Junior Prize Book tradition inspires young creators

The Norfolk County Fair and Horse Show continues to serve as an opportunity for children to show their creative side. Registrations for the Junior Prize Book have to be submitted by Sept. 27 (or Sept. 24 for high schools) to be featured in the upcoming Norfolk County Fair and Horse Show, Oct. 7-13.

Alex Hunt 

Advocate Correspondent

For generations, the Junior Prize Book has been a cornerstone of the Norfolk County Fair and Horse Show, giving youth a chance to showcase their creativity, compete for prizes and take pride in their accomplishments.

“There’s something critical about the process," said Angela Hogeveen, general manager at the Norfolk County Agricultural Society. “Especially when it comes to arts and crafts. Children flip through the Junior Prize Book, choose a category and division that excites them, then gather the materials, often with the help of a parent.” 

Hogeveen said that from start to finish, the experience teaches children commitment and creativity. When the fair arrives in the fall, participants get to see their work displayed alongside others, not for competition but for passion.

Sept. 27 marks the registration deadline for any Under-18 or full-time high school students’ original work to be displayed for the community at the Oct. 7-13 fair. Some competitions have different age limits.

Hogeveen says technology has drastically changed how the Junior Prize Book has operated over the years. While paper entry forms are still accepted (the Fair Office is open Monday-Thursday from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. and Friday 9 a.m.-4 p.m. throughout September), they strongly encourage online submissions (www.norfolkcountyfair.com). Information on the general prize book, livestock and horse prize books can also be found on the website.

For busy parents, the digital option makes registering for entries more convenient. It also streamlines the process behind the scenes allowing organizers to track participation, and access data through cloud-based systems.

“These competitions couldn’t happen without volunteers, and I don’t just mean supported, I mean completely driven by them,” said Hogeveen. “We have community members who have been preparing entry tags, checking ribbons, and handling inventory for decades. It takes countless hours and a tremendous amount of dedication. As a not-for-profit, we simply don’t have the staff to manage all of that on our own. It’s the volunteers who make it all possible and they truly are the heart of the program.”

With support from community volunteers, Hogeveen said as children’s interests evolve and technology becomes more integrated into their daily lives, the competitions offered by the Junior Prize Book must evolve as well.

Ultimately, said Hogeveen, the goal is to keep engaging youth, whether as participants, future volunteers and even farmers.

“These children are the future of our organization, the future agriculture, and the future of the community. Kids are learning and interacting differently now. They're very tech-focused, so we’ve started thinking about categories like coding, or projects tied to video games that align in a way that still fits with our values. If we don’t evolve, we risk becoming irrelevant.” 

Hogeveen said the timeline for preparing the next book begins immediately after a fair ends in order for it to be ready. Volunteers are involved throughout the year to ensure accuracy and a focus that every child gets their work recognized.