Youth Fair welcomes kids

They made crafts, ate hot dogs, hula-hooped, swam in a pool, played with over-sized animals and got ready for school.

Those was just some of the activities hundreds of children enjoyed on Saturday as they attended the fifth annual Youth Fair at Northside Park in Corning.

The theme for this year's event was Back to School.

"We have had a great turnout," said Carol Curry, program manager at Corning Family Resource Center. "I think we have less booths this year, but the ones we have are really great."

At least 20 booths were setup at the fair, and each booth provided a backpack stuffed with school supplies for the event's raffle.

To have a chance at winning a backpack, children attending the fair were given a card that was stamped as they went to each booth. Once the card was filled it was placed in the drawing box for the backpacks.

It was with great anticipation the kids crowded around the event's Mistress of Ceremonies Debbie Meents and Karen Ordaz, instructor at Family Resource Center, who announced the winning names.

Some of the winners were very shy, others exuberant as they came up to receive their winning ticket from a large, green dragon - one of many life-size, costumed helpers provided by New Life Assembly Church.

"Everything went really well," said Ordaz. "Neighborhood Full Gospel Church ran out after serving 300 hot dogs we had so many families attend this year." Six-year-old Sarah Hoehl said she had a good time with the activities. Her favorite part of the fair was the animal characters.

Children learned how to "play with their food" at the Cal Fresh Tehama County booth, where Tehama County 4-H members instructed them how to make radishes, mushrooms and sweet peppers into fun characters.

Along with the "veggie art," Rita Boyes, Tehama County 4-H program representative, and Darla Bandsma, with Cal Fresh nutrition education, had samples of flavored water to show just how great drinks without sugar added can taste.

Children got to watch and then sample fruit smoothies blended through bicycle pedaling-power, and had take-home fingerprint cards made at the Corning Police Department booth.

At the Rolling Hills Clinic booth, both children and parents learned about medical and dental hygiene before drawing a prize out of a goody box.

Tumblers tumbled down mats at one booth, and pencil boxes were made in time for school at the Center for Nutrition and Activity Promotion booth.

Tehama County Red Cross was on hand to show families the Red Cross Emergency van and gave tours explaining how the van works and provides during disasters.

Entertainment was provided throughout the day as young performers sang and danced.

"We have a lot of talent in the Corning area," said Meents who organized the performances.

According to Curry, the focus of the fair is to help families get ready for school, provide them with information to have healthy families, while at the same time giving the community's children an opportunity to have a great time.

To top the hot day off, families attending the fair could swim at Northside Park Pool for free.