Youth Building offers programs and 4-H displays during the fair
Wearing his Superman diaper cape, mild mannered Uriah Pisarcik, 11 months old, races towards the waiting arms of his cheering mother, Kristine Pisarcik Tuesday evening to win his heat of the diaper derby challenge at the Fayette County Fair. Photo taken in August, 2010.
Roberto M. Esquivel/Herald-Standard.com
?In this photo taken in 2010, Lucas Holup, 8 months, of Grindstone, son of Laura Holup, stops to admire a yellow ball before crossing the finish line to win his diaper derby matchup at the Fayette County Fair.
A new program called “The Brain Show: Interactive Trivia” can be seen at the Youth Building at 7 and 9?p.m. Thursday, Aug. 4, and Friday, Aug. 5, during the Fayette County Fair.
A press release from the Penn State Agricultural Extension office about the program explained, “This interactive trivia game, which is a big hit with all ages, offers authentic fun and excitement of a real live TV game show, including colorful podiums, featuring computerized lights and sounds.”
Cathy Brady, extension educator, and Gypsy Beatty, 4-H assistant, both with the extension, explained some members of Fayette County 4-H first saw the program when they attended a recent conference at Penn State University in University Park.
With their good reviews, the Fayette County Fair decided to offer the program, which will be featured on the stage at the Youth Building. It comes with a colorful backdrop and podiums for contestants who will tackle trivia categories that include some geared towards the fair.
“Teens and families of all ages will get involved,” said Brady.
This is one of many activities being offered at the Youth Building during the fair, including an opportunity to send greetings to the troops in the Pocket Flag Project as well as standards such as Cooking With Kids, Master Gardeners, Agency Day and the display of hundreds of 4-H projects.
In fact, the building is a showcase for 4-H, a national youth program that includes more than six million youths and adults.
According to the national website, “4-H enables America’s youth to emerge as leaders through hands-on learning, research-based youth programs and adult mentorship, in order to give back to their local communities.”
Brady said there are about 1,500 youths involved in Fayette County 4-H programs from traditional clubs to school enrichment programs to after-school clubs.
There are 18 countywide and community clubs in operation that teach youths about animals, archery, gardening, sewing and shotguns. There are two community clubs that tackle a variety of subjects: The Sunshine Bunch and 4 Fun Club. New Horizons in the mountain area is a livestock club that handles a variety of animals instead of a specific species.
Fayette County 4-H is always looking for new members as well as leaders to help with the clubs. The Youth Building offers a look at what local 4-H is all about.
The Pocket Flag Project will be held daily from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8?p.m. in a partnership between Fayette County 4-H, the Fayette County Fair and the Veterans of Foreign Wars that allows fair-goers to send messages and pocket-sized flags to the troops.
The following is a look at other activities and programs taking place in the Youth Building during the fair:
Thursday, July 28: From 9?a.m. to 5?p.m., items can be brought in for the Fayette County 4-H Benefit Auction and for booths dedicated to specific 4-H clubs. Opening ceremonies for the 2011 Fayette County Fair will take place at 6:30?p.m.
Friday, July 29: Carol Cottom and Cheryl Chiplaskey, nutrition educators for the extension, will examine the U.S. government’s new food plate in a program called “Cooking with Kids: Nutrition Links” at 3?p.m. The Fayette County 4-H Benefit Auction will begin at 6?p.m.
Saturday, July 30: Agency Day will take place from 3 to 7?p.m., featuring local agencies that benefit youths. New this year is the addition of colleges, universities and libraries. “Cooking With Kids: Nutrition Links” is at 3?p.m. The Pennsylvania Honey Queen gives a presentation on honeybees and beekeeping at 4?p.m. The Westmoreland Squares give a demonstration on square dancing at 6 and 8?p.m.
Sunday, July 31: The 4-H Fashion Show will be held at 3?p.m., featuring members of the Sew Special club. The 4-H Communications Contest, another fair tradition, will follow at 4?p.m. Uniontown Area Senior High School’s sax quartet will perform at 6?p.m.
Monday, Aug. 1: From 9?a.m. to 5?p.m., entries will be accepted for 4-H projects that include flowers, vegetables, sewing and crafts. “Gardening with Children,” featuring the popular grass heads, will be presented by Val Sesler of the Master Gardeners at 5?p.m.
Tuesday, Aug. 2: The building is closed during judging of entries from 9?a.m. to 1?p.m. “Cooking with Kids: Nutrition Links” will be held at 3?p.m. and the popular Diaper Derby will start at 6?p.m.
Wednesday, Aug. 3: “Building and Growing Kids Clinic” will be presented by the Uniontown Lowe’s from 3 to 5?p.m., giving youths the chance to work on projects such as birdhouses and little cars. Zumba, a dance exercise program that has swept the nation, will return at 6?p.m. And the Fayette County Pep Rally begins at 7?p.m., featuring cheerleading squads from local schools who show off their skills and root for the home team.
Thursday, Aug. 4: Two new programs include “How Trees Grow and Smokey Bear” at 3?p.m. and “Fur Trade” by Fort Necessity National Battlefield at 4?p.m. “Brain Show: Interactive Trivia” will begin at 7 and 9?p.m.
Friday, Aug. 5: “Cooking with Kids” will offer its last presentation of the fair at 3?p.m. “Brain Show” will be featured again at 7 and 9?p.m.
Saturday, Aug. 6: The last day of the fair will include the final presentation of “Gardening with Children” at 4?p.m.
For more information on any of the programs listed or 4-H, stop by the Youth Building during the fair. A 4-H store is also set up in the building and the 4-H refreshment stand is operated adjacent to the Youth Building.