4-H, which strives to teach life skills to young people through fun and hands-on activities, holds one major fundraiser throughout the year. The event consists of a barbeque and auctions, both live and silent.

Included in the auction will be 10 tickets to tour the Barrett Firearm Manufacturing. 4-H hopes to provide a great deal of funding for the program with the addition to other auction items.

The 4-H Fair, which was restarted in 2009 after a 15-year hiatus, will give participants a chance to display the skills they have learned through 4-H. Categories for the fair include archery, art, baking, clothing, craft, dog obedience, gardening, needle arts and livestock among others.

Non-animal entries for the fair will be accepted between 2 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. Friday, Aug. 13, and need to be picked up between 1 p.m. and 4 p.m. the following Sunday. Animal entries will be accepted the morning of the fair, Aug. 14.

Entries are open to Rutherford County youth in grades four through 12. Each category is separated into divisions based on the grade level of the participant as of Jan. 1, 2010. A best of show award will be selected from each category.

“4-H is in almost all 95 (counties),” 4-H extension agent, Rebecca Henry, said. “Every county does things a little bit different.”

In Rutherford County, 4-H is offered in a school setting. However, 4-H understands that not every child will have the opportunity take part in a school club.

To make 4-H accessible to everyone, the program has set up after-school, out-of-school and summer programs. Some of the 4-H after-school programs available are at Christiana, Smyrna and Buchanan Middle Schools, McFadden School of Excellence and Patterson Park.

Helping to reach youth outside of schools, 4-H is partnered with the Boys and Girls Club of Rutherford County and Murfreesboro Parks and Recreation.

Tickets for the barbecue dinner are on sale for $7 at the Rutherford County Extension office, 315 John R. Rice Blvd. Suite 101. There is no entry fee for the fair or action.

A complete list or categories and rules for the fair can be found online at rutherford.tennessee.edu.