Darling ‘buds’ of May arrive early

Rachel Alhanati really took the theme of the 27th annual Youth Expo 2006 to heart.

“A lot of us are from different parts of the city,” Rachel said. “We get to meet new people and new friends, just like this year’s theme says ? ‘Where Best Buds Meet.’ ”

Kids from all over Orange County gathered this weekend at the Orange County Fairgrounds to celebrate their scientific and artistic creativity during the Youth Expo 2006.

Rachel and her friends from the Lake Forest Girl Scout Troop were one of about 30 Girl Scout troops that set up activity booths on the Fairgrounds. They made a “flower-walk,” where people could stop and have a chance to win prizes. All the booths tied in with this year’s theme and had some sort of flower and friendship motif.

The exposition was sponsored by the Boomers amusement park in Fountain Valley, which supplied games and prizes. The expo featured agricultural, science and engineering, food and artistic displays made by Orange County children.

“It began like a spring fair, but mainly geared toward kids,” said Jeff Wilson of the Orange County Fair & Exposition Center, referring to how the expo has evolved. “It provided a venue for local 4-H programs, as well as the Girl Scouts.”

Over 10,000 school projects were also on display from Orange County private and public schools. Schools participate in art and science projects and submit them for judging.

Hoag Memorial Hospital Presbyterian Hospital and the Newport Beach Lifeguards, in conjunction with other Southern California cities, teamed up to present a booth about ocean and beach safety. Representatives gave out coloring books about the ocean, sunscreen and key chains to kids who answered questions about the beach correctly.

“We’ve been going over ocean safety,” said Newport Beach lifeguard Mark Garman. “Not everyone has grown up around the ocean and knows all the hazards.”

Gale Webb’s Extreme Sports & Air Show had three shows each day of the Expo. Crowds gathered in the Costa Mesa sun to watch as skateboarders, inline skaters, bikers and even a Razor rider pulled flips and spins over quarter- and half-pipe ramps. With her “Kids Are No. 1” mantra, she introduced professional and amateur young athletes while spouting her stay-in-school and stay-drug-free messages to screaming fans.

“We were watching ? those guys out there and they’re awesome,” said Arianna Mariotti, 11, of Lake Forest. “We even got autographs.”

The expo also hosted the Home Builders Council Design/Build Competition. On Saturday, 21 teams from local high schools and colleges gathered at the Fairgrounds, received plans for a playhouse, snack shack or lifeguard tower and had until 2 p.m. Sunday to build the six-by-eight-foot structure. Judges continually monitored the progress of the teams during the 16 hours of building. The teams were judged on workmanship, safety, cleanliness, quality and building-code compliance. Paul Sobek, building inspector for Newport Beach, was one of the construction judges and also inspected the structures with Fullerton building inspector Jim Lace. Each team had a corporate sponsor recruited by the Home Builders Council, the educational arm of the Building Industry Assn. This is the competition’s second year at the expo.

“It’s been a really good success to have it here,” said Brenda Bender, a Home Builders Council volunteer. “It’s pretty neat.”

In step with the Orange County Fair & Exposition Center’s mission to bring agricultural and education programs to the county’s youth, the expo also featured the 4-H Youth Development Program’s projects and animal showings. Each year, children from 5 to 19 years old gather to demonstrate their showmanship skills and show their livestock projects. Those who won first place with their respective animals then went on to compete for the master showmanship title. The club teaches youths about livestock and the responsibilities that come with taking care of the animals.

“With all the urbanization, a lot of people go out and think milk comes from Vons,” said 4-H judge the Steve Miller with a chuckle. “It [4-H] teaches them a lot of responsibility.”

Kelly Pipkin, 15, of Yorba Linda received first place in showing her sheep and competed for master showmanship. She’s a nine-year veteran of 4-H.

“They ask us knowledge questions about the breed, the sex, faults in the animal or something you would improve and parts of the animal,” Kelly said about the master showmanship competition.

The fairgrounds plans to continue the annual tradition that connects youth from around the county.

“It’s part of our mission statement, which basically provides educational and agricultural education to county youth,” Wilson said. “It’s all part of the reason we’re here.”dpt.10-youthexpo-1a-kt-CPhotoInfo931PQ2EP20060410ixhcfpncKENT TREPTOW / DAILY PILOT(LA)Young dancers from the Westminster Performing Arts Center entertain a crowd during the Youth Expo at the Orange County Fairgrounds on Sunday. dpt.10-youthexpo-2-kt-CPhotoInfo931PQ2F820060410ixhc4kncKENT TREPTOW / DAILY PILOT(LA)Wilson High School students Matthew Hiura, left, and Raul Villanueva, both 18, construct a small building during the Design/Build Competition at the Youth Expo at the Orange County Fairgrounds on Sunday.