Update on County Fairs as of July 3, 2020

This week has led to more changes with the county fairs due to both county fair boards cancelling their events for the respective county fairs.  We will still have 4-H judging, however, some changes will be made to the information that was released earlier.  Tri-Rivers Fairboard (6/30) made their decision before the Ottawa County Fairboard (7/2) did, therefore more information is known for Tri-Rivers 4-H Divisions at this time.  We ask that you continue to be patient as we continue to work through more fair details and get information posted to the respective fair websites.  These times continue to be very fluid with things constantly changing.  Please continue to check your email, the blog, and fair websites.  We appreciate your understanding!

At the end of this message, you will find a short list of things we do know at this time as it relates to both county fairs.

I hope you all have a Safe and Happy 4^th of July!

Sarah

 

Ottawa County Fair

• Dog Show moved to Kenwood Hall in Salina
• 4-H Judging will continue and may contain some tweaks – details yet to be determined.
• Livestock shows may have some tweaks – details yet to be determined
• Division details AND an updated schedule will be posted sometime next week.

Tri-Rivers Fair

• No fair clean-up
• Dog Show moved to Kenwood Hall
• Updated the number of individuals who could help with submitting fair entries in the 4-H building
• King & Queen crowning – details yet to be determined
• 4-H Building entries will be dismissed between 8:30 a.m. and 8:30 p.m. on Thursday, August 6
• Livestock shows may have some tweaks – details yet to be determined
• A revised schedule has been posted to the website
• Division details will be posted sometime next week.

County Fair Details

Jon Gordon, a famous author said, “The people and organizations who thrive are those who embrace change during challenging times.”  These are indeed challenging times.  We will come out of these times stronger as we continue to live by the 4-H Motto, “To Make the Best Better.”  

I cannot emphasize the importance of checking your email, the fair websites at https://www.centralkansas.k-state.edu/4-h/county-fairs/index.html during this time.  Things are still very fluid and can change at any time.  It is also vital to READ everything entirely! 

During the these times, we must remain vigilant to keep safety of the participants, volunteers, judges, and public top priority as we transition to face-to-face programming.  We must consider the following and note that no participant should be asked to participate in any manner that makes them feel uncomfortable or is unsafe.  In order to practice social distancing (social distancing is at least 6 feet between people) and for the safety of everyone, we are strongly encouraging the following:

• Reduce the physical closeness of participants and the length of time they are close to each other.
• The use of cloth face coverings.
• Reduce the amount of necessary touching of shared equipment/materials.
• Whenever possible, group participants/volunteers from the same household together.
• Discourage handshakes, hugs or any other signs of greeting that violate physical distancing.
• Limit sharing of items that are difficult to clean, sanitize, or disinfect.
• Circulate outdoor air as much as possible.
• Prioritize outdoor activities where social distancing can be maintained as much as possible.

The pre-fair entry deadline for BOTH fairs has been extended to Sunday, July 5, 11:59 p.m.  All pre-entries will be done ONLINE for BOTH fairs. EVERY EXHIBIT will need to be pre-entered. 

Conference Judging:  Conference judging is a staple to the 4-H experience.  This year, in-person conference judging will not take place for static exhibits that will be displayed in the 4-H Building.  We are taking the Kansas State Fair approach for judging this year.  Therefore, for each exhibit in the 4-H Building (this will include the rabbit educational entries), the 4-H member is asked to complete the Conference Judging Form and attach to the exhibit (along with the completed entry card).  The Conference Judging Form is located on both county fair websites and is uploaded as a Microsoft Word document.  This form may be picked up at either Extension Office OR you may print it yourself.  The document can be typed or legibly handwritten.

4-H Livestock:  Please read the Division Details and the Fair Schedule for specific information.

Virtual Classes:  To help minimize the gathering of people, some divisions and/or classes will be held virtually.  We will be using a web-based program called Flipgrid for some divisions / classes.  After pre-entries are due, details will be emailed (using the email address on file and/or submitted with the pre-entry) to the 4-H members who pre-entered into the divisions / classes using Flipgrid.  Refer to the Division Details document under each county fair page for the divisions and/or classes going virtual.

Judging Contests:  The Photography and FCS judging contests will be held online.  Details will be emailed out to ALL 4-H members.

Ottawa County Fair:

• The Fair Schedule and Fair Paper can be found on the website at https://www.centralkansas.k-state.edu/4-h/county-fairs/ottawa/
• Read the Division Details document thoroughly for details not included in the county fair paper.

• EVERY EXHIBIT will need to be pre-entered. 

• Note:  On the Tuesday of the fair, enter exhibits in the 4-H Building before checking in and weighing livestock.

Tri-Rivers Fair:

• The Fair Schedule and Fair Paper can be found on the website at https://www.centralkansas.k-state.edu/4-h/county-fairs/tririvers/
• Read the Division Details document thoroughly for details not included in the county fair paper.
• EVERY EXHIBIT will need to be pre-entered.  Some divisions will have a specific ONLINE pre-entry form located on the website.  If your division is not listed by name, please use the 4-H Divisions Not Already Pre-Entered link for all other exhibits.

