Youth enrolled in the Grant County 4-H program will participate in the annual achievement days activities this week and next. A drastic change from other years is the absence of spectators. “Only the 4-H members and their families will be allowed to attend,” said Sara Koepke, Grant County 4-H advisor. The restriction was enacted in response to health concerns and social distancing requirements related to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Four-H members who participate in the non-livestock project areas, such as foods, visual arts, photography, clothing and horticulture, could enter all their exhibits this week for judging. They were to take their exhibits to the community room in the courthouse. The exhibits will not be displayed at the 4-H grounds, but instead, the 4-H office personnel will compile a showcase video that can be viewed by the public.
Those showing in the non-livestock divisions will learn what their ribbon placings are when the projects are judged, but won’t receive the ribbons until the annual recognition event in the fall.
The 4-H grounds will be the site for a full slate of livestock shows, conducted with a spectator-free show-and-go format. Only the 4-H members who are showing and their family members will be allowed on the 4-H grounds during each species show. The animals will be trailered to the 4-H grounds, unloaded and shown. All washing, grooming, and trimming of the animals are to be done before they arrive at the show. At the conclusion of each species show, the animals will be loaded up and hauled home.
Four-H members and their families must be checked in 30 minutes before the show starts. The roster of events for Monday, August 3, will be companion animal and cat show at 9 a.m.; poultry show at 11, and rabbit show at 4 p.m.
On Tuesday, August 4, youth will exhibit swine at 8 a.m.; beef at 11 a.m.; sheep at 2 p.m. and meat goats at 4 p.m.
The dairy goats will be shown on Wednesday, August 5, at 10:30 a.m. and the dairy cattle at 11:30 a.m.
At the conclusion of each species show, showmanship classes will be conducted for each age group. However, there will not be contests for showmen of excellence or round robin this year.
There will be a 4-H livestock auction, but once again, social distancing restrictions have forced changes. The youth will provide a photo of the animals they will offer for sale, and the 4-H office personnel will put together an online 4-H auction. The buyers can bid at the website grantcountysd.fairentry.com between August 3 and 5. The auction closes at 6 p.m. the final day.
This summer, other changes in the 4-H program include the cancelation of the 4-H dog show and the 4-H barbecue. Youth in action events such as public presentations, fashion revue and special foods are being conducted online or with limited personal contact options.
The Grant County 4-H horse show will be conducted on Friday, August 7. Like the other livestock shows, attendance will be limited to the 4-H participants and their family members.
~Holli Seehafer
