Local 4-H programs and the county fair go together, just like mom and apple pie. For nearly 100 years, youth throughout North Idaho have gained valuable knowledge and leadership opportunities through their involvement in 4-H. While these experiences have developed and strengthened communication, organizational and citizenship skills enabling youth to become more productively engaged in their communities, many residents best associate the positive contributions of 4-H involvement through what they observe on exhibit during their local county fair.

"Fairs have long provided a critical opportunity for youth to proudly share and display with the public the skills they have gained. Not only do members gain valuable insight on how to improve upon their existing skills throughout the evaluation process, friendly competitions which emphasize good sportsmanship allows youth to compare their abilities with those of fellow members," according to Area 4-H Youth Extension Educator, Jim Wilson.

"Not having Firs where youth can enthusiastically demonstrate their skills and abilities would be like having athletic experience today where individuals only practiced but never held games/matches. Overall interest would rapidly dwindle. Public recognition and support for our youth's positive efforts are important," Wilson added.

While many people associate the 4-H program with cooking, clothing and livestock projects, as our society changed, so has the array of 4-H project offerings. When 4-H began in the early 1900s, a great deal of our country's population had agricultural ties to the land - thus the focus on corn and canning clubs. Building on the positive relationships between youth and animals, plus the need for developing economic stability, projects in animal science and home economics began to emerge.

Today, while those project areas remain a strong foundation for many 4-H programs, members are actively involved in technology-based projects such as digital photography, GIS/GPS, robotics and wind energy. Yet, despite all these changes, one constant remains - opportunities to exhibit at the county fair.

"Club work and exhibiting at the fair has taught me a great deal about responsibility and sportsmanship," said Bethany Bothwell, a Clover Kidz 4-H member and Idaho 4-H Teen Association officer. "Developing teamwork and helping others are valuable skills that will certainly benefit me in any future jobs."

As a direct result of their 4-H experiences, many youth have found exciting career opportunities and assumed leadership roles within their respective communities. Just one such example is Dr. Jenni Grimmett, a longtime Kootenai County resident.

"4-H enabled me to be who I am and where I am today, especially the confidence gained throughout public speaking. I love fairs and the time I spent there, creating many friendships. It also opened the door to developing many of the client contacts I have today," Dr. Grimmett said.

Even today, Dr. Grimmett provides her time and assistance to support 4-H and other animal-related functions during events such as the annual North Idaho Fair.

In the past 26 years, the vast Kootenai County Fairground improvements have been instrumental in providing necessary facilities which support a growing and diverse array of 4-H educational programs. Some of those improvements have been the result of effective partnerships between fair management, 4-H and local residents and businesses.

While some have bantered about the concept of moving the fairgrounds, Wilson stated, "Not only is our current fairgrounds central location vitally important for 4-H operations, it is uniquely positioned to provide a variety of long-term economic benefits for all residents of Kootenai County. These facilities provide so much more, beyond just the five days of fair in August."

This realization is also shared by the North Idaho Fair Foundation, a nonprofit organization dedicated toward helping secure important resources that will enable these facilities to flourish. Even with the current economic situation and limited county fairgrounds funding, this group sees the amazing potential that lies ahead. This is a vision local 4-H leadership endorses.

Indeed, the 4-H program and county fairs do make significant impacts in the lives of our local youth. An old African proverb says "It takes a village to raise a child." Even today, our villages and communities can come together to invest in and support those entities which will provide long-term dividends for our most precious of resources - our youth.

In moving forward for the next 100 years, the supportive relationships between 4-H and county fairs will remain an essential partnership in fostering the development of positive, productive youth leaders for tomorrow. Both organizations are sincerely appreciative of the trust and support they have received in the past, and hope to build on that foundation to make for an even more exciting future.

Contact: Jim Wilson, Kootenai County extension (208) 446-1680