The Whitley County 4-H Fair will take place July 11-17, 2025. Let’s all take time to appreciate the work of volunteers at the fair.
First, we appreciate the hard work that 4-H members, volunteers, and parents put into making the fair experience possible. Volunteer boards are essential to the 4-H program: 4-H Clubs, Inc., 4-H Council, 4-H Leaders, livestock advisory boards, and project leaders all contribute their valuable time for the benefit of our youth. 4-H Junior Leaders take their involvement a step further by operating their refreshment stand at the fair, engaging in community service, and building leadership skills through year-round activities. In the end, youth develop life skills that will benefit them far beyond the 4-H experience.
Additionally, I would encourage you to take time to appreciate the volunteer work that our Whitley County Master Gardeners have done to beautify the fairgrounds and to supplement your gardening knowledge.
For many years, Whitley County Master Gardener volunteers have worked to create beautiful and educational gardens around the fairgrounds. Their local club association has invested its own hard-earned funds to supplement this effort by buying and growing plants. Throughout the growing season, Master Gardeners install and care for plants, maintain irrigation systems, and mulch to reduce weeds. It is a labor of love on their part, and a point of pride for the community. To supplement learning, some of the plants in the gardens are labeled.
During the fair, Master Gardeners sponsor seminars on Monday afternoon starting at 1:00 p.m. in the Ag Museum. This year’s lineup, along the theme of “Green & Grounded: A Seminar on Sustainable and Supportive Gardening,” includes:
Master Gardeners will also have an information table in the Ag Museum staffed from noon – 4:00 p.m. Saturday through Monday, where you can bring your gardening questions and learn about how you could become a Whitley County Master Gardener.
Our Extension Homemakers work hard to provide nutritious food well beyond the typical “fair food” you may get at other fairs. These women work long, hard hours to serve our community. And, many local organizations jump in to help efforts by serving on the food line.
Lastly, other volunteers jump in to assist with various jobs at the fair, such as volunteering a shift in main concessions or helping with a special activity. Maybe there is a place where you can plug in.
Hundreds of volunteers collectively invest thousands of hours, bringing great value and benefit to Whitley County. Please join me in offering a big “THANK YOU” to these volunteers as we approach and experience the 2025 Whitley County 4-H Fair!