FLORIDA 4-H
4H+FFA+FLORIDA STATE FAIR= GET YOUR GAME ON!
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Written by: Chris DeCubellis
xciting music and midway lights, the aromas of corndogs and other fair food, the camaraderie with others from all over the state, these are reasons why so many 4-H and Future Farmers of America youth look forward to competing at the Florida State Fair. But the meat and potatoes for many of these amazing kids are the competition and opportunity in exhibiting agricultural projects at the highest level. The Florida State Fair is held Februarys in Tampa. Thousands of 4-H’ers and FFA members have experienced the state fair, having shown their poultry, rabbits, swine, goats, sheep, dairy cattle and beef cattle. There is also judging and other ways to participate. Astronauts, famous businesspeople, presidents, even a former First Lady had been in 4-H as kids or teens. Taylor Swift and Tim McGraw were FFA chapter participants, as well. In addition to exhibiting their animals and projects, 4-H’ers at the Florida State Fair are encouraged to participate in the unique and educational Champion Youth Program and compete to be the overall Champion of Champions.
In the Champion Youth Program, in addition to caring for and exhibiting an animal project at the fair, participants also enter posters, record books and give related speeches. They also compete in “skillathons” to display competency in their segment of agriculture, earning points for the Champion Youth Program.
Florida fairs date to around 1904, when the South Florida Fair began in downtown Tampa. It later was the Mid-Winter Festival, changing to the Florida State Fair in 1915.
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