The 96th annual Mercer County 4-H Fair will be celebrated Aug. 2-3 at Howell Living History Farm.
The fair will run from 10 a.m.-8 p.m. Aug. 2, and from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Aug. 3. The opening ceremony will take place in the show tent at 1 p.m. on Aug. 2.
Your special family recipe, homegrown vegetables or creative project could earn a ribbon. One does not need to be a 4-H member to exhibit. The general public is encouraged to submit entries and share in the fun.
This fair 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. The theme is a celebration of the 100-year anniversary of Rutgers Cooperative Extension, of which 4-H Youth Development is a part. 4-H provides research-based, hands-on learning experiences for youth in Mercer County. The fair is an opportunity for 4-H members to showcase projects they have worked on throughout the year.
Visit http://mercer.njaes.rutgers.edu/4h/fair and find the fair exhibit catalog. Any class listed — including fine arts, photography, gardening, clothing and sewing, video and computer projects, woodworking and more — may be entered under the Open Division. Projects will be received from the general public for entry in the fair on Aug. 1 from 3-8 p.m. at the farm.
Admission and parking are free. Children’s activities, hayrides and exhibits will take place throughout the fair. Plenty of music, food and drink, such as homemade ice cream, also will be available.
For more information about 4-H or entering projects, contact Altaira Bejgrowicz at the Mercer County 4-H Office at 609-989-6833 or [email protected].
— HOWELL FARM is accepting applications for parent/child enrollment in its summer Hatchery Program, which 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 program is for children (ages 3 to 5) and features activities, such as feeding farm animals, collecting eggs, storytelling and taking a hayride ride. The program is offered the weeks of Aug. 18-22 and Aug. 25-29.
Parents do not need to attend an organizational meeting for the summer sessions. Applications may be downloaded on the farm’s website: www.howellfarm.org The fee for the one-week session is $25.
Howell Farm is operated and maintained by the Mercer County Park Commission. It is located on Valley Road, just off Route 29, 2 miles south of Lambertville. GPS directions: 70 Woodens Lane, Lambertville, 08530.
Visiting hours are 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday and noon-4 p.m. on Sundays. Parking and admission are free. For more information, call 609-737-3299 or visit websites:www.mercercountyparks.org OR www.howellfarm.org.
