Youth Expo hits fairgrounds

Lindsay Sandham

In its 26th year, the annual Youth Expo is older than any of its

participants.

Originally started by the Orange County 4-H council, the expo has

grown to include the Girl Scouts and Boy Scouts of Orange County, as

well as area students from kindergarten through 12th grade.

Youth Expo Director Joan Hamill said all of the event’s content is

by, for and about kids -- meaning everything on display was created

by children.

The expo begins today at the Orange County Fairgrounds.

A new addition to this year’s fair, the Home Builders Council, a

group comprised of high school and college students learning to break

into the contracting industry, will compete in a building

competition. Specs and supplies to build a snack shack, a lifeguard

tower or a playhouse will be given to 20 different teams, all of

which must complete their project in two days. The completed

buildings will be judged on Sunday.

Based on past years’ attendance, organizers are anticipating

30,000 visitors throughout the three-day event, Hamill said,

Here a few of the events fair attendees can expect:

* The 50th annual Orange County Science and Engineering Fair: 16

categories of projects from the best science fair work in the county

will be on display and students will compete in age-appropriate

divisions.

* 4-H exhibits: projects by members of the Orange County 4-H club

will be on display, including arts and crafts, computer science,

environmental science, home arts and engineering. More than 200

animals -- large livestock and small animals -- will be on display as

well.

* “Lil’ Sprouts Jr. Farm and Garden Contest”: competitors will

show off homegrown fruits and vegetables.

* 15th annual Youth Expo Jazz Festival: junior high and high

school jazz bands will compete in advanced and novice divisions.

* Petting zoo: features llamas, sheep, goats, lambs, pot belly

pigs, a camel and more.

* Wild Science: educational and entertaining science exhibits will

offer hands-on, interactive opportunities for children.

The Youth Expo will be held from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. today and from 9

a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday at the Orange County Fairgrounds,

88 Fair Drive, Costa Mesa. Admission and parking are free.

For more information, call (714) 708-1553 or visit

https://www.ocfair.com/ye05.