The Delaware State Fair is a staple event each summer in the First State.

‘Kick up some fun’ with UD at the fair

Article by Katie Peikes Photos by Jackie Czachorowski July 16, 2025

Cooperative Extension, 4-H in the spotlight at the 2025 Delaware State Fair

This year will be Klaira Wing’s first year participating in a competition at the Delaware State Fair. She’s ready to “kick up some fun,” the theme of this year’s event.

“I’m excited to see my friends,” said the 6-year-old Cloverbud, a pre-4-Her from Seaford, Delaware. “I’ve been working on crafts, sewing, drawing and singing.”

“She wants that blue ribbon so bad,” said Klaira’s mom, Krista Wing, a University of Delaware Class of 2010 alumna. “But she’s going to get a cute little green ribbon and will have to keep following in our footsteps to get that blue ribbon.”

The Wing family’s 4-H roots run four generations deep, and they look forward to the Delaware State Fair in Harrington each year. Klaira’s 9-year-old brother, Eli, will participate in archery and the 4-H talent show, among other things.

The Wings are not the typical 4-H family that shows horses, cattle, chickens or sheep. Krista Wing grew up participating in the sewing exhibits, winning contests in Sussex County and qualifying annually to bring her skills to the Delaware State Fair.

Her favorite outfit she sewed over the years was an orange halter top using rayon fabric, with matching floral capris pants.

“It was cool just to sit with my mom and be able to use her expertise that she learned in her 4-H club that she passed down to myself and my two sisters,” Krista Wing said. “Not everyone knows how to sew, to put on a button or stitch something up. To have that life skill was a bonding moment for our family, especially learning that life skill that not everyone has the opportunity to have."

At the Delaware State Fair, visitors can see the impact the University has on Delawareans in full force. University of Delaware Government Relations will host a generic UD table in the Delaware Building with information about admissions, as well as giveaways. But UD Cooperative Extension, which includes 4-H, has the University’s largest presence on site.

Numerous 4-H children and teens will participate in animal showing competitions at the Delaware State Fair.

“Our 4-H youth corps is 36,000 strong across the state, and hundreds of them will be competing and growing in confidence at this year’s state fair,” said Erik Ervin, interim director of Cooperative Extension.

This year, 700 4-H youth across Delaware are entering more than 13,000 exhibits at the fair, said Ernie Lopez, 4-H Program Leader with UD Cooperative Extension. Children and teens can show livestock, textiles, fruits, vegetables, arts and crafts, among many other items. They can participate in tractor driving, archery, a talent show and so much more.

“The State Fair is the Super Bowl for 4-H youth,” Lopez said. “It’s their stage; it’s their field of showcasing all the wonderful things they’ve learned over the course of the last 4-H year.”

Lopez said 4-H keeps Delaware youth connected with their community and teaches them valuable life skills, such as public speaking and how to care for animals.

“Now more than ever, what we’re seeing is that parents are looking towards 4-H as the youth development program that they want their children to be actively engaged in,” Lopez said.

Of course, that includes Krista Wing and her family from Seaford. Wing said the fair is a special time for her family and 4-H is so meaningful for them because of the inclusive environment it fosters.

Children and teens show livestock, such as cows, during the Delaware State Fair.

“I’m looking forward to seeing the kids do everything they’re excited about,” Wing said. “I’ve been to the fair every year for 38 years — there’s not been a fair that I’ve missed ever. It’s really something special that I look forward to every year.”

Though 4-H is in the spotlight, UD will be involved in so much more. UD and DSU will have a Delaware Extension Exhibit in the Delaware Department of Agriculture Building. They’ll host an engaging Extension Trivia game and a gift basket raffle. Children will be given an Extension activity book that has coloring, word searches and other puzzles, said Jennifer Volk, associate director of Cooperative Extension.

“Our exhibit planning committee felt this would be a great way to teach youth about our program areas: 4-H, agriculture, lawn and garden, and health and well-being,” Volk said.

UD and Extension have something for everyone, from the opportunity to interact with Master Gardeners about native plants, to 4-H, to UDairy Creamery ice cream. Delaware Cooperative Extension will have a booth in the Agricultural Commodities Building where visitors can talk with Extension agents from UD and Delaware State University and inquire about agriculture, lawn and gardens, health and wellness, and 4-H youth development.

Ervin, Cooperative Extension’s interim director, said Cooperative Extension aims to equip Delawareans with evidence-based, timely information and training that benefits the state’s agricultural and horticulture workforce. And the State Fair does just that.

“The State Fair attracts thousands of rural to urban residents who are excited to walk through youth (4-H and FFA) exhibits of farm animals and food and floriculture exhibits,” Ervin said. “It brings agriculture out of the grocery store and into focus.”

The Delaware State Fair opens Thursday, July 17, and runs through Saturday, July 26. Learn more about the fair and view the schedule of exhibits.