Kalamazoo County Parks and Expo Center
Kalamazoo County Youth Fair 4-H Participant Info
We are hard at work planning the 2024 Kalamazoo County Youth Fair & Family Festival. We will once again focus on an outstanding event that will highlight the Kalamazoo County 4-H programs. 4-H livestock and horse shows along with additional 4-H activities will take place starting Tuesday, August 6, with the 4-H livestock auction on Friday afternoon. The fair will culminate in a family festival for the public on Saturday, August 10 that will offer fun entertainment and activities, plus hands-on demonstrations and educational activities for the community.
2024 4-H Animal Show and Sale Schedule
| Monday July 28, 2024 | ||
| 6:00pm | Carcass Program Live Animal Evaluation (Animals must arrive before 5:30pm) |
Pease Packing – Scotts, MI |
| Wednesday, July 31, 2024 | ||
| 10:00am | Carcass Program Test and Results Announcements | Pease Packing – Scotts, MI |
| Friday, August 2, 2024 | ||
| 7:00pm | Dairy Show | Vlietstra Dairy Farm – Kalamazoo, MI |
| Tuesday, August 6, 2024 | ||
| 9:00am | Horse Showmanship & English Performance Classes | Horse Arenas |
| 9:00am | Swine Show | Livestock Show Arena |
| 2:00pm | Rabbit Show Cavies and Critters Show (following Rabbit Show) Rabbit Showmanship |
Rabbit Barn TBD location |
| 6:00pm | Sheep Show | Livestock Show Arena |
| Wednesday, August 7, 2024 | ||
| 9:00am | Horse Western Performance & Trail Classes | Horse Arenas |
| 9:00am | Poultry Show | Livestock Show Arena |
| 2:00pm | Feeder Calf Show | Livestock Show Arena |
| 6:00pm | Beef Show | Livestock Show Arena |
| Thursday, August 8, 2024 | ||
| 9:00am | Horse Dressage & Jumping Classes | Horse Arenas |
| 9:00am | Goat Show | Livestock Show Arena |
| Friday, August 9, 2024 | ||
| 9:00am | Horse Versatility & Gymkhana Classes | Horse Arenas |
| 10:00am | Small Animal Livestock Sale (goats, poultry, rabbits) | Livestock Show Arena |
| 1:00pm | Large Animal Livestock Sale (swine, sheep, beef) | Livestock Show Arena |
| Saturday, August 10, 2024 | ||
| 9:00am | Dog Show | TBD location |
| 6:00pm | Master Showmanship | Livestock Show Arena |
MANDATORY 4-H EXHIBITOR MEETING
A pre-Fair mandatory exhibitor meeting will be held the evening of Thursday, August 1, 2024. Attendance is mandatory for all 4-H horse and livestock exhibitors.
4-H Livestock Sale
The 4-H Livestock Sale is to be held on Friday, August 9 at 10:00am. All animals offered for sale must be listed with the MSU Extension, Kalamazoo County 4-H Youth Department. Any exhibitor with market animals may withdraw his/her animal from the sale no later than 6:00pm Thursday before the sale. Special arrangements for the withdrawal, after that time must be made with the County 4-H Office. A six percent (3 percent for beef only) commission will be deducted from the bid price of each sale. These funds will be placed in an account administered by the 4-H Livestock Superintendents. This account will provide for the cost of doing auction sale business, uncollected buyers accounts, and educational opportunities for livestock project youth. Check-off of project deduction may also be deducted where required. Members are allowed only eight market sales, this does not include Grand Champion or Reserve Champion livestock.
Entries
Entries will begin on May 1, 2024 in Fair Entry. The entry deadline will be June 15, 2024.
Camping
Camping will be available on-site at the Expo Center & Fairgrounds for 4-H families. The Expo Center will begin taking campground reservations on May 1, 2024 and the deadline for camping reservations is July 28, 2024. Camping will be $150.00 for the week (8/5-8/11) plus a $5 reservation fee. Campers may arrive as early as Monday, August 5, 2024 with check-out on Sunday, August 11, 2024. See the Fair Book page 3 for additional camping information.