Get Informed:
Join the fun and find your answers

The very best way to start is by attending the meetings being held to discuss your animal class. You'll have a chance to ask any questions you have, discover what you need to do to excel and get to meet other kids who are interested in the same things you are. Contact the appropriate organization for dates and locations:

Large Livestock Committee                                                                             Gerri Fleetwood  269-674-4096  / Beverly Rajzer  269-423-8688  

Small Market Animal Committee
Melva DeVries  (269) 521-3873  / Mary Darling  (269) 624-6944 

Van Buren 4-H Horse Coucil
James Jonatzke  (269) 621-2256 /Nancy Wheatley  (269) 271-7072 

Domestic Animal Committee                                                                                   Gary Consford   269-521-4959   / Denise Noble  269-303-5407 

Form Completion:
What to Complete and When It's Due

For each submission, you'll need to complete and return several forms along with $3 for your fair pass. The list of necessary forms can be found on our forms page. Questions can be directed to Janice Zerbe at  (269) 657-8213  and completed forms can be dropped off to MSU Extension- Van Buren County or mailed to:

VAN BUREN YOUTH FAIR
PO Box 271
Hartford, MI  49057

Animal Information:
Tagging, Testing & Record Books

Tagging: Steer tagging is due by December 31st. Tags are available one half hour prior to Fair Board meetings. Please contact Bev Rajzer with questions regarding tags,  269-423-8688 .

• Youth age 9-19 may tag up to 4 steers, one must be dairy, may take 2 to the fair and one carcass.

     Other livestock needs to be tagged by May 1.

• Swine-Youth ages 6-19 may tag up to 5 pigs, may take 2 to the fair and one carcass.
• Sheep-Youth ages 6-19 may tag up to 5 sheep, may take 2 to the fair and one carcass.
• Dairy and/or Beef type Feeder Calf -Youth ages 6-19 may tag 3 (beef and/or dairy) feeders, may take 2 to the fair.

Testing: Poultry testing for Pollorum Typhoid is performed in June.

Record Books:

Livestock: Beef, Sheep, Swine, Dairy
Exhibitor will need to have a completed record book for their project evaluation interview on Friday during fair week. Record books are available at the Van Buren County MSU Extension Office at 219 Paw Paw St., Suite 201 in Paw Paw. Call  (269) 657-8213  for more information. There are record books for 6-8 years old in each specie and 9-19 years old in each specie.

Small Animals: Goats, Rabbits, Poultry, Cavies/Lab Animals
Exhibitors are highly encouraged to complete a record for each specie they exhibit. Record books are to be completed and turned in when you check in your animals at the fair. There is a record book contest in each specie in the following age groups: 6-8 years old, 9-12 years old, 13-14years old, and 15-19 years old. Record books are available at the Van Buren County MSU Extension Office at 219 Paw Paw St., Suite 201 in Paw Paw. Call  (269) 657-8213   for more information. There are record books for 6-8 years old in each specie and 9-19 years old in each specie.

Educational Programs:
Van Buren Youth Fair Education Classes

Each livestock exhibitor is required to attend one (1) Educational Session for the species(s) they are exhibiting at the fair. The programs will be offered through the Van Buren Youth Fair or any other accredited program. PQA does count as one of the sessions for swine exhibitors but only for the year they receive the certification.

For more information call                                                                                       Debbie Glover  269-427-8192  or Melva Devris  269-521-3873 .