A salad full of backyard weeds might not be a young person's -- or any person's -- first choice for lunch.

But when 12-year-old Jacob Geesey served several different types of weeds to his 4-H club, his fellow 4-H'ers devoured the unusual snacks, albeit after some initial hesitation.

Jacob is part of the Berries, Bees and Blossoms Club led by his grandmother, Grace Wardrop.

"We do different trips, and this year they voted that we go to see Grace Lefever's weed walk at Sonnewald Farms," said Wardrop, 75, of Dover. "I saw my grandson taking notes as he was going along, and I thought, 'wow.'"

At home he suggested they gather the edible weeds he had learned about.

Mary Jo Kraft, the 4-H and youth development educator, suggested he give a presentation to his clubmates.

"A lot of them liked it," Jacob said. "One girl in our club ate a lot of everything."

His presentation was such a success at the club that he will be presenting the information again at the York County 4-H Fair on Saturday from 1 to 2 p.m.

The event: The fair begins Thursday and runs through Monday, at the York County 4-H Center, 771 Stoverstown Road.

Exhibits and events will be open to the public on Saturday and Sunday, and admission is free.

Sunday activities include a 4-H Robotics Club demonstration, Seeing Eye Puppy demonstration, a petting zoo, games, crafts, snow cones and watermelon walks.

The theme for the 2012 4-H Fair is 100 Years of 4-H & Still Growing Strong, to celebrate the 100th anniversary of 4-H in Pennsylvania.

"The overall theme is sort of old-fashioned things, with old-fashioned games, root beer floats and orange creamsicles," said Kraft.

More than 700 projects created by 4-H members will be on display, including entries in a cake decorating contest in which students design a cake to fit the 100 years theme.

Animals will be featured in the 4-H Alpaca Show, Goat Show, Swine and Livestock Show and the new Dairy Beef Show.

Students age 5 through 19 may join 4-H, and York County has about 450 members in its traditional program and more than 1,800 members in its nontraditional program, said Kraft.

-- Reach Chelsea Shank at 505-5432 or cshank@yorkdispatch.com

York County 4-H Fair schedule of events

The 32nd annual York County 4-H Fair begins Thursday and ends Monday. The event will be held at the 4-H Center at 771 Stoverstown Road in West Manchester Township.

Admission is free.

For information, call Mary Jo Kraft, 4-H/youth development program educator with Penn State Cooperative Extension at 840-7408.

The schedule follows:

THURSDAY

---6 p.m.: 4-H Alpaca Show; food in the Exhibition Building.

---8 p.m.: Judging of cherry pies, oatmeal cookies, decorated cakes and baked goods.

FRIDAY

---5 p.m.: Goat Show in the Exhibition Building.

SATURDAY

---710 a.m.: Breakfast available in the Exhibition Building.

---8 a.m.: Rabbit & Cavy Show under tent, petting zoo and bean bag games to follow.

---8 a.m.5 p.m.: Exhibits open to the public.

---8:30 a.m.: Beef Show in the Coverall Building.

---9 a.m.: 4-H Urban Showcase and register projects for York Fair; wood carvers demonstration.

---10 a.m.5 p.m.: Tech storms robotics demo, educational classroom; cake and watermelon walks, sidewalk chalk art, bubbles; four square and hopscotch; Tall Cedar Clowns and bal loon art inside; face painting at the pavilion.

---10 a.m.12 p.m.: Clover Bud Corral for children ages 4-7.

---11 a.m. until sold out: Chicken barbecue.

---12 p.m.: Berries, Bees and Blossoms Club -- learn about weed salad, refrigerated pickles, mint teas and more.

---13 p.m.: Bob the Critter Guy under the tent; pedal tractor races on the driveway near the barbecue pit.

---2-4 p.m.: Lamb weigh-in and show in the Exhibition Building; Wildlife Club -- old-fashioned games.

---3 p.m.: Poultry Club demonstration under the tent; Zumba in the large room near the stage.

---5 p.m.: Final cake walk of the day.

SUNDAY

---12-4 p.m.: Exhibits open to the public; wood carvers demonstration, peach sundaes and old-fashioned games.

---1 p.m.: Sci Tech Robotics in the demo classroom.

---1-3 p.m.: Bob the Critter guy under the tent; pedal tractor races.

---1-2 p.m.: York Area Pet Bird Club demonstration in Room B.

---2 p.m.: Dairy Beef Show.

---3 p.m.: Seeing Eye Puppy Demo under the tent.

---4 p.m.: Final cake walk.

---4:15 p.m.: Projects released and cleanup.

MONDAY

---9 a.m.: 4-H Swine Roundup.

---6 p.m.: 4-H Lifestock Sale.