2026 June Plant and Soils – Crops, Vegetables, Flowers and House Plants Info – Enjoy and/or Exhibit
Planning a Fair Exhibit – Questions, Examples, Tips Need Help- Sharon Schweitzer, rwses@idcnet.com
Now is the time to watch your plants and garden grow. Double check what you signed up to exhibit. If you have not printed the pages from the Fair Book for Dept 13 -Plants and Soil and Dept 14 – Flowers and Houseplants
Plant & Soil Sciences and Dept 15 – Flowers. I encourage you to Mark and Read Carefully how to prepare each of your entries. Make a card for each entry, listing the details for that entry and use it as you prepare your exhibit. Take it to the Fair with you for a reference as you talk to the judge. Also mark your calendar with the judging dates and times. Double check the Fair website for any changes.
Also use A2935 Evaluating & Judging Flowers & Indoor Plants or A3306 Exhibiting and Judging Vegetables as guides for preparing your exhibit. Remember they are guides for preparing and not the details for our county exhibits. If you have not seen or printed them go to the website learningstore.uwex.edu . Search for each publication and download to save and/or print. Keep for a hands on references.
If you have a problem or would like to discuss a question, text or email Sharon at 920-650-7110 or rwses@idcnet.com.
Hopefully your house plants are growing well and you have figured how to plant some garden even with our crazy spring. Enjoy them and/or prepare some as a Fair exhibit. Keep a close eye on them! Changes to them can happen quickly. Protect them, the best you can, from weather and insect damage. (tip—try using row cover materials)
Most of all Enjoy your plants and gardening with your family. You may want to experiment with successive planting or do some companion planting.
Compact bush beans provide plenty of creative companion planting options in any type of garden. In intensive raised bed gardens, you might anchor the ends of double rows of bush snap beans with summer savory or upright dill plants, two herbs often paired with green beans in the kitchen.
Bush snap beans work well when interplanted with potatoes, which are usually up and growing by the time the soil is warm enough to plant beans. After your potatoes have been weeded and hilled, plant bush beans down the outside of the row. As the potatoes die back, the beans will help keep the soil shaded and cool.
Or, try this companion planting idea intended to protect beans from pests. Plant bush beans after spring radishes, cilantro or arugula, with a few of the bolting plants left behind. Radish, cilantro and arugula flowers attract beneficial insects, and can help to confuse pests in search of beans. You can also inter plant bush beans with onions to deter pests from both crops.
Enjoy your good garden vegetables and smell your flowers. Send me pictures! May you have a great summer.
Sharon Schweitzer at 920-650-7110 for text or rwses@idcnet.com
2026 June Natural Science , Adventures, and Environmental Project Info – Enjoy and/or Exhibit!
Making Fair Exhibits – Or Looking for Summer Activity
Got Questions, Need Examples or Tips – text or email – Sharon Schweitzer, 920-650-7110 . rwses@idcnet.com
For those exhibiting at the county fair, “ What have you entered?” It’s time to finish those exhibits. What are the requirements for your exhibit. Are there changes for exhibiting?
Double check which items you signed up to exhibit. Print the pages from the Fair Book for Dept 15. Read the general Rules and any special ones listed for the Divisions. Locate and highlight the specific information you need to know for exhibiting at the fair. Be sure you are presenting the items or information listed for the Class number you signed up to exhibit. Look up the Judging schedule and list the time.
Enjoy the summer and take pictures and make notes of all the things you enjoy.
June is a wonderful month to plan adventures with your family. Watch for and note all the changes that happen as plants and animals go from spring into summer. Record the cycles of life happening around you and have information for a Science Fair or County Fair exhibit. They may be in your backyard, down the street or road and all the place you go. Take time to enjoy them.
There are many summer activities available in our county or near by. It is a great time to enjoy county parks or community celebrations. Any of these activities can be part of the 4-H Natural Science Project Areas.
Wisconsin Free Fishing Days come in June. The Jefferson Kiwanis Club sets
a date as “Take a Kid Fishing Day”. Look for the Registration details. In the past it was at the Jefferson County Fair Park, Picnic Pavilion. The Kiwanis Club of Jefferson Facebook Page will have more details. Watch for announcements of scheduled activities your community. They usually happens the first weekend in June. Most of all enjoy fishing with family or others.
Horicon Marsh is wonderful place to visit. Much to see and do. Check out their activity schedule of events at www.horiconmarsh.org for details. Or check out the
list of Wisconsin State Parks or Natural Areas and the programs they have this summer.
Enjoy outdoor activities whenever and wherever you can. Watch for the Dragon Flies. They can tell us much about our climate. Find out their secret. Be safe and respective of others. Be aware of ticks and Wild Parsnip.
If you have a Natural Science project or exhibiting questions, or are looking for more info text or email Sharon at 920-650-7110 or rwses@idcnet.com