More Than 2,500 4-H Entries Submitted for the 2020 Custer County Fair

BROKEN BOW—A few short months ago there were doubts as to whether or not the Custer County Fair was going to be allowed to take place due to COVID-19 and state health measures. But now, the Custer County Ag Society, the Custer County Extension office, 4-H leaders, business sponsors, and countless volunteers are ready for “an amazing fair” as stated by Custer County Fairgrounds Administrator Michelle Nelson.

Extension Office Manager Angie Peterson told KCNI/KBBN there are currently 452 Custer County youth enrolled in 4-H and this year’s fair saw 2,843 entries for 4-H events (this number is down from nearly 4,000 entries in 2019). Activities for 4-H events include clothing construction, dog show, food, gardening, cut flowers, art and science, wood working, team roping, ranch riding, goat, sheep, beef, swine, horses, small animals, and much more!

Despite the unknown future of COVID-19 when it came to planning the fair, Ag Society members such as Marla Stallbaumer emphasized the importance of supporting the 4-H and FFA kids as much as possible.

“I feel like we need try to have a fair as normal as possible. There’s going to be a lot of changes along the way but our kids have been working and their lives have been turned upside down so I feel like we kind of owe it to them—they’ve put the work in—to do everything we can for them,” Stallbaumer told KCNI/KBBN in June.

Katie and Emma Olson participated in the interview judging on Wednesday and presented their quilting and painting projects. They’ve been involved in 4-H for more than five years and love the 4-H community and the chance to be creative.

“I think the community, it’s always a good one and you know there’s always going to be positivity here,” Katie Olson told KCNI/KBBN. “I think it’s just fun that we’re–instead of being on our electronics–we’re doing something with our mind and our hands and we’re keeping busy over the summer,” Emma Olson added.

The 4-H Style Judging and Construction Judging took place on July 16 and the first 4-H Entry Day was held on Wednesday. The Dog Show is at 5:30 p.m. on Friday, July 24 followed by more entries and interview judging on Saturday, July 25. Livestock weigh-in, check-in, and the Small Animal Pet Show will all take place on Sunday.

Other livestock updates include some of the following:
• All 4-H Livestock and Horses except dairy cattle will be stalled Sunday through Thursday at the Fairgrounds
• Family units are asked to social distance with the best practice including social distancing and wearing masks
• Sign-ups for the 4-H/FFA Livestock Auction will be online at https://go.unl.edu/auction2020
• All 4-H Event programs will be online only at https://go.unl.edu/programs

County Fair events next week include Horses, Livestock Judging, the Free Pit BBQ and Bull Riding on Monday; Beef showmanship, Rabbits, and Bull Fighting on Tuesday; Horses, Stocker-Feeder, Bucket Calf, Breeding Heifers, Dairy Cattle, Goats, and the Ned LeDoux concert on Wednesday; 4-H and FFA Livestock Auction on Thursday evening.

KCNI will be video streaming the Dog Show on Friday night via the SandhillsExpress.com Facebook page and taking music requests during the Free Pit BBQ on Monday. Stay tuned for more 4-H interviews, video coverage throughout the fair, and a live broadcast of the livestock auction on KCNI. We appreciate all of our sponsors to make this possible!

The 2020 Custer County Fair is preparing to begin on Friday, July 24 and run through July 30 at the Custer County Fairgrounds.

See the flyer above for the schedule of this week’s events and/or call the Custer County Extension Office at 872-6831 with any questions.

Click here to view the Custer County Fairgrounds Facebook page.

Share: