Just as quickly as it came, the 2024 County Fair has suddenly gone.  In a single week, youth from all around the valley presented, exhibited, shown, and displayed their various projects that have ranged from coffee cakes to market pigs.  Filling the barns and the exhibit building, they showcased the hard work they have dedicated so much time to.  Some might ask, is it worth it?

As a mom and as a leader, I can tell you without a doubt that helping youth participate in the 4H program takes diligence, commitment and a lot of patience.  There are hours spent on every project whether it is carefully constructing a rocket just right or feeding out a steer for 5+ months.  And not all of those hours are happy hours.  With projects that are meant to be challenging, there are so many moments that are hard and even feel impossible to work through.  It all begs the question again, is it worth it?

I can’t answer that question for everyone and maybe I shouldn’t try to answer it the week after fair.  But I can tell you that if all you are working towards is a final ribbon, a final premium, or a final check then it probably will never be worth it.  There are easier ways to make a dollar or have someone tell you that you make good cookies.  You can collect a pile of ribbons much faster by ordering them on Amazon than working to earn them one at a time.

If participating in the county fair is about learning something new, taking on challenging projects, and experiencing life lessons, then the fair will always be worth it, regardless of the outcome.  The participating youth usually say they do it because it’s fun or because they want to make some money, but nine times out of ten, those kids have parents that are looking for something so much more.

I can’t count the number of times that my kids have said they wanted to just quit their projects.  There comes a point in all of their projects that it just seems too hard, it isn’t fun or there is something far better they could be doing with their time.  It’s hard to see the growth and progress when it comes incrementally and when they can’t see it, their efforts hardly seem worth the work.  But then the day comes when they are ready to present their final projects and they do it with excitement and pride for what they have done.

By no means was our 4H experience perfect this year.  We got poorer ribbons on some projects than we had hoped for and heard some criticism that was tough to take.  But my kids did some of their best work along the way to the show ring and the exhibit hall.  Winning the top spot would have been an incredible accomplishment, but I feel like a winner when I see the growth my kids have had as they raised their animals and made their home good projects from scratch. 

Now don’t get me wrong, I’m as competitive as any and we play to win.  But when asked if all the hard work is worth it, the ribbons and the placing have nothing to do with my answer.  Is it worth it to have a single judge give their opinion after just a few minutes of looking over my kid’s work and critiquing everything that they see?  It is because along the way, my kids have had experiences that have taught them resilience, courage, commitment, responsibility, sacrifice, and dedication.  

Is the time, energy, and exhaustion spent on fair worth it?  Are the many months of training, learning and practicing worth the few minutes in the arena?  You bet your boots they are, at least to this momma.

The ribbons will get dusty and fade and the money will be spent far too quickly, but the confidence and sense of accomplishment will never go away.  The knowledge that they didn’t back down from a challenge will always be there that they can tap into the next time life is hard
for them.