From country and rock concerts to demolition derbies and truck shows, the Delaware State Fair promises excitement and entertainment for everyone, but it’s the long-running traditions that remain the most recognizable events among what the state fair offers today. At the core of those traditions are the area’s farming families and local 4-H clubs.
The Lord Baltimore Helping Hands 4-H Club continues to be one of the area’s most successful and longest-running organizations for area youth. Kathy DiSabatino, a teacher at East Millsboro Elementary, has been an instrumental part of the program for 16 years.
“When I first started working with 4-H,” she said, “there were a couple of families with several children in the 4-H program the same age as my kids. I saw this as something for my family to get involved in without having to take one child to one practice and the other to lessons for something else. I enjoy the fact it’s something that the entire family can do. There’s so much for everyone.”
At its start, 4-H, which stands for Head, Heart, Hands and Health, was primarily drawn up as a way to educate the youth in a variety of fields, especially in a rural setting. Dating back to the early 1900’s, 4-H is now administered by the Cooperative State, Research, Education and Extension Service and the United States Department of Agriculture, with the goal of developing citizenship, leadership and life skills among the youth who participate.
Although Sussex County is widely recognized for its successful agricultural sector, DiSabatino said she is pleased that her pupils have expanded their focus to a variety of areas through the program. From computer programs, food and nutrition to clothing and textiles, arts and crafts and judging competitions, there is something for every passion. There are even specialty clubs that focus solely on one topic, such as computers, which helps develop technological skills, or the horse club, which focuses on different riding and horse-showing techniques.
Her group, the Lord Baltimore Helping Hands 4-H Club, is one of the oldest still-running clubs in the state, half a century in the making. It serves families in the areas bordered by Dagsboro, Frankford, Fenwick Island and Bethany Beach, although others throughout southeastern Sussex County have been welcomed to the group.
Now with 15 members and growing, it has proven a great start for the area’s youth, as young as 8, through age 18.
“Four-H has been part of the state fair as far back as I can remember,” noted DiSabatino. “It’s really become a staple there, from the presentations and exhibits to the animals that are shown. I think a lot of people get enjoyment out of it.”
Participants are eligible each year to enter up to 10 items in any category they choose for the judging. This year, DiSabatino noted, nearly 75 items in the fair are coming from her club alone. Ribbons and pins are awarded to each entrant, with constructive criticism or praise on each entry.
“Each year, the kids find more and more things they want to learn and try,” she said. “It’s a great way for them to learn who they are and what they love to do.”
She readily admitted that walking through the exhibits had always been her favorite part of the fair.
“I never really was one to spend a lot of time at the carnival,” she said. “Our whole family really likes the exhibits. We like to see what other people entered and get ideas for next year.”
In addition to keeping herself and her family occupied, 4-H has helped her family develop socially, too.
“You start to get really comfortable with people throughout the area, and you can meet a lot of people and make some great friends, too,” explained DiSabatino.
The 4-H program, however, isn’t limited to the once-a-year event in Harrington. The preparation for the fair does cause some hectic scrambling among the members and leaders but, meanwhile, 4-H’ers are busy throughout the year, developing service projects and building portfolios with experience through the community.
One member had completed her project by collecting old cell phones and turning them in to raise money for calling cards for the men and women of the nation’s armed services.
Like the Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts of America, 4-H has, over time, become a path less taken for the nation’s youth.
“It’s not quite what it used to be,” said DiSabatino. “I’ll tell people about it, and most of the time, they’ve heard of it or are aware, but a lot of people don’t really know about it.”
On the brighter side, she said, most realize what the program does when it comes to education and providing young, ambitious members with quality skills for later in life, and they show great support.
“I’ve had a lot of people help out and make generous contributions and donations to our club,” DiSabatino added. “It’s very inspiring.”
The Delaware State Fair is set to run from Thursday, July 17, through Saturday, July 26, at the Harrington Raceway and Casino. Those who attend can not only see the concerts and enjoy the carnival and its array foods but check out a variety of exhibits, including those by local 4-H Club members.
Additional information, including ticket pricing, can be found online at www.delawarestatefair.com.