Extension's Hill County 4-H fair proceeding as planned

Montana State University Hill County Extension’s plans to hold a virtual 4-H fair on the Great Northern Fairgrounds this weekend are proceeding normally and have not been affected by the recent surge in COVID-19 cases in the county.

“Everything is still on track, still going forward, still looking good,” Hill County Extension Agent Tom Allen said.

In the wake of the Great Northern Fair’s cancellation as a result of the ongoing pandemic, Hill County Extension has been organizing a 4-H fair to take place on the Great Northern Fairgrounds, which can be attended virtually on Facebook Live, featuring animal shows starting Friday morning at 10 a.m. and running until Sunday afternoon featuring with the horses, dogs, cattle, swine sheep, goats as well as smaller animals like cats, chickens and rabbits.

The shows can be attended virtually at https://www.facebook.com/MSUHillCountyExtension . This link will also be posted to the Hill County Extension website before the shows begin.

Allen said there have been no significant complications setting up the event in the past two weeks. He said the recent surge of cases shouldn’t affect their plans as long as things continue the way they are.

A few weeks ago, he asked people interested in participating in the fair’s sale to pre-register with Hill County Extension in order to more effectively set up the event and he said many have done so.

Allen said people who feel uncomfortable attending the event in person due to COVID-19 will be able to use proxy bidders to participate in the event.

“We’ve had lots of people pre-register and we still encourage people to do that especially if you want someone to bid for you, or be on the phone with you if you’re not going to be there in person … it would sure help us a whole lot,” he said.

Allen said he hasn’t had a chance to look at the full list, but he’s hoping the event will see some first-time buyers. He said there are a few each year and he doesn’t expect that to be different despite the pandemic.

However, even if the surge has not affected the event’s operations, extension is still asking people to attend the shows virtually if possible, but they wouldn’t turn anyone away, especially for the sale.

Allen said while they would not turn anyone away if they showed up in person they will be expected to wear masks and observe social distancing guidelines.

“If you want to show up, we’re more than happy to have you,” he said. “We’re never going to turn down any buyers from our sale.”

Allen said the event will have masks available along with hand sanitizing stations.

He said there have been no major changes to the plan they submitted the Hill County Health Department, but he said there haven’t been any discussions about how to proceed if an outbreak were to occur or if the health department re-instituted restrictions beyond a delay.

“We haven’t really put anything in place yet,” he said, “we may have to delay things maybe a week while we get things in place or something like that. But we don’t foresee that at all.”

Allen said he’s been in contact with other counties that have held similar virtual events and based on what he’s heard, he is relatively confident that the Hill County’s 4-H fair will be successful.

“We’ve been talking with some of the other counties that have been doing virtual sales online,” he said, “… They seem to think the process is working well for them.”

Allen said regardless of how they choose to attend, he welcomes anyone who wants to come.

“I hope people can join us one way or another,” he said. “It’s a new situation, but we’ll get through her.”