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After three years of navigating challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, the Boulder County Fair is back in full swing, with a wide array of projects featured in the 4-H competitions and products.

The fair is open to the public from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Aug. 10-13 at the Boulder County Fairgrounds, 9595 Nelson Road, Longmont.

Melanie Bohren, president of the fair board, has been leading the exposition since 2020. She said that much of the heart and soul of the fair lie in the 4-H competitions — which is the nation’s largest youth development organization that provides invaluable learning experiences for youth in the community.

The 4-H year begins in October and runs through September, where youth can choose to participate in a variety of hands-on projects that range from non-animal projects, like cake decorating and photography, to agricultural engagement with livestock animals like goats, rabbits, dogs, horses, pigs and more.

“We’ve really tried to go away from the commercialized aspect of it and focus on embracing the community and AG (agriculture) education,” Bohren said, “and really trying to tell that story of where food comes from and the safe way to raise these animals.”

During the year, kids in the age range of 8 to 18 years old can partake in chosen projects which help develop their skills and knowledge. Their efforts culminate at the Boulder County Fair, where they are able to display their animals and projects in an assortment of competitions.

Longmont resident Andrea Kragerud said she grew up on a farm where she was instilled with a solid work ethic and good values in raising animals and caring for a farm as a family.

“I’m excited that fair’s coming up because with the farm-to-user program, we got a quarter of a beef,” Andrea Kragerud said. “So we support a kid in that way — and we have excellently well-raised beef.”

The county fair offers a chance for attendees to purchase locally raised beef, pork, lamb and goat as part of its livestock sale that supports local farmers, 4-H contestants and Future Farmers of America. More information can be found at bit.ly/3QmYBEy.

Andrea Kragerud’s daughter Anna Kragerud has been competing in 4-H competitions since she was 9 years old.

Andrea Kragerud said that having animals around taught Anna the value of hard work. These animals depend on Anna’s care, and Andrea Kragerud said this has helped Anna learn what it really means to care for another living creature. Her hope for Anna was that “she started something and successfully completed something” while making a difference in an animal’s life, especially with “how it was treated and how it was raised.”

Anna revealed her favorite pig, Meg, a Berkshire, has been her showmanship companion in all of the shows she has attended.

One of the essential components of the 4-H competitions is the showmanship class, where the bond between the youth and their animals is on full display. Participants are judged not only on their grooming and handling skills but also on their knowledge and care for their animals.

Andrea Kragerud said Meg could potentially be bought back from her breeder, which is an honor since it is rare that a breeder buys their product back.

When Anna first got Meg, she didn’t have any other pigs. Meg lived in a dog crate in the Kragerud’s garage for a week because Anna didn’t want her to be alone on the farm. Anna said she thinks Meg is her favorite pig because of the strong attachment she developed with the swine during that additional week they spent together bonding.

“I fed her almost an entire bag of marshmallows that first week just to try to get her to like me,” Anna said. “I would go sit with her for hours and she would just climb on me.”

Baby Meg, who was only 50 pounds when she first arrived at the Kragerud’s farm, is now a 260 pound, prize-winning swine.

Anna said saying goodbye at the end of a project is still incredibly difficult, but it has instilled invaluable lessons. She said her bond with the animals has taught her the importance of ethical animal care and the gratification of knowing that the animals will serve a greater purpose.

“It’s so sad because you can always have a bond with every pig, but you know that you’re giving them the best life that they can have,” Anna said. “I love what I do with raising the pigs but it also has helped me to know that I can help feed the community and the people that buy them.”

Anna said she wants to go to college to study animal nutrition, specializing in pigs. She said she would work to create new feeds, helping to show families and farmers the right feed for their animals, as well as redevelopment on how to create feed, a process that can enhance and maximize the life of every type of pig.

Fair board president Bohren said as she watches the 4-H contestants move through the program, she finds pride in watching the participants take on more responsibility as the years pass.

“That’s one of the things I love the most about working with the kids,” Bohren said.

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