Florida County Agricultural Fairs – Jump Start an Interest in Agriculture!

This week the Clay County Agricultural Fair is in town at the County Fairgrounds in Green Cove Springs. Events like these are a great way to jump start a child’s interest in agriculture and livestock husbandry.

County ag fairs are a showcase of local farming efforts and are geared toward displaying the educational side of these hobbies. At a typical county ag fair you will find all kinds of animals: rabbits, goats, chickens, cows, pigs, sheep, horses, turkeys, and other more exotic birds.

Other exhibits at county ag fairs include horticultural exhibits and local expert gardeners and extension agents are on hand to answer any of your questions.

One of our favorite parts of the Clay County Agricultural Fair is the Early Florida Village, which is a collection of restored and replicated buildings from 19th century North FL. The village has a school house, church, blacksmith, barn, farmhouse and other buildings from communities around the county. Reenactment perfomers share their knowledge of the history behind the buildings and the period in which they were in use. There are live demonstrations of typical handicrafts and you can learn about everything from how to keep bees to shoeing a horse.

Here is a link to the Clay County Agricultural Fair: http://www.claycountyfair.org

Here is a link to the  Florida Agricultural Dept. Education and Youth Programs: http://www.florida-agriculture.com/education.htm