The Frederick County Guide Summer 2017 | Page 56

A R T S & L E I S U R E \\ // A RT S & L E ISU R E Great Frederick Fair CELEBRATES 155 YEARS WITH ‘FAIR OF DREAMS’ The 155th Great Frederick Fair opens its gates on Friday, Sept. 15, with free admission for children ages 10 and younger, and a discounted $5 rate for ages 11 and up. The fair continues through the following weekend, with events scheduled and rides and food vendors open through Saturday, Sept. 23, at 10 p.m. As usual, the fair will play host to the county’s 4-H club members, who will show animals and display projects they have been working on all year. In 1965, Frederick County 4-H chose its first 4-H Queen by the spin of a wheel. Today, there is a royal court that includes a king, queen, princesses, princes, junior prince, junior princess, and royal ambassadors. The royalty contest consists of resume submission, applications, interviews with judges, and on-stage presence and public speaking judging. The Frederick County 4-H Royalty Contest kicks off The Great Frederick Fair each year at the Livestock Show Pavilion (Building 32). The 4-H King, Queen, and runners-up each receive scholarships provided by Frederick County 4-H and The Great Frederick Fair, Inc. Throughout the fair and the following year, the royalty represent 4-H at public events and provide leadership to 4-H members. In addition, Frederick County 4-H member’s cakes, pies, and cookies entered in the fair are auctioned off to support the 4-H program. Club members, families, volunteers and a host of businesses and individuals pack the Beef Show Ring on Sunday night to bid on baked goods made by the young chefs of Frederick County. This annual tradition provides Frederick County 4-H with the bulk of its operating funds. All of the funds raised go directly to Frederick County 4-H. With the money raised, Frederick County 4-H provides hands-on learning programs for the youth of Frederick County. In addition to the 4-H program activities, there are a host of other ways to learn and experience the county’s farming tradition throughout fair week. Demonstrations throughout the week include bluegrass music, home canning, musical performances, corn shelling , homemade root beer making, butter making, boutonnieres, making plastic, crafts, forging, how to design a patio garden, homemade ice cream, bookmarkers, beekeeping, container gardening and a variety of demos by local FFA chapters. COURTESY OF KITTY GIALANELLA/A PERSONAL TOUCH PHOTOGRAPHY 54 thefrederickguide.com COURTESY OF MICHAEL WEDDLE/REMOTELY FILMED Summer 2017 // FREDERICK COUNTY GUIDE 55