Fowlerville News and Views Online

 It’s time to create! Get ready for next year’s Fowlerville Family Fair

By Dawn Bhajan,

Superintendent of Fowlerville Family Fair

Open Class Home Arts

Months have passed. The 2024 Fowlerville Fair is fading into a mild summer memory. Upcoming holidays – Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas – are chasing behind, sweeping our fairground memories into storage bins. Fair projects have been returned to their proper homes. Ribbons are being lovingly stored.

Looking back, in our first year back on the map, the Open Class Home Arts was a roaring success. Scores of entries in Baking, Canning, Fine Arts, Photography, Needlecraft, Folk Art, Floriculture, Horticulture, and Agriculture brought the silent, empty spaces beneath the grandstand to vibrant, creative life. Demonstrators demystified the art of their crafts, educating and inspiring new generations of creatives. A community of Open Classers was forged in the inaugural Exhibitors’ Reception, a celebration of our Exhibitors’ efforts and involvement. And throughout Fair week, live music, the profuse admiration of visiting Fairgoers, and the joyful delight of ribbon winners (of all ages) reverberated down the walkway.

Underlining all of this wonderfulness was the unprecedented support of our Volunteers, Sponsors, Judges, Exhibitors, Board, and community at large. We appreciate every last one of you!

For one week – one exquisite week – your ingenuity, skill, and support made the Open Class Home Arts exhibit sing.

But the beauty of the Fair is that it never ends… not really. It just draws back – strengthening, evolving, improving, and building momentum. It’s being poised now for a new launch next year, and the year after, and the year after that.

This year will always be special for the Open Class Home Arts in proving that our community continues to value the skill and craftsmanship of our makers. Now, it will only get better from here.

My promise to you, for however long I have the privilege of being your Open Class Home Arts Superintendent, is to continue to seek, promote, and put into action new ways to make this program awesome. I believe in the value of our Open Class Home Arts!

And I have an ask of you, in return: CREATE.

You have skills that we, your fellow community members, are primed to honor and admire. You have skills that will inspire new generations to carry on the Home Arts – that will keep those arts alive. You have skills that are needed and valued.

Fowlerville Fair 2025 is not that far off, in the grand scheme of making, growing, and producing. Create, and let’s see if, together, we can make this program one for the record books!

Open Class Home Arts are competitive Fair classes open to ALL Michigan Residents, ages five and up – no memberships or affiliations required. Join us on our “Fowlerville Fair Open Class Home Arts” Facebook group, and contact me directly with questions and feedback, or if you’d like to Sponsor or volunteer for our 2025 Season: dawnbhajan@gmail.com.