Name: 4-H at the Hopkinton State Fair
Start: 2025-08-28
End: 2025-09-01

August 28 - September 1, 2025

In-Person

Hopkinton State Fair
392 Kearsarge Ave
Contoocook, NH 03229
United States

The Hopkinton State Fair is a time when our 4-H youth get to showcase their hard work from the year. Members can show their 4-H animal projects, enter exhibits, and partake in volunteering opportunities.

DOWNLOAD THE 4-H HOPKINTON STATE FAIR PACKET

IMPORTANT DATES TO REMEMBER

Animal Exhibitor Registration Open: July 15 – August 15, 2025
Volunteer Sign-Ups Due: August 1, 2025
Fair Clean-Up Day: Tuesday, August 5 at 4:30pm (there will be pizza and a potluck for all helpers!)
Exhibit Hall Items Due to Fairground: Wednesday, August 27, 4:30pm – 7:30pm
Exhibit Hall Judging Day: Thursday, August 28, 9:00am (lunch will be provided for judges!)

4-H EXHIBIT HALL ENTRY GUIDELINES: https://www.hsfairexhibitors.org/department-1-4-h-exhibit-hall/

Download printable version here: 2025 4-H Exhibit Hall Handbook

REGISTER TO EXHIBIT AN ANIMAL AT HOPKINTON FAIR WITH FAIR ENTRY

The Hopkinton State Fair is collecting entries via “Fair Entry” for 4-H Animal Shows, 4-H Ag Olympics, and the 4-H Forestry Contest from July 15 – August 15, 2025. *For questions or issues with Fair Entry, contact the Hopkinton Fair Office at info@hsfair.org or call them at (603) 865-1698.*

Register for the Hopkinton Fair with Fair Entry by August 15: https://hsfairexhibitors.fairentry.com. (4HOnline is NOT being used for any department.)

NEW THIS YEAR!

ALL youth participating in 4-H Animal Shows at the fair must be enrolled in NH 4-H through ZSuite.
ZSuite enrollment instructions can be found here: https://extension.unh.edu/resource/enrolling-nh-4-h.
Questions about 4-H enrollment? Contact the 4-H Office at 603-255-3556.

New Livestock Families, if you have any questions about what you need to do to prepare for the fair, please call the 4-H office or talk to your Club Leader. Remember it is your responsibility to enter the fairs you choose to go to.

FAIR CLEAN UP – Tuesday, August 5 at 4:30pm

Help is necessary to prepare the 4-H Exhibit Hall for displays and to clean the 4-H Ice Cream Parlor. The clean-up date is Tuesday, August 5 at 4:30pm. We are asking clubs to volunteer for a task to complete together. The Merrimack County 4-H Leaders Association will provide pizza for all helpers, and clubs and families are invited to bring drinks, snacks, side dishes and desserts to share. Please check with your club leader about how you can help or email Sunny Swanson at sunny.swanson@unh.edu.

4-H CLUB EXHIBIT CONTEST

We want to see your 4-H PRIDE this year at the Hopkinton Fair! Clubs have an exciting opportunity to earn prizes this year in the 4-H Exhibit Hall! Clubs can enter a club display in the booths in the exhibit hall and ribbons will be awarded with the Danish system as usual, but there are extra prizes and premiums this year. The top 3 club displays will be awarded “Best of Show”, “Reserve Best of Show” and “Honorable Mention Best of Show”, with premiums of $125.00, $100.00, and $50.00, respectively. To receive these awards, clubs should go above and beyond to showcase the amazing things they have done throughout the year and tell a story about why 4-H is so awesome!

4-H FENCE TALKS – 3:00pm-5:00pm on Friday, August 29 – Outdoor Livestock Ring

By popular demand, 4-H Fence Talks will be a new contest at the Hopkinton Fair! 4-H members are encouraged to sign up for a time to share a brief presentation about their 4-H animal project with their animals! Learn more about how to create a fence talk and the guidelines for making one here.

Sign up for a time slot here by August 15th: https://unh.az1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_em36rVCQ4d9Qbga

4-H FORESTRY EVENT – 6:00pm on Friday, August 29 – Hood Arena

Open to all 4-H Members ages 8 to 18. Sign-up through FairEntry is required by August 15^th. All equipment will be provided. Events will include a peavey log roll, single-person bucksaw, two-person crosscut saw, cordwood stack, and a forestry knowledge quiz. All participants will receive a coupon for a FREE ice cream from the 4-H Ice Cream Parlor.

Learn more & register: https://www.hsfairexhibitors.org/department-29-4-h-forestry-event/

4-H AG OLYMPICS – 6:00pm on Saturday, August 30 – Hood Arena

Open to all 4-H Members ages 8 to 18. Sign-up through FairEntry is required by August 15^th. Youth will compete in a relay race to complete a series of farm obstacles! Teams will be based on the number of sign-ups. Obstacles could include but are not limited to, stick horse race, hay bale toss, wheelbarrow races, and more! All participants will receive a coupon for a FREE ice cream from the 4-H Ice Cream Parlor.

Learn more & register: https://www.hsfairexhibitors.org/department-30-4-h-ag-olympics/

*VOLUNTEERS & JUDGES NEEDED*

VOLUNTEER WITH 4-H AT THE FAIR

SIGN UP BY AUGUST 1st

WHY VOLUNTEER?

Clubs are strongly encouraged to work hard to find youth & families to take one shift or find another club to split a shift or pull a crew together.
Any youth or volunteer receiving Book Awards or scholarships or to attend a 4-H event, should sign up to “Pay it Forward”.
You will receive a full-day fair pass and a voucher redeemable at the 4-H Ice Cream Parlor.

Leaders, Parents, Friends of 4-H and Youth Members… you can help in the following areas:

Ice Cream Parlor – Youth (8 & older) & Adults
Exhibit Hall Judge – Jr. Leaders & Adults
Exhibit Hall Monitor –Youth Helpers & Adults

JUDGES FOR THE 4-H EXHIBIT HALL

Judging will be done on Thursday, August 28^th, starting at 9:00am. We need volunteers to sign up by August 1^st in order to get organized and assign judging roles. Lunch will be provided.

JUNIOR JUDGES FOR THE 4-H EXHIBIT HALL

We want to encourage our older 4-Her’s (12 & older), to sign up to be a judge to get involved with the experience. Volunteers are needed to put ribbons on exhibits, collect exhibit card tags, help take down and put exhibits back up and arrange exhibits for an attractive building display while judging is going on.

HALL MONITORS FOR THE 4-H EXHIBIT HALL

4-Her’s (12 & older), parents and leaders, are encouraged to assist with the supervision of the 4-H Exhibit Hall. While manning the building, you might be asked questions regarding 4-H, and who could answer better than a person who has experienced the program. For 4 hours of watchful supervision per shift, you receive a day pass to the fair! We are not able to give tickets to family members, only those who are committing to volunteer and cover the shift. A shift consists of 1-2 volunteers.