Clarke-Washington Fair Opens Oct. 28 in Jackson; 4-H Chick Chain Auction Set for Oct. 31

JACKSON, Ala. — The Clarke-Washington Fair returns to the Cecil E. McMullan Fairgrounds in Jackson from Oct. 28 through Nov. 5, bringing nine days of rides, pageants and livestock events, including the annual 4-H Chick Chain Show and Auction on Saturday, Oct. 31.

Sponsored by the Jackson Area Rotary Club, the fair is one of the fall traditions that draws families from both Clarke and Washington counties. This year’s schedule includes discounted student days, two Midnight Madness ride nights, youth pageants, a 4-H dairy show and the crowning of the Miss Clarke-Washington Fair Queen.

Clarke-Washington Fair dates, hours and location

The fairgrounds are located on U.S. Highway 43 at Stanley Drive, near the entrance to Jackson High School.

• Dates: Wednesday, Oct. 28, through Thursday, Nov. 5
• Hours: The fair opens daily at 5 p.m., except on Oct. 30, according to organizers
• General admission: $5
• Location: Cecil E. McMullan Fairgrounds, U.S. Highway 43 at Stanley Drive, Jackson

Fairgoers planning a visit on Friday, Oct. 30, should check with the fair or the Jackson Area Rotary Club for that day’s schedule.

Student specials and Midnight Madness

The fair is offering special pricing on several days:

• K-12 student days, Oct. 29 and Nov. 5: Special $3 gate admission for students in kindergarten through 12th grade. Matinee hours on those days run from noon to 4:30 p.m.
• Midnight Madness, Oct. 28 and Nov. 4: Ride wristbands are $13 from 10 p.m. to midnight.

The fair concludes on Thursday, Nov. 5, with the student admission special during the afternoon and regular $5 admission after 5 p.m.

Pageants, dairy show and fair queen

Along with the midway, the fair’s special events include:

• The 4-H Chick Chain Show and Auction under the big tent
• The Little Miss and Junior Miss pageants for Clarke and Washington county contestants
• The Clarke County 4-H Dairy Show
• The Miss Clarke-Washington Fair Queen Pageant on Oct. 31

Pageants and livestock shows give local young people a chance to compete in front of family and neighbors, and they are part of what sets a community fair apart from a traveling carnival. The 4-H shows in particular are the public finish line for months of work by youth who have raised and cared for their animals.

4-H Chick Chain Show and Auction on Oct. 31

This year’s 4-H Chick Chain Show and Auction will be held Saturday, Oct. 31, at the fair. The show begins at 11 a.m., with the auction following. About 100 ready-to-lay chickens will be available for purchase.

Proceeds from the auction go back to the 4-H Chick Chain project.

For buyers, the auction is a chance to bring home young hens that are ready to begin laying eggs. For the young people who raised them, it is the last step in a project that began months earlier with a box of day-old chicks.

How the 4-H Chick Chain project works

The Chick Chain is an annual project of the Alabama Cooperative Extension System’s 4-H program. It teaches young people recommended practices for managing, growing and raising chickens.

Through the project, participants learn to:

• Develop poultry management skills
• Produce healthy chickens
• Build an awareness of business management
• Develop record-keeping skills
• Contribute to the household food supply

Who can take part: Young people ages 9 to 18 as of Jan. 1 can participate. Youth who are not already 4-H members must complete an enrollment form.

Getting the chicks: After signing up, participants receive either 10 or 18 chicks in the spring that are one to two days old. The chicks are female pullets from a reputable hatchery and are properly vaccinated. Different breeds are available, and each participant’s chicks are selected from two of three breeds.

Training first: Parents and children must attend a training session before the chicks arrive to help them prepare for raising the pullets. There is a designated date, time and Extension office site for picking up the chicks when they arrive.

Raising the birds: Once the chicks arrive, participants are responsible for feeding and caring for them for about 20 weeks.

Show and auction: At the end of the project, participants bring two chickens (if they received 10 chicks) or three chickens (if they received 18) to the county 4-H Chick Chain Show and Auction.

Why the Chick Chain matters

A “pullet” is a young female chicken that has not yet begun laying, and raising a batch of them from day-old chicks to laying age is a hands-on lesson in responsibility. Participants have to provide feed, water, shelter and protection from predators every day, watch for signs of illness, and keep records of what they spend and how their birds grow.

That combination of daily care and record-keeping is why the Extension System describes the project as a lesson in business management as well as animal science, and why it lists contributing to the household food supply among its goals.

The Alabama Cooperative Extension System is the outreach arm of Alabama A&M University and Auburn University, with offices in every county. 4-H is its youth development program, offering projects in areas from livestock and gardening to science, leadership and public speaking.

How to get involved next year

Families interested in signing up for next year’s Chick Chain, or in other 4-H projects, can contact the Clarke County or Washington County Extension office. Because chicks arrive in the spring and a training session is required beforehand, it is best to ask about enrollment deadlines well ahead of time.

Anyone hoping to buy hens at this year’s auction should plan to arrive at the fair before the 11 a.m. show on Oct. 31, since the auction follows immediately afterward.

About the Jackson Area Rotary Club

The fair is sponsored by the Jackson Area Rotary Club. Rotary clubs are local service organizations affiliated with Rotary International that raise money for community projects and scholarships and organize civic events. Questions about the fair schedule, pageant entries or exhibits can be directed to the club or to fair organizers.