; XTO Energy, WPX Energy, Crossfire LLC and BP America. Each team has its own special style of smoking techniques, rubs and grilling to ensure tasty food.
Additional thanks for helping us put on the barbecue goes out to: La Plata County Energy Council, Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad, Conoco-Philips, La Plata Electric Association, First National Bank, Bank of Colorado, Basin printing, Basin Coop, Serious Texas BBQ, Bread and the Gillen family.
Finally, you can also support the 4-H program by attending the fair family dance. From 9 p.m. to just past midnight Saturday, boots will be a stomping to the great music of the La Plata County band The High Rollers. The dance will be held on the patio and will sure be a seriously good time.
felsengh@co.laplata.co.us or 382-6463. Greg Felsen is La Plata County 4-H youth development agent.
