- April 9, 2026
Ariana Soler and Honey the cow. Photo by Shauna McIntosh
Bralyn Turner and Bolt the pig. Photo by Shauna McIntosh
Brylee Cody and Sweetie the Chicken. Photo by Shauna McIntosh
Charlee Crawford and Ham Solo the pig. Photo by Shauna McIntosh
Dylan Prpich and Bandit the goat. Photo by Shauna McIntosh
Emerson Jones and Maya the bunny. Photo by Shauna McIntosh
Haydon Winslow and Chuck the cow. Photo by Shauna McIntosh
Jayce Cody and Sweetie Pie the chicken. Photo by Shauna McIntosh
Payton Urbina and Mater the goat. Photo by Shauna McIntosh
The Flagler County Fair and Youth Show is set to return April 13 through April 17 at the Flagler County Fairgrounds in Bunnell, bringing together students from FFA and 4-H programs for a week centered on agriculture, education and community support.
The annual event, led by Board President Penny Buckles, serves as both a showcase and a learning experience for local youth. “We are here to promote agriculture in Florida to FFA and 4-H youth,” Buckles said, emphasizing the partnership that allows students to raise, show and ultimately sell their livestock.
Unlike a traditional fair, the event focuses strictly on livestock exhibitions and youth development. Admission is free, and each night features showmanship competitions where students are judged not only on their animals, but also on their ability to handle and present them in the ring.
At the center of the program are students like Dylan Perpich, a 16-year-old FFA member and Bunnell chapter president, who will be showing his goat, Bandit. For Perpich, the experience goes beyond competition.
“I’ve learned a lot of lessons on communication, leadership and how to work with a team,” he said, adding that FFA helped spark his interest in pursuing a future in agribusiness.
Fellow student Haydon Winslow, 17, will show his steer, Chuck, highlighting the bond built through months of work. “You learn something from both,” Winslow said. “He learns from me, and I learn from him.”
Winslow described the experience as both rewarding and emotional, noting the significance of raising an animal that will eventually be sold. “It’s part of life. It doesn’t just come from a grocery store,” he said.
That lesson is a core part of the program’s mission, according to Buckles, who described the fair as a true business proposition for students. Participants learn everything from budgeting and feeding costs to daily weight gain and market value, with many using auction proceeds to fund future projects or college expenses.
Flagler Palm Coast High School agriscience instructor and FFA advisor Maggie Reaves has seen rapid growth in student participation. In just a few years, the program has expanded from a handful of students to dozens raising livestock.
“FFA focuses on building leaders,” Reaves said. “They’re learning responsibility, time management and financial decision-making.”
Students like Bralyn Turner, 15, embody that growth. Turner, who shows multiple animals including her pig Bolt, said the program has shaped both her interests and future goals.
“It teaches you a lot about responsibility,” Turner said. “I just really fell in love with the atmosphere and the people.”
The week-long event begins Monday, April 13, with the pullet and rabbit show, followed by livestock check-in on Tuesday. The steer, heifer and goat show takes place Wednesday, April 15, with the swine show on Thursday. The week culminates Friday, April 17, with opening ceremonies and the livestock auction.
Organizers say the community’s role is critical to the event’s success, encouraging residents to attend, support the students and learn more about agriculture.
“These kids are the future of our agriculture,” Buckles said. “If we don’t do it, no one else will.”
