Somerset County 4-H Fair 2016: Events, Shows, Food

BRIDGEWATER, NJ — The Somerset County 4-H Fair will kick off next week with three days chock full of activities.

The fair will be held Aug. 10, 11 and 12 from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. at the North Branch Park 4-H Fairgrounds on Milltown Road in Bridgewater.

There are no parking or admission fees and free shuttle buses are available from Raritan Valley Community College. Call the 4-H office at 908 526-6644 for more information.

Here is a listing of all the activities and when to catch them during the fair.

Dogs

More than 50 4-H Dog Club members and their leaders are preparing their animals for the annual 4-H Fair.

• On Wednesday, The Showmanship Classes, where the handler presents their dog to its best advantage, will begin at 10:30 a.m. At noon, grooming and at 1:00, a special presentation, “Meet the Breeds”. At 2 p.m. the K-9 Leaders, 4-H Seeing Eye Club will give a demonstration. At 4:30p.m., testing will determine whether a dog qualifies as an AKC's Canine Good Citizen. This program is recognized as the gold standard for dog behavior. Dogs who pass the 10 step CGC test can earn a certificate and/or the official AKC CGC title. The Rally, where 4 dogs and 4 handlers all move in unison in the ring, starts at 6:30 p.m.
• Most of the day on Thursday are dog obedience classes, at 2 a Seeing Eye Demonstration, and at 3, the parent handling classes, when 4-H parents get in the ring and try to do showmanship classes with their 4-H’ers dog. The day ends with the costume classes.
• More obedience classes start the day on Friday. The Seeing Eye Show is at 7 p.m. and the grand finale of fun events, the Maze and Agility contest starts at 8:30 p.m.

Livestock:

Many animals are leased from local farmers who are willing to help prepare these youngsters for careers in agribusiness, agritourism and animal or veterinary science. Volunteer club leaders teach selection, showmanship, care and feeding and breeding of these animals. Pigs will be exhibited for the first time in decades.

• On Wednesday of the Fair, the Goat Show is at 10 a.m., the Sheep Show at 3 p.m. and the Alpaca Show at 7:30 p.m.
• On Thursday of the Fair, the Dairy Show is at 10 a.m., the Market Lamb Show at 2 p.m., the Beef Show at 3:30 p.m. and the Market Lamb Auction, with a professional auctioneer, is at 7:30 p.m.
• The extremely challenging fun classes are held on Friday. The Beef Obstacle course is at 10 a.m. The Alpaca Agility Course at 1 p.m., the Livestock Costume Class at 3 p.m. and the Goat and Sheep Obstacle Course is at 7:30 p.m.

Junior and Senior showmanship winners of each species, with the addition of Poultry, Dogs, Rabbits and Guinea Pig showmanship winners, gather to compete in the Round Robin at 5 p.m. on Friday. The challenge is to properly show all the other animals. Members teach each other the requirements for making each animal look its best. The winners of the Round Robin are the Junior and Senior Grand Champion Showmen of the 4-H Fair.

Robotics:

Fifteen volunteer leaders work with 75 4-H members in six clubs and for the first time, these clubs will have a tent of their own at the 4-H Fair. These members are learning technological skills that will help prepare them for the modern workforce.

• They will host a Lego Free Build every morning at 10 a.m. along with a High School Robotics Demonstration, Rokenbok Remote Controlled Vehicles and Robot Spin Art. You can drive a Lego Mindstorms Robot from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and see Ozobot Robots from 2 to 4 p.m. every day. Each evening from 6 to 10 p.m. the members will compete with robots they have built to meet the club challenge of the year.

Fair Food Tent:

The food at the Somerset County 4-H Fair is provided only by non- profit organizations.

The 4-H Chinese Culture Club sells Bubble Tea, Fried Rice, Spring Rolls and Lo Mein. The 4-H Prep Program sells Cotton Candy, spun by leaders and volunteers on the spot and the 4-H Association members whip up an incredible milk shake. The 4-H Exchange specializes in Ice Cream, 4-H Senior Council in Sno Cones, the 4-H Trainmasters in Traveling Tacos, Frozen Yogurt and Brownies and Wattles and Snood, the4-H Poultry club, in hot pretzels and novelty ice cream pops.

Other faith based, service and youth groups that serve Somerset County include: Boy Scout Troop 185 from North Branch sells Cheese Steaks and Curly Fries. Boy Scout Troop 90 sells Meatball Sandwiches, Chicken Caesar Salad, Waffles and S’more Sandwiches. Pizza is the pride of the Bridgewater Methodist Church, while Sausage, peppers and onions is a great sandwich made by the First United Methodist Church. Immaculate Conception Church brings the huge kettle and pops kettle corn all day. Martin Luther King Youth Center serves Cinnabons and fruit salad, while Week of the People serves Fancy Coffees, teas and cupcakes. Middle Earth brings the old standby; burgers, but now you can get a Phat Burger with cheese, eggs and pork roll all on the same bun. Vegetarian Burgers, Grilled Cheese, Fries and Onion Rings are also on the menu at Middle Earth. Middlebush Fire Department has been at the Fair for more than fifty years, serving Kielbasa, sweet corn, and draft birch beer. Montgomery Rotary offers a favorite fair food- Funnel Cake, along with Iced Cappuccino. Neshanic United Methodist Church makes two sandwiches; a turkey club and a pulled pork. The Rotary Club of Somerville/Bridgewater caters to the youngest customers, serving Chicken Nuggets, PP&J, Mac & Cheese and Juice boxes. Somerville High School Music Boosters has been serving Italian Ice for at least 20 years. Temple Beth El brings Falafel and fresh squeezed Lemonade while Temple Shalom offers Kosher Hot Dogs, Chili and Chicken Wings. Holy Ghost Carpatho-Russian Orthodox Church serves their own, homemade Pierogis, Potato Pancakes, and Khinkali, a Georgian Dumpling. The Douglas Hall Temple is frying up an amazing Southern Fish Fry. The Unitarian Universalist Church is cooling off with Gazpacho, Hummus, Waffle Ice Cream Sandwiches and Root Beer Floats.

(Image via Morguefile)

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