For 85 years, the SEYF has showcased Marion County’s agriculture heft and, over that time, has grown into a remarkable incubator for developing and recognizing the youth in our community. It also continues to proudly boast about being the longest continuously running fair without a midway in the United States – and the biggest such fair in Florida.

It’s rare that an event that’s more than eight decades old can each year claim “it’s bigger and better,” but I dare say the SEYF is just that, year in and out.

This year’s SEYF was held Feb. 19-28 at the Southeastern Livestock Pavilion, and I attended twice. As usual, it was a joyful and uplifting experience. Kids running around laughing and playing. Young exhibitors nurturing and loving on their animals. Proud parents all around with watchful eyes on the happy goings-on.

This year, 1,036 young people participated in the Youth Fair. The biggest category was hogs, with 246 exhibitors, followed by 154 steer entries. SEYF Executive Director Sara LaFils justifiably deemed the fair another success.

But while youthful energy and high-quality livestock are hallmarks of the fair, it is its long-term impact on its participants that is the real gift Ocala/Marion County receive from the SEYF.

When I asked LaFils what makes the Youth Fair special, she didn’t hesitate.

“It’s just a premier event where our youth get to experience leadership and it teaches them so much responsibility,” she said.

Those leadership skills are built through the process exhibitors go through to get into the fair. They buy an animal. They are required to keep detailed records of its feeding, its health care, its growth and development and are encouraged to go out ahead of the fair and find bidders for their animals. The recordkeeping is judged along with the animals.

To understand how much the SEYF touches its participants, all one needs to do is talk to Bob Sackrider of Weirsdale, owner of Sack Roofing Inc. Sackrider has bought the champion steer 17 of the past 20 years and takes pride in that record.

Born to a farming family in Michigan, Sackrider was a troubled teenager. So troubled, his parents sent him to live with his aunt and uncle in Summerfield.

It was growing up on their farm that Sackrider got involved in Future Farmers of America and, ultimately, the SEYF.

“It teaches the kids,” Sackrider said. “It turned my life around when I went to the Youth Fair.”

He said it taught him responsibility and helped him develop business acumen.

“It teaches your kids how to take on something and do it right,” he said, adding that his 15-year-old daughter took part in the fair this year, showing a sheep.

As Sackrider noted, like himself, many of the youngsters he has bought animals from over the years have gone on to be leaders in Ocala/Marion County, and that is rewarding.

“It makes you feel good to give back to the kids,” he said, adding that he has spent more than $70,000 buying SEYF livestock over the years.

Ocala/Marion County has a gem in the SEYF, not only because it is a wonderful and entertaining community event but because it is a breeding ground for the next generation of community leaders, in agriculture, business and public service.

And that, folks, makes the Southeastern Youth Fair a priceless treasure for all of us.