Monday, June 27, 2022
Since 1854 — News from Montcalm County and Ionia County, Michigan
Aiming to make her mark on what might be the closing chapter of her 4-H career, all London Eldridge had to do Saturday to unearth some needed inspiration was look up.
Competing in the Showman Sweepstakes Championship — the culmination of a week of 4-H’ers showing their animals throughout the Montcalm County Fair — the North Central 4-H Club member glanced at the large banners hanging within the livestock arena.
The Montcalm County Fair’s annual Kid’s Day caused some commotion in the animal barn this week.
With “kids” being the term to define newborn goats, it only seems appropriate that Kids Day at the fair on Friday saw four new baby goats to add to the 4-H family.
A year ago this week, local 4-H’ers struggled at times to show animals, ride horses or even enjoy each other’s company as day after day, rain came down without an end in sight.
At this year’s Montcalm County Fair, however, 4-H’ers — and their animals — likely wouldn’t complain if a few rain clouds drifted overhead.
Although the Montcalm County 4-H Performing Arts and Style Show was canceled for two years due to COVID-19, it made a return on Tuesday.
Performing Arts Director Laura Thompson noted that participation suffered as performers aged out of the show during the hiatus.
With every crowing rooster, every honking goose, clucking hen and gobbling turkey, 4-H’ers rejoiced at the sounds of their birds coming from the Montcalm County Fairgrounds on Monday morning.
One week ago, those birds were scheduled to remain at home due to a state-mandated poultry show ban put into effect to avoid any potential spread of the avian flu.
Morgan Hubbert’s 10 years of experience are paying off after being named 2022’s 4-H’er of the Year at the Montcalm County Fair.
As a young participant in 4-H, Hubbert, 16, always held herself to high standards, and throughout her 4-H career it was apparent she would be the perfect candidate because of her big heart and helping hand.
From heavy rains, dry spells and an unprecedented pandemic, the annual Montcalm County Fair has faced numerous obstacles in recent years.
This year, however, festival organizers are hopeful nothing stands in the way of putting on a weeklong fair that offers fun for children and adults of all ages.
For some 4-H’ers at this year’s Montcalm County Fair, showing their animals will look a little different — there will be no animal to show.
Of the 11 different varieties of animals shown at the annual fair, one of those — birds — will not be on hand this year due to a nationwide outbreak of the avian flu.
As the Montcalm County Fair approaches, the annual Kids Day on June 24 is something many families with little ones are looking forward to.
With the fair officially starting on June 19 and running for a week through the following Sunday, the fair board makes an effort to give glory to kids all days of the week.
From cowboys and livestock to smashed-up cars, the grandstand events at this year’s Montcalm County Fair promise to entertain.
Regular attendees to the Montcalm County Fair will notice one immediate change to the grandstand events from years past — the cost of parking.
