4-H Fair proceeds without major complication

Hill County Extension held a condensed 4-H Fair at the Great Northern Fairgrounds this past weekend, featuring animal shows and their annual sale which both took place without major complication despite recent COVID-19 developments like Gov. Steve Bullock's recent face mask directive.

The fair could be attended virtually via Facebook Live and videos of the various events were posted afterward.

Hill County Extension Agent Jasmine Carbajal said some of these videos got more than 500 views even before the fair, which she said, didn't hit any major roadblocks, ended.

Hill County Extension Agent Tom Allen said the live show itself drew just under 30 viewers at its peak, but there were viewers from around the country which he said he found very encouraging.

"I think it's been going pretty good," Allen said, "I've talked to some of the parents and they say they've got people watching down in Billings, had someone from California who was watching. ... It's not just locals, it's people from around the country watching, which really helps."

Carbajal said the young people working in the 4-H program adapted to the new format, necessitated by the COVID-19 pandemic, very well and did their best to observe social distancing and mask wearing guidelines.

"They're working very hard, they're doing very well given the circumstances that we have following the governor's directive, I think all the kids are doing great," she said.

Carbajal said the pandemic did require Extension to do a bit more work to make sure the event was compliant with COVID-19 guidelines including blocking off sections of the bleachers to ensure social distancing, the creation of the condensed schedule, setting up the Facebook Live element of the event and other logistical issues that needed to be addressed.

She thanked the Hill County Health Department for putting in the work to approve their plan and working with Extension to make the event happen.

Carbajal also said Bullock's mask directive, issued two days before the event started, did pose a bit of a challenge for some 4-H members given that the event can be physically strenuous depending on what they're participating in.

"The face masks have been the hardest, just because that's something we're not really used to at our shows," she said.

However, despite the complications inherent to running such an event during a pandemic, Carbajal said, there may have been an advantage that came out of it as well.

"I've heard from some parents that our kids are actually more focused this year because there are no distractions like the carnival," she said, "In a way it's kind of an advantage."

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Watch for more in Friday's Hi-Line Living section.