By Bruce Rolfe

While there won’t be an official Kalamazoo County Fair in 2025, 4-H members will still have an opportunity to show livestock and still displays at the Kalamazoo County Fair Grounds.

Kalamazoo County is partnering with Michigan State University Extension to host the Kalamazoo County 4-H Showcase August 4-9.

The County Board of Commissioners approved $15,000 that went towards MSU Extension’s budget to help plan and put on this year’s 4-H Showcase.

4-H staff will take the lead in planning the livestock shows, horse shows, auctions, and events and activities for the 4-H youth and attendees throughout the week. The County Parks Department & Expo Center will lead event set-up, grounds preparation, camping, and other event services. 

While the Kalamazoo County Fair has been reduced to mostly 4-H displays, livestock demonstrations, a livestock auction and a handful of food vendors the last few years, the County Commission and Fair Advisory Council have listened to complaints about a reduction of other activities typically seen at the fair. 

According to Kalamazoo County Parks Director Dave Rachowicz, the last time the fair had a midway with rides and multiple food vendors was in 2019.

Kalamazoo County Commissioners and the Fair Advisory Council have been developing strategies to bring back a county fair with many events and activities that were a part of the fair for many years.

Jeff Heppler, a Kalamazoo County Commissioner Liaison who sits on the Kalamazoo County Fair Council, said the County Commission budgeted $100,000 to hire a company to perform a feasibility study. Rachowicz said the project cost approximately $80,000.

Heppler said the feasibility study will offer a view on if the public wants or does not want a county fair, and how to offer the activities people may want to see while paying for itself.

Kalamazoo County Commissioner John Gisler said the study results are expected to be back by the end of the year, and hopefully, planning for a 2026 Kalamazoo County Fair will follow.

Heppler said the intent of the County Commission is to return the fair to how people remember it years ago.

“That’s our goal is to get it back to that and figure out how to do this. If you talk to Calhoun County, or Allegan County, or Kent County, everybody’s doing it a little bit different. There’s no set way. Do you want a midway? Do you want shows? We’re hearing that the participants, 4-H folks, would like to have more things to do. And I think, in my opinion, it will enhance the 4-H part of this. It needs to be a partnership,” said Heppler, who said participation from the community and local businesses will be a key in getting the fair back to how it was years ago. 

Heppler said a big part to returning the fair to what it used to be will be finding someone to coordinate the event and getting volunteers that will be necessary to put on a fair.

“You’ve got the food vendors, you’ve got the carnival. Do you want shows, tractor pulls, midway shows, etcetera. And how to facilitate doing that because all of those things have expense to them,” said the county commissioner.

Heppler feels Covid was a significant factor that led to a reduction of regular fair activities and events. He adds a lack of attendance along with other concerns with the fair were also contributors.

Covid cancelled the County Fair in 2020 and 2021, however a virtual online 4-H livestock auction was held in 2020 and a livestock auction was held in person in 2021.

In 2022 and 2023 there were some food vendors and a new grandstand show with Kanin Wren the Taylor Swift Experience featured in 2023.

In 2024 the event focused on Kalamazoo County 4-H programs, 4-H livestock and horse shows along with additional 4-H activities. The fair did culminate with a family festival that offered fun entertainment and activities plus hands-on demonstrations and educational activities for the community.

Kalamazoo County 4-H Program Coordinator Veronica Bolhuis said 4-H is attempting to  put together a small truck and tractor event Friday, August 8 ,from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. that will allow kids to meet a police officer, look inside an ambulance, and climb on a tractor.

Monday, August 4, will feature the rabbit and sheep show; Tuesday, August 5, will feature the cattle and swine show; Wednesday, August 6, will be the Poultry and Goat show; Thursday, August 7, will be the 4-H Livestock Auction; Friday, August 8, will be the Trucks & Tractors Encounter; and Saturday, August 9, will feature a dog show and Master Showmanship.

Horse and still project demonstrations and displays will take place all week.

There is no gate fee this year for the 4-H event.

For additional information about the 4-H Showcase, contact the Kalamazoo County 4-H Office at 269-383-8830 or visit MSU Extension’s 4-H Program page.

The complete schedule is listed below:

4-H MALL & BARN CLEAN UP DECORATE DAY
July 26th 9 a.m. – noon
Come help clean up and prepare for the 4-H showcase. Special incentive for all 4-H youth who come to help during this time.

MANDATORY 4-H EXHIBITOR MEETING
Thursday, July 31 
A pre-Fair mandatory exhibitor meeting will be held in the evening. Times will be posted in the July 4-H newsletter.
Attendance is mandatory for all 4-H horse and livestock exhibitors.

