Brennan Risley with his 2024 Grand Champion Market Goat bought by Stevens Brothers.

Cornell Cooperative Extension of Chautauqua County’s 4-H Program is again highlighting the accomplishments of members at the Chautauqua County Fair.

For 4-H members, the fun kicked off on July 8 with the non-animal project judging. The youth presented their work in 25 project areas including gardening, photography, leathercrafting, health, foods, food preservation, sewing, cake decorating, recycling, and arts and crafts. Judges looked over each project, provided feedback and selected the best projects for honorable mention and to be advanced to the New York State Fair for further evaluation.

These projects, except for the perishable foods projects, can be viewed in the 4-H Exhibit Building during the Chautauqua County Fair, which begins today and ends Sunday. The building is open 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily and is organized by 4-H clubs. Each club decorates their own booth to match the year’s fair theme, “Once Upon A Fair-ie Tail.”

During the week of the Fair, 4-H members can be found showing animals in one of four locations. The places to look for shows are the Main Show Arena next to the Exhibit Hall, the Small Animal Show Arena next to the Goat Barn, the Rabbit and Poultry Barn, and the Horse Show Arena. Most 4-H animals begin showing on Monday, with the exception of 4-H horses, which begin on Wednesday.

A highlight for some 4-H youth and friends of 4-H is the 4-H Meat Animal Sale. The auction begins Friday at noon. If residents are interested in buying at the sale, information packets are available at the Extension Office in the Carnahan Center on the JCC Campus. The full 4-H schedule of events can be found on Facebook (@chautauquacounty4h) or on the Chautauqua County Fair website at www.chautauquacofair.org.