Tuscarawas County Fair is rolling out a new Jr. Fair mentorship program.
A new board was created for 4-H members who can no longer be on the Jr. Fair Board due to age restrictions, but OSU extension educator Chris Kendle says they still wanted to pass on their knowledge.
“They are assigned other junior fair board members to work with. To pass on some of what they know to our younger members. We don’t want to lose that knowledge base, so we developed a senior mentor program where members who are senior and post high school are assigned other members of the junior fair board to work with.”
Mentor Norah Randolph says she followed in her sister footsteps by doing announcing, something she wants to pass on to the next generation.
“Being able to teach the younger kids how public speaking can really help you in your future with job interviews and stuff like that. For me, it’s amazing to see how good the younger kids can do announcing the shows.”
Mentor Maggie Hamilton says her goal is to teach the younger 4-H members to be a role model.
“You truly are the people those kids look up to and teaching those kids that people are always looking up to them, so you need to lead by example, you need to be that leader and just passing that on to the younger kids.”
Mentor Ally Kendle says her goal is to find another 4-Her who is willing to always lend a helping hand from the animals to office work, and assisting the general public.
The Tuscarawas County Fair runs the week of September 21st and will include 4-H showings of poultry, sheep, goats, dairy, beef cattle, and more. Additional information can be found at tusccountyfairgrounds.com.
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