Joanne Williams
Editor

(TCJ photo: Woodcarver Ben Risney was featured at the 2025 Eaton County fair. Woodcarving is a category in Open Class competition.)

 

All is not lost in terms of participation and exhibits since the November 2025 budget cuts to the 4-H program in Eaton County.

At least as far as the annual Eaton County Fair is concerned. 

While the loss of generational 4-H programming has ceased, the interest in exhibitions and creativity has remained.

Fair officials are reminding folks that anyone can show their work in the Open Class categories, which are varied and many.

This year’s county fair, July 13-18 is just about two months away and the fair office is regularly staffed. Questions and concerns can be addressed by information on the website, eatoncountyfair.com, or by calling 517-543-4510.

And if you want to know about Open Class, Cheryl Platt is one of many representatives who can help.

Platt has been with the fair for decades. Her 7-year-old grandson will enter his work in Open Class this year. “Once you discover it and show your work, it’s addicting,” she said. She is willing to answer questions, give tips, or talk about what judges are looking for in each category, she said. Her number is 517-749-6728.

This year, the competition will be split into a children’s area and an adults area. Deadline for entries is June 15. The fair website holds the Open Class Rules and Regulations – 10 pages of information categories including needlework, baking, canning, food drying, fine arts, photography, folk arts, pictures, agriculture (crops), flower arrangements, plants and vegetable. 

Folks who weave rugs, fashion clothing, bake pies, do pen and ink, wood carve or arrange plants are welcome to enter their pride and joy. 

There is a special competition for quilts. Long-time Superintendent for Open Class is Kevin Kemper.

The governing body of the Eaton County Fair, and the Fairgrounds, is the Eaton County Agricultural Society (ECAS). Its mission statement: “To encourage 4-H and other youth in Eaton County by sponsoring an annual county fair.” 

The society was established in 1855 and has a 15-member Fairboard. The president is Martin Fabrik.

While the 4-H participation may be limited at best, the fair competition are open to all. The cuts to the county 4-H programs impacted almost 1,000 people as estimated by the Michigan State University Extension Office.