Staff photos / J.T. Whitehouse From left, Macie Vernon from Growing Traditions 4-H Club, Molly Gerchak from Buckeye Bunny Bunch, and Abby Riblet from Blue Ribbon Wranglers clean Barn 25 in preparation to house the many 4-H club displays that are set up for judging.

CANFIELD — The Junior Fair is continuing to evolve in its new location at the south corner of the fairgrounds, and this year will see a new contest, expanded programs, and continued traditions.

This year, the Junior Fair will host the second Junior Fair Royalty program. Prior to 2024, the fair hosted the 4-H Royal Court and the Outstanding Youth programs. Each would select a person from the qualified individuals accepted into the programs. The 4-H would crown a king and queen, and the Outstanding Youth would select a female and male to be crowned.

Last year, both programs were blended in the Fair’s Junior Fair Royalty program. Out of the program, a king and queen was selected to represent the Canfield Fair for that year.

“All the youth organizations are part of the fair,” said Junior Fair Manager Kim Moff. “So it makes sense to have one group represent the entire Junior Fair.”

Junior Fair is made up of youth from 4-H, Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, Campfire, Future Farmers of America, Junior Grange and Farm Bureau.

The Ambassador Program also will see a change as it has expanded into other areas. The ambassador program has older youth serving as mentors to younger Junior Fair members.

“We’ve had lamb and wool ambassadors for years,” Moff said. “Now we are expanding the program to cover other animals. It is a way to recognize kids involved with specific species.”

She said ambassadors are Junior Fair youth who have shown an animal for a minimum of three years. The intent is to encourage and help newcomers and young animal exhibitors.

“This year we have small animal and pocket pet ambassadors,” Moff said. “We are starting with the small animals this year and hope to expand the program into the remaining livestock in the coming years.”

The expansion will eventually cover youth who show calves, pigs, and horses.

As for competitions, Kim said the Canfield Junior Fair will again compete in the “Fight the Hunger, Stock the Trailer” to raise food for Second Harvest Food Bank. She said each year, Ohio fairs can sign up for the challenge presented by Farm Credit Mid America and Rural 1st. Each junior fair signed on will receive $500 to help put on the program. During the fair, food is collected and weighed at the end. The top three positions are eligible for monetary awards. In 2023, the Canfield Junior Fair placed third and earned $2,000. Canfield raised 7,400 pounds of food. The winner was the Adams County Fair that raised 16,000 pounds of food and took the $5,000 first-place award.

“Anyone can donate non-perishable food during the fair,” Moff said. “We will be collecting in the Junior Fair Office and will have the trailer outside the Event Center.”

Moff also mentioned auction buyers can donate as well. If anyone winning a bid wants to give their purchase to Second Harvest, the weight of the animal or bird would be added to the total collection for the challenge.

One returning Junior Fair favorite will be the Pop Shop, which took over Old MacDonald’s Barn behind the new Event Center. The Pop Shop is in its 20th year and will give out six $750 scholarships this year.

“That will make 84 scholarships since we started,” said Duane Moff, manager of the Pop Shop.

He said the Pop Shop offers sandwiches and lunch items at reasonable prices. It is run by Junior Fair members who volunteer their time. Being a volunteer helps make a youth eligible to apply for a scholarship.

Every youth who received a scholarship, starting in 2005, had their photos placed on a beam at the barn. Large photos are taken of this year’s winners and displayed during the fair, then smaller photos are added to the growing gallery.

“All the proceeds from the Pop Shop go back into the Junior Fair and help provide for the scholarships,” Duane said.

For more information on Junior Fair, including its many programs, visit mcjrfair.com.