Fayette County 4-H

06/12/2026

On Tuesday, June 2nd, Fayette County 4-H youth got together to learn the basics of sewing! We learned how to thread a sewing machine, how to load a bobbin, and how to assemble a pillowcase. Some of our sewing workshop participants are even planning to bring their sewing project to show at the fair this summer!

We would like to give a big "thank you!" to the Sefton HCE and Vandalia Unit HCE volunteers who took the time to share their skills and knowledge with our 4-H members. We really appreciate it!

06/11/2026

Our dog exhibitors are hard at work getting ready for the 4-H and Jr Dog Show this morning!! Three exhibitors joined Dog Superintendent and 4-H volunteer, Judy Fasnacht to practice dog obedience skills. Thank you to everyone who took the time to come out this morning!

06/05/2026

Master Showmanship Contest

The Fayette County Farm Bureau Young Leaders would like to welcome you to participate in the Master Showmanship Contest again this year. There are two different age divisions (Junior and Senior) and you will have the opportunity to show three different species of animals! Please read the linked instructions and follow the link below to register. You must be enrolled in a Fayette County 4-H Livestock project in order to participate. Registrations are due no later than Friday, July 10, 2026.

The local contest will take place on Sunday, July 12, 2026 at 3:30 PM in the 4-H Arena at the Fayette County Fairgrounds.

Contest Rules: https://go.illinois.edu/MasterShowmanship2026Information
Registration: https://go.illinois.edu/MasterShowmanship2026

Questions? Please contact Fayette County Farm Bureau Manager, Katie Cayo-Albert (618) 283-3276.

The Fayette County Master Showmanship Contest is sponsored by the Fayette County Farm Bureau Young Leaders and Fayette County 4-H. Please fill out this form to indicate your participation. Questions? Please contact Fayette County Farm Bureau Manager, Katie Cayo-Albert (618) 283-3276 or Olivia S...

06/05/2026

Fair Entry registrations are due TODAY, JUNE 5TH BY MIDNIGHT. Olivia is back from her program, and will be approving registrations and following up on questions submitted while she was occupied earlier. If you have a question about Fair Entry after 4:40 pm today, please email her at [email protected].

Fair Entry Is Open!! Entries Due by June 5th

Fair Entry is officially open for the 2026 Fayette County 4-H Fair! Fair will be here before you know it, so make sure you are working towards your project exhibit completion, and check that your project fits into one of the exhibit classes listed in the Fayette County 4-H Fair Handbook (linked above). Not sure what class your project falls into? Reach out to Olivia early to get it sorted!

If you are unfamiliar, Fair Entry is the program we use to register your specific projects for fair. ZSuites is what you used to register for 4-H and select your project categories by the April 1st deadline but this is where you will tell us what exactly you are bringing to fair.

NEW THIS YEAR WITH FAIR ENTRY!

The Auction Pre-Nomination Form is now a part of your Fair Entry submission. It will pop up as a required question as you sign up for your exhibit classes.
Livestock entries will require you to attach a tag number for your breeding and market classes. (I have included a section to the Fair Entry Guide to show what this will look like. The Fair Entry Guide can be found in your May Newsletter or at https://go.illinois.edu/FairEntryGuide )

06/05/2026

It's time for stall registration!! Please fill out the form below for each type of livestock you are bringing to the 4-H Shows. Stall Registrations are due by June 17th.

Sheep & Goats Stall Registration: https://form.jotform.com/261535304547153
Beef & Dairy Stall Registration: https://form.jotform.com/261535575401152
Swine Stall Registration: https://form.jotform.com/261535459027157

06/03/2026

Remember! Cloverbuds can exhibit a project too! We will have a table set aside for Cloverbuds at the General Project Judging where Cloverbuds can bring something they worked on during the 4-H year. They will get the opportunity to talk about the work they did, and the experience of talking to a judge! They even get specially recognized at the General Project Awards Ceremony!
Does this sound like something your Cloverbud would like to do? Make sure to sign up on Fair Entry under the Cloverbud class in general projects to participate!

Did you know that your Cloverbud (4-H member between the ages of 5 and 7) can bring a project to the fair? They can! We will have a table set aside for Cloverbuds at the General Project Judging where Cloverbuds can bring something they worked on during the 4-H year. They will get the opportunity to talk about the work they did, and the experience of talking to a judge! They even get specially recognized at the General Project Awards Ceremony!

Does this sound like something your Cloverbud would like to do? Make sure to sign up on Fair Entry under the Cloverbud class in general projects to participate!

06/03/2026

Fair Entry is DUE FRIDAY! Remember to get your entries submitted by JUNE 5TH. Check out the instructions on how to complete your entry at https://go.illinois.edu/FairEntryGuide or call the office at 618-283-2753. (Olivia is going to be out of the office on Friday for a 4-H program, so if you have questions make sure to send them today or tomorrow!!)

IMPORTANT NOTE FOR NEW 4-H FAMILIES!! Fair Entry registration is SEPERATE from the project enrollment you did on ZSuite back in April. Fair Entry is where you sign up for the specific exhibit classes you will shown in at the fair, while ZSuite just tells me what project category you are learning for the 4-H year.

Fair Entry Is Open!! Entries Due by June 5th

Fair Entry is officially open for the 2026 Fayette County 4-H Fair! Fair will be here before you know it, so make sure you are working towards your project exhibit completion, and check that your project fits into one of the exhibit classes listed in the Fayette County 4-H Fair Handbook (linked above). Not sure what class your project falls into? Reach out to Olivia early to get it sorted!

If you are unfamiliar, Fair Entry is the program we use to register your specific projects for fair. ZSuites is what you used to register for 4-H and select your project categories by the April 1st deadline but this is where you will tell us what exactly you are bringing to fair.

NEW THIS YEAR WITH FAIR ENTRY!

The Auction Pre-Nomination Form is now a part of your Fair Entry submission. It will pop up as a required question as you sign up for your exhibit classes.
Livestock entries will require you to attach a tag number for your breeding and market classes. (I have included a section to the Fair Entry Guide to show what this will look like. The Fair Entry Guide can be found in your May Newsletter or at https://go.illinois.edu/FairEntryGuide )

06/02/2026

The Fayette County 4-H June Newsletter is out! Lots of information about fair week in this one, so make sure to check it out:

06/01/2026

Join us for a series of practices to get our Dog Exhibitors ready for the 4-H Dog Show! We will be going over show patterns, best practices, and things the judges will be looking for in the showring. If you have thought about showing dogs and want to learn more, then this will be a great intro! (You do not have to be showing dogs this year to attend the practices.)

Day/Time: Thursday, June 4th, 11th, 18th, and 25th from 9:00 - 10:00 am
Locations: June 4th @ U of I Extension office at 118 N 6th St., Vandalia (no dogs)
June 11th, 18th, and 25th @ Fayette County Fairgrounds Showring (dogs allowed, must be up-to-date on vaccines and not in season)

Register at https://go.illinois.edu/FayetteCo4-HDogShowPractice