At nearby Howell Farm
Howell Living History Farm will host the Mercer County 4-H Fair, which will run from 10 a.m.-8 p.m. on July 28 and 10 a.m.-4 p.m. on July 29.
The opening ceremony will take place at 1 p.m. on July 28.
There is still time to enter a project. If you have perfected a new skill or hobby during the year or have finished a project, take it to the 94th annual 4-H Fair and the coveted Blue Ribbon could be yours.
Projects will be received from the general public on Friday (July 27) from 4-8 p.m. at the farm.
There are many “Open Division” categories at the fair. One does not have to be a 4-H member to exhibit. A special family recipe, homegrown vegetable or creative project could earn a ribbon, and the general public is encouraged to submit entries.
Visit http://mercer.njaes.rutgers.edu/4h/fair, where one can find the fair exhibit book. Any class listed — including arts and crafts, photography, foods, gardening, clothing, woodworking and more — may be entered under the Open Division.
For more information about 4-H or entering projects in the fair, contact Altaira Bejgrowicz at the Mercer County 4-H Office (609-989-6833) or [email protected].
THE FAIR itself will celebrate 4-H’s long association with Mercer County and Howell Farm by featuring family friendly activities, such as arts and crafts, animal shows and farm tours.
This year’s theme is “4-H: Belong. Believe. Archive!”
Highlights of the fair will include cow milking, a sheep show, a goat show, a poultry show, and a small animal show. Tents for the animals and exhibits will be located near the farm’s visitor center.
Howell Farm’s farmers will contribute by running hayrides, giving tours and conducting historical farming demonstrations out in the fields.
Children’s activities, hayrides and exhibits will take place throughout the fair. Plenty of food and drink, including homemade ice cream, will be available.
Back in the 1920s and early 1930s, the local Pleasant Valley Calf Club held an annual fair at the Pleasant Valley Schoolhouse and grounds adjacent to Howell Farm. These fairs, organized by the school children and their parents, drew visitors from many parts of Mercer and Hunterdon counties.
Today, the 4-H program, a youth development offering operated by Rutgers Cooperative Extension, provides research-based, hands-on learning experiences for youth in Mercer County.
HOWELL FARM is accepting applications for parent/child enrollment in its fall Hatchery Program, which begins in September. The program is designed to introduce children to life on the farm, while parents volunteer time helping the Howell Farm staff work with school group visits to the farm and other chores related to farming.
One parent must work at the farm as a volunteer in exchange for one child’s participation in the program. No experience is necessary.
The Hatchery Program is for children 3 to 5 years old and features activities, such as feeding farm animals, collecting eggs, storytelling and taking a hayride ride. The program runs one morning per week for 12 weeks, on either Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays or Fridays — Sept. 11, 12, 13 or 14 from 9:15 a.m.-12:15 p.m.
Parents may enroll by attending an organizational meeting on either Aug .22 at 1 p.m. or Aug 29 at 1 p.m. Meetings are intended for parents only. Applications will not be accepted by mail or phone.
There are still openings in the Summer Hatchery Program, the weeks of Aug. 20-24 and Aug. 27-31. Persons interested in the summer program should call the farm.
Howell Farm is located on Valley Road in Hopewell Township. Parking and admission are free. Hours are 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday; Sundays noon-4 p.m. For more information, call 737-3299, or e-mail [email protected]. The GPS destination for the Visitor Center and barn is 70 Woodens Lane, Lambertville, 08530.

