BEDFORD — The posters, photographs and collections have been judged and turned in. Saturday morning, the animals will arrive in trailers and pickups to be checked in and begin their week at the Lawrence County 4-H Fair.

Months of hard work by 4-H members culminates next week when the 4-H Fair takes center stage at the fairgrounds. A total of 577 youth will participate in 4-H, according to Megan Hawk, youth extension educator.

“That’s down a little from the 601 we had last year, but it’s still good,” she said. “Our livestock numbers have stayed consistent. All the barns will be full.”

Three livestock projects will enjoy more room at the fair this year. The rabbits and poultry will move into the former goat barn after sharing space in the swine barn for many years.

The swine barn has been at full capacity for a while as participation in the projects increased. When the Goat Club moved into a new barn last year, that gave the rabbits and poultry a potential new home.

Hawk said volunteers from the Rabbit Club and Poultry Club enclosed the sides of the barn and moved all the cages.

“Those clubs have great volunteers who did a lot of work to get the barn ready for the animals,” she said.

A few changes are taking place in the Exhibit Hall this year. Samples of the 4-H food projects will be shared immediately following the ribbons being awarded at 5:30 p.m. Saturday.

Also in the Exhibit Hall will be piggy banks decorated by 4-H members. The Indiana State Fair has declared 2010 the Year of the Pig. In keeping with the theme, 4-H members have decked out piggy banks that will be placed around the Exhibit Hall. Fair-goers visiting the exhibits can contribute to their favorite piggy banks. Winners will receive savings bonds. Proceeds will be used for Exhibit Hall improvements.

Times-Mail Staff Writer Carol Johnson welcomes comments at 277-7252 and carol@tmnews.com.