After being held virtually in 2020, the Chester County 4-H Fair, which provides an opportunity for 4-H members to showcase their projects and skills with farm animals, returned to an in-person event this year.

During the fair, held from Aug. 9 to 14 at the Romano 4-H Center in Honey Brook, 4-H members from throughout Chester County displayed the many projects they completed throughout the year. Visitors were able to view the exhibits, which included displays of quilts, woodworking, arts and crafts, clothing and textiles, photography and more.

The event also featured animal shows, where the 4-H members were able to demonstrate their skills and knowledge in the handling and husbandry of farm animals, including beef cattle, dairy cattle, goats, horses, pigs and sheep.

A Dairy Cattle Show, held on Aug. 13, was judged by Owen J. Roberts High School graduate Kyle Sollenberger, who competed at the 4-H Show for years while growing up on his family's dairy farm. He is now an animal science instructor at Technical College High School Brandywine Campus.

The competition had two categories - Showmanship and Fitting. "Showmanship is how well the 4-H member shows with their animal - showing the animal's best qualities," explained Toni Stuetz, 4-H extension educator. "Fitting is how well they prepare the animals for the show. Are the animals (well-groomed) and washed? Are their ears clean? There is a lot that goes into it."

Sollenberger provided feedback to each youth in the competition. For example, he complimented one competitor because her animal's hooves were well polished.

Stuetz noted that some of the 4-H members in the competition live on dairy farms, but those who do not may visit an active dairy farm instead. "Some kids are lease members, meaning they go to a dairy farm and use someone else's calves. They work with the animals and learn about the dairy industry," she said. "The face of Chester County has changed, and there are fewer and fewer family dairy farms. (Fewer) kids are living on dairy farms, but (youths) are still interested in the industry. They can have that opportunity (because) there are some really good people at local farms who are willing to work with them."

4-H is the youth development program of Penn State's College of Agricultural Sciences, Cooperative Extension. 4-H membership is open to all boys and girls ages 8 to 18. There are more than 30 4-H clubs in Chester County, which meet in local homes, schools, churches or community centers. Information about the clubs is available at http://www.extension.psu.edu/programs/4-h/counties/chester/clubs.

For more information about 4-H and to view photos from the recent 4-H Fair, visit http://www.facebook.com/chestercounty4H or http://www.facebook.com/TheRomano4HCenterofChesterCounty.