It’s almost time for the Union County Livestock Association’s Agricultural Fair, with only about three weeks until fair activities begin. The event will include competitions for local 4-H and FFA youth, as well as the livestock shows and auctions and time is running short for getting registered for several of the events.
The registration deadline for both the table setting and Union County 4-H Pie Contest is March 3, at 4 p.m. Applications for both contests are available at the University of Florida IFAS Extension Office/Union County Agricultural Education building (also the location of all of the competitions and the livestock shows), located behind the R.J. Phillips Recreation Facility off C.R. 121.
Both of the above contests will be held in the education building on March 13 at 5 p.m.
The table setting competition is open to any youth that live in or attend school in Union or Bradford county ages 8 – 18, with a special division for 4-H Clover Buds ages 5-7. The exhibits will be judged in one of four age divisions. All contestants must bring their own card table for their entry. All participants must arrive by 4:30 p.m. to set up the day of the competition and, while they can have assistance carrying in their materials, these helpers must leave the room and the youth must set up their entry themselves with no assistance.
No one but the competitors will be allowed in the room until after the judging, with disqualification being the penalty if the rule is not followed. The participant may not leave the room until after the judging without the permission of the supervisor on site. Participants must be able to remove their displays from the room after the judging is complete, although some may be allowed to remain if the display space is not needed for later competitions.
Entrants in the pie competition must be on site by 4 p.m. and remain present for the judging. The pie must be the work of the individual and be accompanied by the recipe on an index card. The pies must be in disposable pie pans and will not be returned to the exhibitor. The item will be judged on appearance, taste and the entrant’s knowledge about the item. Judges decisions are final.
The registration deadline for the 4-H/FFA Youth Exhibit room is 4 p.m. on March 6. Item check-in will be on March 6-10. from 8 a.m. until 4 p.m. for non-food exhibits. Food items will be checked in on March 13, between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. Items will compete in 13 areas: photography, educational posters, woodworking, clothing and textiles, fiber arts, scrapbooking, nature/environment, creative arts, wearable art, decorated items, food and nutrition, cake decorating, and painting and drawings.
The UCLA livestock events will begin on March 14, with cattle and swine weigh-ins and the rabbits and poultry check-ins between 4-7 p. m. The Skill-A Thon will be held at 10 a. m. on March 15, and the Swine Show will begin at 6 p.m. March 16 will feature the Exhibitor Fun Day from 10 a.m. until 12 p.m. The Rabbit Show and awards will begin that afternoon at 4 p.m. and will be followed by the Poultry Show and awards.
The Cattle Breed Show will take place that evening, beginning at 6 p.m. March 17 will be a long day, with the Livestock Judging Contest having an 8 a.m. check-in, the steer show held at 6 p.m. Following this, on March 18, the day will begin with the 8 a.m. check-in for the Goat Show, with the actual show to follow beginning at 9 a.m. The Buyers Luncheon will be held at 12 p.m., with the Swine and Cattle Sale set to start at 1 p.m.
Organizers are hoping for good weather for the events and hope that any interested Union County residents will come out and enjoy some or all of the events.
