The 2021 Kent County Youth Fair is coming to Lowell August 9-14, with lots of learning and fun for the whole family.

There are week-long family events, including a wild wild west show, pig racing, clown capers, and gellyball, the mess-free version of paintball. There are also crafts for Kids and chainsaw carving.

Each day also has a theme: Heroes day, Ag adventure day, reading for rides day, auction day, handicapable day, and kids day.

While visiting the Fair, children (and adults) learn about livestock they may have only read about before. With hands-on experiences to enjoy, the Kent County Youth Fair provides valuable agricultural exposure to those who might otherwise never be personally associated with farming and raising livestock. And the best things is, it’s all so much fun! Along with agricultural education, they offer a wide variety of FREE family entertainment all week long! Whether you’re catching a show or taking a walk through the barns, you’ll enjoy every minute of your visit to Fair!

Click here to download the schedule.

The Kent County Youth Fair (KCYF) opens August 7-12 with more than 50 planned attractions, entertainment, and education for West Michigan families.

From HandiCapable day to the summer learning initiative, Reading for Rides, KCYF aims to reach people of all ages, abilities, and backgrounds.

Earlier this year, the Kent County Youth Agricultural Association (KCYAA) announced a major purchase agreement for the organization. In September of 2017, it will officially purchase a large piece of land, with development beginning in spring of 2019. The area will house new fairgrounds for the annual fair along with many other events throughout the year.

“This has been an especially exciting year for the entire fair community,” says Jon Bieneman, President of the Kent County Youth Fair. “While we look forward what the future holds for the Kent County Youth Fair, we are focusing on making these final years at this location exceptionally memorable. It seems appropriate, considering these grounds have been the source of many family memories and growth in our community for the past 82 years.”

This year’s fair theme is “Raising the Steaks.” Event highlights include:

• Children’s Barnyard petting area full of cute animals to interact with
• Reading for Rides Day free carnival rides with completed registration on Tuesday, August 8
• Expanded Ag Adventure Barn and new FairTRADE Educational Trading Cards
• Handicapable Day rides and luncheon on Friday, August 11
• Racing Pigs with shows three times daily
• Free Entertainment Tent with performances daily
• A full scale Ninja Obstacle Course open daily

To see the full list of events and daily themes, check out the Kent County Youth Fair schedule on their site at https://www.kcyf.org/fair-schedule/ or download the schedule featured in our paper by clicking the link below:

KCYF-2017.pdf

August 8th-13th

225 S Hudson, Lowell MI 49331

Download schedule here: KentCountyYouthFair2016.pdf

Or visit http://kcyf.org

Russell J. Durst 80 of Cedar Springs, died Friday, December 25, 2015 at his home. Russ was born October 6, 1935 in Cedar Springs, MI the son of Cardwell and Lola (Sipple) Durst. He was well known as a drywall installer and finisher for over 60 years. He was a very giving and generous person and was very involved in the Cedar Springs Education Foundation and the Kent County Youth Fair. He was a member of the Lions Club and the Cedar Springs Rod & Gun Club. He enjoyed his antique car, wintering in New Mexico and hunting and fishing. Surviving are his children, Debra Paskewicz, Doug (Cheri) Durst; daughter-in-law, JoEllen Yokum; grandchildren, Stephanie Torres, Michael Paskewicz, Heather (Brian) Henning, Brooke (Jeremy) Wong, Beth (Tony) Avink, Kent Yokum; great grandchildren, Tristan, Arryanna, Deyani, Allison, Brielle; sister, Phyllis Ball; brother-in-law, Archie McKenzie. He was preceded in death by his son, Mike; sister, Dorothy McKenzie; brother-in-law, Gene Ball. The family will greet friends Tuesday from 2-4 and 6-8 pm at the Bliss-Witters & Pike Funeral Home, Cedar Springs where the service will be held Wednesday 2:00 pm. Pastor Steve Lindeman officiating. Interment Elmwood Cemetery, Cedar Springs. Memorial contributions may be made to the Cedar Springs Education Foundation.