Still Exhibits Entry
4-H Animal Arrival
Saturday, August 2: Still exhibits will be entered and judged between 9 a.m. to noon.

Livestock are to arrive at the fairgrounds on Sunday, August 3 between 4 and 7 p.m. or Monday morning between 8 a.m. and noon. Swine will be vet checked upon arrival.

Swine and poultry will be weighed as they are unloaded. All other market livestock will be weighed Monday between 8 am and 2 pm.

Horses are to arrive Sunday, August 3, between noon and 3 p.m. and will be vet checked upon arrival.

Pictures of animal(s) and 4-H’er in show clothes are due no later than noon on Tuesday, August 5.. Two 4x6” pictures are needed per animal/pen.

Fun Games and Activities for 4-H’ers

Monday thru Friday from 1-7 p.m. various games and activities will be available for play. Games and activities will be hosted by the red barn and in the Expo Center.

Craft activities for cloverbuds will be held from 2 to 3 p.m. Cloverbud craft activities will be hosted on the cement pad in front of the Rabbit Barn.

Still Exhibits Release

Still Exhibits may not be removed from display until the completion of the 4-H Master Showmanship Competition. The still project barn will be closed during the competition and will reopen at 4 p.m. and will remain open until 5:30 p.m. Removal of exhibits prior to established times could result in an exhibitor’s ability to show in the future. MSU Extension staff will not be responsible for articles left after release time.

4-H Animal Show and Sale Schedule
Monday, July 28 - 6 p.m.

Carcass Program Live Animal Evaluation (Animals must arrive before 5:30pm)
Pease Packing – Scotts, MI

Wednesday, July 30 - 10 a.m.

Carcass Program Test and Results Announcements Pease Packing

Friday, August 1 - 7 p.m.

Dairy Show Vlietstra Dairy Farm – Kalamazoo, MI

Saturday, August 2
9 a.m.-noon Still project judging and display setup Livestock Mall/4-H Still Barn
1 p.m. Cat show Expo Building

Monday, August 4
9 a.m. Horse Showmanship & English Performance Classes Horse Arenas
2 p.m. Rabbit Show Rabbit Barn
2–3 p.m. Kindness Rock Crafts Cement pad in front of Rabbit Barn
Cavies and Critters Show (following Rabbit Show) Rabbit Barn
Rabbit Showmanship Rabbit Barn
6 p.m. Sheep Show Livestock Show Arena

Tuesday, August 5
9 a.m. Horse Western Performance & Trail Classes Horse Arenas
9 a.m. Swine Show Livestock Show Arena
2 p.m. Feeder Calf Show Livestock Show Arena
2–3 p.m. Horseshoe Wind Chimes Craft Cement pad in front of Rabbit Barn
5 p.m. Rabbit Agility Cement pad in front of Rabbit Barn
6 p.m. Beef Show Livestock Show Arena

Wednesday, August 6
9 a.m. Horse Dressage & Jumping Classes Horse Arenas
9 a.m. Poultry Show Livestock Show Arena
10 p.m. Miniature Horse show Grass area near Food Booth
2 p.m. Goat Show Livestock Show Arena
2-3 p.m. Bee-happy Pollinator Craft & Display Cement pad in front of Rabbit Barn
6 p.m. Auction Set Up Livestock Show Arena

Thursday, August 7
9 a.m. Horse Versatility & Gymkhana Classes Horse Arenas
10 a.m. Livestock Sale (Small Animals) Livestock Show Arena
1 p.m. Livestock Sale (Large Animals) Livestock Show Arena
2–3 p.m. Tye Dye, bring your own shirt Cement pad in front of Rabbit Barn
6 p.m. Fashion Review, Demonstration and Performances Expo Center

Friday, August 8
10 a.m. Horse Costume Class Horse Arenas
Noon Horse Drill Team Demonstration Horse Arenas
1 p.m. Horse fun and games Horse Arenas
1 p.m. Livestock Enduro Livestock Show Arena
2–3 p.m. Bubble wand craft Cement pad in front of Rabbit Barn
TBD Horse Awards program Horse Arenas
5 p.m. Milk drinking contest Livestock Show Arena
6-8 p.m. Corn hole tournament Grass area near Food Booth
7-10 p.m. 4-H Dance Livestock Show Arena

Saturday, August 9
9 a.m. Dog Show Main Expo
10:30 a.m. Livestock Judging Livestock Show Arena
Noon Thank you notes turned in deadline Project Superintendents
3 p.m. Master Showmanship Livestock Show Arena
4 p.m. Still projects released to 4-H members 4-H Still Project Barn

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