Yuma Ag & You: Our fair centers on young people

We are lucky in Yuma County that our fair is very much like the old-fashioned fairs of the past, centering on the success of our young people. It takes a great deal of dedication to raise an animal, complete a welding project, create beautiful quilts and clothing and learn baking and cake decorating. Arts and crafts, photography and fine arts are included as well as flowers, gardening and geology. While there are the wonderful foods, entertainment and, of course, the midway, the look and feel of our county fair is still country.

Agriculture is the lifeblood of Yuma County and it is wonderful that so many of our local kids are going into the workforce after completing college. Monies earned from the sale of fair animals often goes to the college fund of the student.

Arizona Western College, along with the University of Arizona, Arizona State University and Northern Arizona University continue to offer and expand educational programs to allow local students to graduate with a myriad of agricultural degrees in Yuma, and continue directly into jobs with local companies.

In talking to employers of these kids, the most successful workers are those who have a background in farming, have had to work while growing up, participated in 4-H and FFA programs and developed a solid work ethic. The young people who have been successful in these programs learn leadership, teamwork, organizational skills, financial skills, sportsmanship, public speaking and pride in working hard to get a job done.

As you wander the fairgrounds and all the animal exhibits, note the cleanliness and neatness of each organizations displays. See the pride in the wearing of club jackets and t-shirts.

Enjoy how the club members rotate their time to do bedding changes and cleaning, raking of the alleys, picking up litter and the polite knowledgeable way the kids answer questions about their projects.

All of this is possible because of the support of parents, families, community businesses, volunteers, club leaders and friends who understand how valuable this type of hands on education is. Many of these youth will be our agricultural leaders in Yuma in the future.

Yuma County is so fortunate that there are third, fourth and fifth generation farms here. Tradition and the love of our farming area is part of daily life. Enjoy our 2025 County Fair and all it offers!

Bobbi Stevenson-McDermott is a retired soil and water conservationist. She can be reached at bobbimc1937@outlook.com.