This week’s Wayne County’s 4-H Fair features the hard work of hundreds of students and volunteers.

According to 4-H leaders, the organization has 640 members this year. Of that number, 506 are in third through 12th grade while 134 are in kindergarten through second grade.

They participate in 23 clubs and receive assistance from 125 adult volunteers.

Students have 63 available project options.

The June 20-27 fair has 2,086 animal class entries and 865 building project entries.

WWN photographer Joshua Smith captured these images of a day at the fair on Saturday, June 20:

  • 4-H members show sheep at the Wayne County 4-H Fair on Saturday, June 20, 2026. Photo by Joshua Smith

Stock the Trailer

Fairgoers and local businesses are encouraged to support 4-H students in community service and benefit a local food pantry. They are competing against surrounding counties to see which can collect the most nonperishable food items by weight.

Nonperishable foods and checks made payable to Wayne County 4-H Association can be delivered through Friday, June 26, to the Purdue Extension office on the north side of First Bank Kuhlman Center, 861 Salisbury Road N., Richmond.

All donations will be donated to Nettle Creek Community Coalition Food Pantry, which serves families from Western Wayne and Nettle Creek areas.

The pantry at 47 E. Main St. in Hagerstown recently made a call for donations. On June 12, it provided food to 111 families and personal care products to 53 families.

Supporters for the Stock the Trailer contest include FarmCredit Mid-America and Rural 1st.

For more information, call 765-973-9281.

Events

In addition to Poor Jack Amusement rides/games and commercial vendors, here are a few highlighted events:

  • Wednesday, June 24: Dairy goat show, 9 a.m.; dairy beef show, 11 a.m.; exhibits at First Bank Kuhlman Center, noon-8 p.m.; screenings of “Blind Logic” documentary on Hagerstown inventor Ralph Teetor, noon and 2 p.m.; beef heifer and showmanship show, 2 p.m.; beef steer show, tractor parade, Kicks 96 Idol contest and fair history display, 6 p.m.; rodeo, 7 p.m.
  • Thursday: Dairy show, 9 a.m.; exhibits at First Bank Kuhlman Center, noon-8 p.m.; kids’ ride special, 1-5 p.m. for $15; horse/pony fun and games, and Books in the Barn activities, 2 p.m.; glass blowing demonstrations, 2-8 p.m.; Community Choristers performance, 5 p.m.; Silly Safaris, 5:30 and 7 p.m.; Extension Homemakers make and take herb garden, supreme showman contest, antique tractor parade and singer Debbie Lynn, 6 p.m.; demolition derby, 7 p.m. Thrifty Thursday food specials all day.
  • Friday: Livestock auction, 11 a.m.; glass blowing demonstrations, 2-8 p.m.; mud bog, 7 p.m.; Longshots band, 7:30 p.m.; fireworks, dark.
  • Saturday: Open dairy show, 9 a.m.; Kicks 96 Idol finals, 5 p.m., followed by karaoke; dirt drag races, 7 p.m.
  • Admission: Free parking until 4 p.m. weekdays, 11 a.m. Saturday and 8 a.m. Sunday. Later arrivals: $7 per vehicle/day, $20 weekly pass. Walk-ins $3/person. Free parking for ages 55 and older on June 24.
  • Track events: Adults, $10; ages 6-12, $5
  • Schedule: wayneco4hfair.com
  • Info: 765-407-1946; Purdue Extension Wayne County (4-H), 765-973-9281
  • Submit a written fair memory during the 175th anniversary celebration: sandyhouse1@yahoo.com
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A version of this article will appear in the June 24 2026 print edition of the Western Wayne News.

Millicent Martin Emery is a reporter and editor for the Western Wayne News.