4-H is active

W
hen the coronavirus made its appearance in March 2020 and proceeded to shut down schools, businesses, and a sense of normalcy for many, the 4-H program was also affected. Although we had to adjust how we did a few things and how we proceeded with the year, 4-H has continued to serve the youth of Weston County and across the nation during the COVID-19 pandemic. 
Once it was made clear that no in-person meetings, workshops, or events were allowed to happen for a time, 4-H took to the internet and resources available online to deliver programming and learning to youth nation-wide. Wyoming 4-H educators along with many across the nation pulled together to share resources and opportunities with each other to ensure youth in all counties may still learn and gain skills they need through this pandemic. Much of our programming and meetings have been moved to online formats for the time being.
For example, Weston County has hosted online livestock judging practices every other week via Zoom (an online video conferencing tool), which has served youth from at least five different counties across Wyoming and some from other states. Tumbleweed craft and activity ideas have been shared via Facebook Live, new record book trainings have been hosted online, and workshops and other opportunities have been shared online. 
Weston County also hosted an online livestock feed clinic in April via Facebook Live, and the video has reached over 1,400 viewers since its initial posting. In addition, youth from Weston and Laramie counties participated in a virtual 4-H exchange with youth from Alaska and Colorado in fun WAC-ky parties. Youth met new acquaintances, learned about different 4-H projects in each state, gained new information about each state, and had fun during these social parties. One highlight was learning that Alaska has a market reindeer project, who knew?! 
On a state level, Wyoming 4-H has also adapted quickly to ensure it can offer as many opportunities as possible to our youth. This includes working diligently with volunteers to move the Showcase Showdown state contests to a virtual format, offering livestock judging and jackpots online, and other opportunities.  
4-H wasn’t the only program to respond in this manner, and the effort of educators in our community and how rapidly they adapted to delivering classes online to help their students is commendable. The resources available to deliver learning online have proven to be a huge blessing (maybe a curse to some) in the endeavor to help families adjust during
this time.
There is no doubt the arrival of COVID-19 has impacted our community, country, and world in a huge manner, leaving no person unaffected. It has been frightening, frustrating, tiring, and so many other negative things. Many opportunities and events have been cancelled, and much our community looks forward to may not happen this year, including our shared 4-H Camp with Crook County. 
Though there are many undesirable impacts from COVID, there is still much to look forward to and hope for. As we weather this storm, the Weston County 4-H program will use the resources it has available in the circumstances given and make the most of it. We are slowly opening back up and holding smaller in-person meetings, workshops, and events. The Northeast Grand Slam Show Clinic has been approved by Dr. Mike Jording to continue at the end of June, which will help youth in attendance learn how to care for, groom, and show their livestock for fair. Our state champion senior Dog-Skill-a-thon team will compete in the online Showcase Showdown June 18 to defend their title, outdoor dog practices are starting this month, we have gained variances to finish .22 rifle and pistol County Shoot and we are waiting for approval for a livestock jackpot later this month as well. 
4-H and FFA are working closely with the Weston County Fair Board, Junior Livestock Committee, and Weston County Fairgrounds to determine what will be done with our county fair. At the June 8 meeting, the Weston County Fair Board voted in favor of having the county fair. Details as to what all will be included or not included and how fair will operate this year have yet to be determined. The good news is fair will continue this summer! 
The Wyoming State Fair has announced it plans to continue as well, which is great news for our youth and families! As we move forward with frequently updated orders from Gov. Mark Gordon, I ask you keep our community leaders and leaders within our program in your thoughts and prayers. If we can unite as a community and consider one another during this time, I believe we will weather the setbacks in as good of shape as possible.