Fair Programming Showcases Students’ 4-H, FFA Efforts to Educators, Coaches

Columbiana County (Ohio) Farm Bureau’s Show and Tell at the Fair gave students an opportunity to show their school administrators, teachers, band directors and coaches the time, energy and commitment 4-H and FFA projects require. The initiative was geared toward educators who had not been exposed to such projects.

As part of the effort, Columbiana Farm Bureau also provided the teachers and coaches with a packet of cards highlighting 72 agriculture-related jobs, the requirements for each one, potential earnings and where employment opportunities could be found. Alongside the cards were 4-H and Farm Bureau information, Ag Mags, Farm Bureau Magazine, a Farm Bureau membership application and a Farm Bureau water bottle and logoed stress toy, all meant to be shared with students and fellow teachers to drum up interest in agriculture careers and raise awareness about 4-H, FFA and Farm Bureau.

Working with long-time collaborators like the local 4-H Extension office, the county fair board, the dairy boosters and FFA teachers, Columbiana County strategically promoted the event, inviting all the county schools and scheduling it so it complemented the rest of the fair events.

Among the partners’ contributions were free tickets for invited educators from the fair board, free milkshakes from the dairy boosters and handouts from 4-H. The groups mapped out how the special visitors should be guided throughout the fair to minimize crowding and ensure they saw all the areas. FFA teachers provided student tour guides and 4-H made sure there were kids in every barn to show the projects and answer questions.

During the 90-minute tour, which more than 45 educators registered for, the educator participants could review project books that demonstrated the knowledge needed for an exhibitor to show an animal or still project at the fair. There was also discussion about Ag in the Classroom and what Farm Bureau could bring to their classrooms and schools.

County Activities of Excellence

Show and Tell at the Fair earned Columbiana County Farm Bureau a County Activities of Excellence Award. They were among 25 counties invited to display their activity at the 2026 American Farm Bureau Convention trade show in January in Anaheim, California.