County government agencies will have tents at the Somerset County 4-H Fair this week with activities, games and information on important citizen programs and services.
The fair runs Wednesday through Friday, Aug. 12 to 14, from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily, at the Somerset County 4-H Fairgrounds at North Branch Park on Milltown Road.
Employees from about 30 divisions and/or affiliated agencies will answer questions and provide information. Visitors will have an opportunity to learn about county government through games, activities and interactive projects.
New this year will be several “selfie stations” within the county’s Main Tent where visitors can make photo memories using backdrops of some favorite Somerset County attractions.
Visitors are welcome to share their fun experiences at the 4-H Fair on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram using hashtags #scnj4h and #NJ4Hfairs.
The freeholders will sponsor Rizzo’s Reptile Discovery on Friday at 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. in the Prep Tent. An educator will blend nature, environment and conservation to teach how humans impact the environment. Visitors will see various animals and learn what they can do to save the earth.
The Sheriff’s Office will have a K-9 demonstration at 11 a.m. Thursday in the Clover Theater.
Again this year, there will be short demonstrations each day in the Government Main Tent from 10:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. in demonstrations scheduled 90 minutes apart and starting at 10:30 a.m.
From 1:30 to 2 p.m. each day, the Somerset County 4-H Clover Ensemble Shakespearean Minstrels will stroll around the Main Tent. At 9 p.m. daily the Somerset County 4-H Master Chefs Club will present a demo on butter making.
Throughout the day and night, there will be demonstrations by students from the Somerset County Vocational and Technical Schools related to the school’s course offerings in electrical construction, cosmetology, carpentry, screen printing, theater arts and agricultural science. Included also will be a puppet show. Teens can get the nitty-gritty on possible careers and talk with students after each demonstration.
The following demonstrations are definite:
On Wednesday at noon, a Somerset County Library System librarian will present “Farm Frolics,“ which includes both storytelling and singing.
On Thursday, at 10:30 a.m. the Somerset County Park Commission Horticulture Department will present “Growing Herbs Indoors.“
A schedule for all three days will be posted outside the Main Government Tent. The county sheriff’s office, library system and Raritan Valley Community College will share space in a tent adjacent to the county’s Main Tent.
In the sheriff’s area, activities are planned as follows:
Wednesday Bureau of Criminal Identification fingerprinting for children from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., Child safety-seat installation at 1 p.m. and Special Response Team from 5 to 9 p.m.
Aug. 13: Sheriff’s sales information at 10 a.m. Child safety-seat installation at 1 p.m. Fingerprinting for children from 3 to 9 p.m., SRT from 5 to 9 p.m. and Project Lifesaver Q&A from 5 to 9 p.m.
Friday: Child safety-seat installation at 10 a.m., fingerprinting for children from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. and SRT from 5 to 9 p.m.
The library system is celebrating its 85th anniversary with a Superhero Academy, featuring different crafts each day for children, teens and tweens.
In the Government Main Tent, the Office of Emergency Management will have Community Emergency Response Team and County Animal Response Team trailers behind its table for visitors to peruse. The Office on Aging and Disability Services will collect no-longer wanted prescription eyeglasses and sunglasses for the needy at their booth in the Main Tent.
Also, kids can enjoy games and activities at the Board of Freeholders, Planning Board, Cultural & Heritage Commission, Health Department, Solid Waste Management, Youth Services, Rutgers Cooperative Education/Family & Community Health Sciences and the Vocational and Technical Schools booths.
The Youth Council will have a Fatal Vision Goggles activity each day, allowing users to experience the visual impairment caused by drugs and alcohol. The Bridge Division will have a train running through a make-believe town. The Solid Waste Management Division will have a composter and the Engineering Division will have a bridge-building project and a life-size traffic signal.
At the Roads Division setup, to the right of the footbridge entrance, kids can operate a full-sized Gradall and excavator.
The Rutgers Master Gardeners will be in the Board of Agriculture tent. Master Gardener Kate Lawson and her 4H team decided on the theme, “How Does Your Garden Grow.” Their design will feature stations with information on how to plan a garden, how to perform a soil test and how to plant a garden.
A children’s area will be available with puzzles, arts and crafts and other gardening activities. For the seasoned gardener, a display with information on beneficial insects will be presented.
Master Gardeners will answer horticultural questions and distribute fact sheets and other information.
On Wednesday, the opening day of the fair, at 10 a.m. there will be a butterfly release at the tent. Two more releases are planned for Thursday and Friday around 6 p.m. Bring cameras for a photo of your child with a giant butterfly to commemorate the activity.
Several booths will have drawings for prizes that have been donated by businesses and organizations. At the Board of Freeholders/Public Information booth, prizes include tickets to the Raritan Valley Community College Theatre and Somerset Patriots’ home games; Leisure Pursuit passes for Somerset County Park Commission programs; and gift certificates for a dozen roses from Scott’s Florist in Raritan.
Other prizes include $30 gift certificates to Venetian Grille in Somerville, a composter from the Division of Solid Waste Management; a Serenity Basket of relaxation items from the Commission on Child Abuse and Missing Children in Somerville; a food basket and a $75 gift card to ShopRite from the employees of the Somerset County Board of Social Services; a $50 VISA gift card from Safe Communities Coalition of Somerset County and EmPoWER Somerset of Somerville, New Jersey; baskets of school supplies from Friends of Somerset County Youth in Bridgewater; a tool shed built by Somerset County Vocational & Technical High School students; a $15 gift certificate to Starbucks, donated by Somerset County Youth Council members; and a back-to-school backpack from the employees of the Somerset County Community Development Office.
Several booths at the fair will have giveaways for visitors.
Free shuttle buses are available from Raritan Valley Community College on Route 28 in North Branch. Visitors who wish to avoid traffic entering the fairgrounds can park at the college and take a shuttle bus. Signs will direct visitors to the proper parking area at the college.
Buses will run from 9:30 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. Buses will drop visitors by the footbridge at the entrance to the fairgrounds. Directions to the college and parking areas are at www.raritanval.edu/about/directions.html
In case of heavy rain or a high volume of visitors at a particular time, which impacts parking at the fairgrounds, visitors could be prohibited from parking at the fairgrounds for a period of time. If so, proceed to Raritan Valley Community College to take advantage of the free shuttle buses.
Visitors wishing to stay on top of parking conditions at the fairground can sign up for weather and emergency text alerts for evacuations, re-openings and heavy parking volume. You simply need a cell phone that is able to receive text messages. To sign up, text the words: “Follow 4HAlerts“ to “40404.“ Upon signing up, you will receive confirmation that you are signed up and information on how to stop getting alerts. Before signing up for alerts, make sure your text message does not have an automatic signature. Standard text-message rates may apply.
For information about the fair, call the Ted Blum 4-H Center at 908-526-6644 or visit http://somerset.njaes.rutgers.edu/4hfair/. A schedule of events is available at http://somerset.njaes.rutgers.edu/4hfair/FairSchedules.html.
