Erie County Fair announces new opportunities for youth agricultural exhibitors

The Erie County Agricultural Society announced the inaugural youth livestock expo (YLE) scheduled to take place during the 2022 Erie County Fair. The event was created with goals of utilizing the facility to its fullest extent, providing the youth another opportunity to show, bringing clout to the fair livestock shows, and to encourage youth to participate in market projects.

The YLE will be open to exhibitors ages 4-21 from the U.S. and Canada. The expo will encompass the four market animal species (beef, hog, lamb and goat). The program will require exhibitors to participate in at least one contest outside of the show ring (including marketing, interviewing, stall decorating, herdsmanship, and creating educational posters). Through nationally recognized judges, over $18,000 in total premiums for market and showmanship divisions will be awarded.

The new schedule will allow for exhibitors that exhibit through 4-H and FFA to compete, as well, during their stay in Hamburg.

“The youth livestock expo will be a second-to-none opportunity that youth livestock exhibitors won’t want to miss out on, Agriculture Manager Laura Kwilos said. “Those exhibitors that are already raising animals for 4H and FFA have the opportunity to raise another animal and show multiple times during their stay in Hamburg in August. We hope that this event draws exhibitors from near and far and continues to make the Fairgrounds in Hamburg where exhibitors want to showcase their livestock.”

A press release noted, “Agriculture plays an important role in the life of an economy and has been the basic source of food supply for mankind. Agriculture not only provides food and raw materials, but also employment opportunities to a large portion of the population. It is important we continue to provide creative ways to pique students interest in agriculture and keep them involved in agriculture beyond their years of exhibiting livestock.”

It doesn’t stop there: all YLE exhibitors will have two opportunities to win a $10,000 scholarship toward schooling. If an exhibitor wins three of the four Grand Champion Showmanship Awards or, if an exhibitor wins three of the four Grand Champion Marketing Animal Awards, they have the opportunity to win the $10,000. The scholarships are donated by the Erie County Agricultural Society.

Complete information is available at www.ECFair.org, or follow The Erie County Fair on Facebook for monthly updates.

The Erie County Agricultural Society is a private, not-for-profit membership organization. Established in 1819, it is the oldest civic organization in Western New York. The mission of the Erie County Agricultural Society (ECAS), sponsors of the Erie County Fair, is to preserve and enhance, by educational endeavors, the agricultural and historical legacy of New York state.

The 2022 Erie County Fair is scheduled for Aug. 10-22.