Berrien Co. fair celebrates 75th year with tribute to past exhibitors

BERRIEN SPRINGS, Mich. -- Fair season continues and this week the Berrien County Youth Fair is not only celebrating its return after COVID-19, but its 75th anniversary as well.

“This is the 75th so it’s no better time to be able to represent our fair in a positive way,” said Hannah Hart, Berrien County Youth Fair Queen. 

For the 75th time, thousands will pack into the Berrien Springs grounds for a week that celebrates Southwest Michigan’s agriculture and wraps up summer. 

The fair was built on a mission to be open to all youth, no matter their experience. 

“You don’t have to be in 4H to show at the fair, you just have to be between the ages of 5 and 20 and live in Berrien County, we don’t charge exhibitors,” said Jill Hein, Marketing Coordinator.

Royalty gets to reign over Berrien County this week, trading their boots and hats for sashes and crowns. 

“Ever since I was 5, 6 I’ve been showing almost every animal,” said Frank Furst, Berrien County Youth Fair King. “My mom and dad convinced me to do this, they said it was mostly about getting to do interviews.”

Plus – you may notice special shirts all week paying tribute to exhibitors of years past. 

“We have decade days this year, exhibitors who showed in that specific decade could order their shirt and we designated certain days, Wednesday was the 60s and 70s and they were a tie dye shirt, Thursday is the 80s and 90s,” said Hein.

Still to come – the small animal auction Thursday in the show arena, then large animal Friday.

Country singer Scotty McCreery will have a concert in the grandstand Thursday.