4H+FFA+FLORIDA STATE FAIR=

GET YOUR GAME ON!

Written by: Chris DeCubellis

Exciting 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.

Top kids in each ag species compete on the final day of the fair in a round-robin to determine the overall Florida State Fair Champion of Champions. Basically, the more involved youth are in all activities, the more points they can earn, and this makes them competitive in the Champion of Champions program. It also bolsters their premium money awarded from the fair.

The fair each year has a central theme—2022 will be animal healthcare. Typically, the fair has an educational seminar on a Saturday in September for new and returning exhibitors. There is also a Livestock Ethics training and certification to complete, good for three years, in order to exhibit an animal in the fair.

Florida fairs date to around 1904, when the South Florida Fair began in downtown Tampa. It later was the MidWinter Festival, changing to the Florida State Fair in 1915. Because of our weather, each year it is the country’s first state fair. The coronavirus caused its cancellation last year, but world wars had caused it to close in previous years, as well. The next dates are February 10-21, 2022. And fair participants don’t always show animals—there are judging contests in livestock, horse, dairy and poultry. Florida’s 4-H and FFA members are invited to compete. And there are other ways to participate that include extensive arts and crafts categories, as well as competitions in poetry, woodworking, food preservation, painting, sculpting, drawing, sewing and photography. These exhibits remain on display for tens of thousands of visitors for the duration of the fair.

FLORIDA 4-H

If you are a 4-H club member and would like to learn how to take your project to the next level, contact me and I will be happy to discuss what the Florida State Fair might offer. If you are not in 4-H, but the fair sounds fun, I will help you find out how to join a local 4-H club. (cdecube@ufl.edu)

Here is to an exciting 2022 Florida State Fair! FCM

Roundup

Florida State Fairgrounds, Tampa 330 acres near Interstate 4 and Interstate 75, Hillsborough County floridastatefair.com

Florida 4-H, florida4h.ifas.ufl.edu

Florida Future Farmers of America Association, flaffa.org