Edward A. Hordyk, 80 of Cedar Springs, passed away Wednesday, December 23, 2015 at Clark Retirement Community. Ed was born October 18, 1935 in Grand Rapids, MI the son of Peter and Bernice (Glass) Hordyk. He enjoyed flying, boating, water skiing and raising cattle. He was a 32^nd degree Mason and a member of  the Saladin Temple of Grand Rapids, Forest Hills Presbyterian Church and the National Guard. Ed had a successful career in the sale of poultry equipment both in the United States and internationally. Surviving are his wife, Carol (Clark) whom he married on June 23, 1967; daughters, Jennifer (Brett) Terpstra, Susie Poliski, Kathy (Sam) Vriezema, Debbie (Claire) Larson; grandchildren, Tristan, Ethan, Alyssa, Stephan, Karlee, Brendan, Erin, Reagan, Rylee; brothers, David (Katherine) Hordyk, Roger (DeeAnn) Hordyk; sister, Elaine (C. Wesley) Stafford; many nieces, nephews and cousins. The family will greet friends Tuesday from 2-4 and 6-8 pm at the Bliss-Witters & Pike Funeral Home, Cedar Springs. The service will be held Wednesday 11:00 am at Forest Hills Presbyterian Church, 7495 Cascade Road SE, Grand Rapids. The family will greet friends at 10:00 am. Pastor James Pollard officiating. Interment Solon Township Cemetery, Cedar Springs. Memorial contributions may be made to the Shriners Hospital for Children, 2900 Rocky Point Dr, Tampa, FL 33607 or the Kent County Youth Fair, 2255 Hudson St, Lowell, MI 49331.

Arrangements by Bliss-Witters & Pike Funeral Home, Cedar Springs

By Hope Cronkright

Like Elvis, Edward and Bella from Twilight now have impersonators. Instead of singing on stage in front of an audience, these impersonators are a girl and her beloved goat from a 4-H fair project.

Kelly McCauley, as Bella, and her Alpine Bore goat, now named Edward, made their debut the beginning of August at the Kent County Youth Fair.

Kelly explained how the idea of “Edward” got started. Kelly needed to think of a costume for her and her goat to wear in the goat costume class. She said, “My aunt is obsessed with Twilight and she told me, ‘you should be a vampire.’” Sporting a tux and a dress complete with the cast, Edward and Bella were easily identified by 4H fairgoers.

Edward and Bella received three awards—1st in Breed and Market, and 3rd in showmanship. Edward was a market goat purchased in a livestock auction by the Cedar Springs Family Fare. The store then donated the goat back after the auction, and Kelly takes care of it at their Green Acres Farm (yes, named after the old TV show) in Cedar Springs.

“We work hard all year for fair,” remarked Kelly. “You learn responsibility [by] taking care of the animals.” Kelly became a 4-H explorer at the young age of five and plans to continue 4-H until the age of 19.

Lori Ostrom, Kelly’s mother said, “It’s fun to see kids enjoy their animal. And learning by doing as a 4-H member puts my kids in a spot where I know where my kids are, they are safe, and staying out of trouble.”

Edward the goat has created such a sensation that he now he has 50 fans on Facebook after only three weeks. One fan wrote, “Robert Pattinson has nothing on you.”

If you’d like to see Edward and Bella, they will be visiting a petting zoo in Sparta on September 26 at the Harvest on the Ridge Festival.

Lowell, MI. – The sky above the Kent County Fair Grounds will soon be filled with flying pumpkins. The Kent County Youth Fair will be sponsoring the 2nd Annual Pumpkin Chuckin’ Contest, Saturday, October 10. For the younger set, we have added an Apple Chuckin’ Contest this year. The setup for both contests start at 11:00 a.m. The Apple Chuckin’ contest begins at 1:00 p.m. and the Pumpkin Chuckin’ contest begins at 2:00 p.m.  Prizes and trophies will be awarded.

The contest is part of Lowell’s Harvest Festival, come on out and check out all the smashing fun!  For rules and regulations or information on how to build a trebuchet to launch your pumpkin or apple visit the Kent County Youth Fair’s website at www.kcfg.org.