Santa Clara County Cooperative Extension

Healthy Food Systems       Healthy Environments       Healthy Communities       Healthy Californians

Growing Through Experience: 
4-H Youth Prepare to Shine at the Santa Clara County Fair

As the Santa Clara County Fair approaches, the energy within our local 4-H community is full of anticipation. For months, 4-H members have been working hard; not just to prepare animals or projects, but to grow as individuals. The fair isn’t just a showcase of skills; it’s a celebration of the learning journey that takes place all year long. With the guidance of our adult volunteer project leaders, youth learn, find their spark, and thrive.

In our urban 4-H barns and family farms across the county, youth are washing, grooming, and carefully training their animals, rabbits, goats, sheep, pigs, and more. They learn about proper nutrition, responsible care, and animal health, often rising early and putting in long hours to ensure their animals are fair-ready. Beyond the barn, other members have been immersed in creative arts; completing sewing projects, baking cakes, painting canvases, and building educational displays that reflect their diverse interests and hard-earned skills.

While the fair features ribbons, and coveted belt buckles, these are not the true measure of success in 4-H. The heart of the program lies in the growth of each member. Every project, whether it’s a prized pig or a patchwork quilt, is a tool for “learning by doing” the core principle of 4-H. Youth are encouraged to reflect on their efforts, evaluate their outcomes, and set goals for the year ahead.

Through this process, 4-H members learn responsibility, patience, and perseverance. They gain confidence in presenting their work and learn to receive feedback. These are the life skills that last long after the fairgrounds have emptied.

As you walk through the exhibit halls and livestock barns this fair season, take a moment to appreciate not just the quality of the work on display, but the character, determination, and passion behind each entry. The Santa Clara County 4-H program is building more than projects, it’s building tomorrow’s leaders, one learning experience at a time. See you at the fair! https://thefair.org/

For more information about joining 4-H in the 2025/26 program year, email zmahmood@ucanr.edu