Tickets to this sheep-show are free: See Tompkins County 4-H's hard work in action

Tompkins County's 4-H program is ringing the dinner bell and hoping to bring the kids its taught back to 4-H acres to prepare for its annual Youth Fair on July 23-27 at the 4-H Acres in Ithaca.

4-H is a worldwide youth development program available in every state and over 80 countries, open to youth ages 5 to 19, who find in 4-H a supportive environment and opportunities for hands-on, experiential learning about things that interest them.

For a week each July, the Tompkins County 4-H program hosts this entirely youth-run fair that gives local 4-H members an opportunity their recently completed projects, receive feedback and evaluation and potentially be chosen to move on and present their work for evaluation at the next level, the Great New York State Fair in Syracuse.

Festivities this year at the Acres - located at 418 Lower Creek Road in Ithaca - will include animal shows, junior and adult Iron Chef competitions, displays of creative projects in the arts and sciences, hands-on activities, and an array of food options.

Admission and parking for the fair are free, and most events are open for all to attend.

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Expect rabbits, cows, sheep, goats and dogs to join in attendance, as Saturday’s events will include a chicken barbecue, a dog show, rabbit show and hopping competition, plant science activities and the fair’s awards ceremony.

“Our 4-H Youth Fair Board is run by an outstanding group of 4-H teens who work hard all year planning and implementing the Tompkins County 4-H Youth Fair,” 4-H Youth Development & Volunteer Coordinator VendaMae Harris, said in a Monday statement. “The youth on the board learn valuable leadership skills, cooperation, compassion and time management. They have worked very hard to plan a wide variety of activities, and we hope that you may consider joining us this year.”

A schedule of events for and more information about the Youth Fair is available on the Tompkins County Cornell Cooperative Extension website.