As comprehensive as we have tried to make the information on the website and this email, inevitably I am sure we have missed something.  After you have reviewed all the information, do not hesitate to contact us with questions. 

See you all at the county fair!

Horse Details

Below are some details for our 4-H Horse families.  Items are broken down by topic for easy of finding information.

If you have questions, please contact either Extension Office.

Horse Clinics

Registration will be $5/person or $15/family and should be paid to either Extension Office before the date of the clinic.  To register for either one of these clinics, please go to https://kstate.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_4Ot9KO5lFq4dzkF.  Online registration and payment is due one week prior to the clinic.

Saturday, July 18, 1 p.m. – Speed Event and Trail Clinic – Expo Center, Ag Hall, Salina

Sunday, July 26, 1 p.m. – Horse Clinic – Expo Center, Ag Hall, Salina

Questions about these clinics?  Please contact Jennifer Watkins (watkins9468@yahoo.com).

Level Testing

If you have not already taken and passed the Horse Level Test requirements, below are the steps you will need to take.

1. DO NOT WAIT UNTIL THE LAST MINUTE. 😊  To date – No one has contacted us to do the testing.
2. Study for the written test.  Level I is all you need to worry about unless you are participating in the 3-year old Snaffle Bit Contest and/or the level 2 and up Horsemanship classes.  Here are the links for the various level study guides - Level I; Level II; Level III.
3. Before the test will be administered, you need to complete pages 1 and 14, get all the signatures.  Since the Extension Offices are starting to open back up, you will need to bring the payment (see #4 for details) and the form into the Extension Office.  Sarah will then sign the form.  Once this is received, we will contact Bev Seuser to let her know we’ve received your information and payment.  YOU will then need to contact Bev to schedule the test.  You will need to contact Bev 24-48 hours in advance of when you want to take the written test.  You will need to email her your name, phone number, date and time you plan to take the test.  She will email you a link to take the test close to the test time you indicated in your email to Bev.
4. Additionally, before the test will be administered, you will need to bring a $10 check made out to the Kansas 4-H Foundation to the Extension Office.  Please bring this to the office when you bring in the pages 1 & 14 (see #3).
5. About the test…
1. Each exam has 50 questions.
2. Each exam must be completed in one sitting.
3. 70% is required to pass all exams.
4. The score is visible at the conclusion of the exam.
5. An automated confirmation email with final score will also be sent to the email address entered at the beginning of the exam.
6. Each youth should forward this email to Carol (cmcraver@ksu.edu) and Bev (classy3560@gmail.com) to confirm exam completion.
6. Once you have taken the written test, you will need to take the groundwork portion of the test.
1. Details of what will be required begins on page 15 of the Level 1 study guide.
2. Contact one of the individuals below to schedule and receive directions regarding the groundwork portion of the test (will be by video or live stream using Zoom or other program)

                                                    i.     Dr. Becky Dillon, 620-241-1523, wwdandybee@hotmail.com

                                                   ii.     Sarah Brown, 785-470-0771, sebrown1984@gmail.com  

                                                  iii.     Karen Baehler, 316-650-1385, baehlerk@yahoo.com

3. If you do not receive any response back from any of the three reviewers above, contact Sarah (semaass@k-state.edu).

Kansas State Fair (KSF)

Below are the revised steps to qualify for the 2020 KSF 4-H Horse Show.  You will need to READ THEM CAREFULLY.  There is not any room for error with the timeline and guidelines below.  If you have questions, do not hesitate to reach out.

1. DONE - Submit Horse ID by May 1.
2. 4-H member must be 9-years of age, 4-H age, to participate.
3. Horse Level Testing must be completed NO LATER THAN July 15.  This includes the written and groundwork tests.
4. Local participation and general project learning is REQUIRED (i.e., participation at the county fair).

We are still waiting to hear from the State 4-H Office regarding how KSF Horse entries will be handled.

Science of Agriculture Team Deadline Extended

We have extended the deadline for teams to sign up for the Science of Agriculture Challenge to April 30th.  Remember: teams do not need to meet in person to work on the challenge. 

We are looking for youth in grades 6-12 who want to explore agricultural related topics and share their problem-solving ideas. Youth do not need to be in 4-H already to join this challenge.

What is the Science of Agriculture Challenge?

It is a hands-on learning experience to inspire the next generation of agriculture leaders in Kansas. Teams of 2-5 youth in grades 6-12 work with volunteer coaches and mentors to create projects and build solutions. The team will identify agriculture-related issues in their community, develop solutions and share the projects with the community. Each year, teams present their ideas to a panel of industry expert judges at a state competition. Each member of the top three teams will receive a scholarship ranging to use at the university, college or trade school of their choice.

For more information, check out the website https://www.kansas4-h.org/projects/science-engineering-and-technology/science-of-agriculture/ for important dates or to register a team.

4-H Camp is moving Virtual

I am happy to announce that we will be having a Virtual 4-H Camp.  Sarah finished a meeting this with agents afternoon from Oz-Some Camp Group and we will be holding camp, but in a different way.  Details are still being worked out and we hope to get camp registration out soon to our 4-H members.

Here is what we know:

• Monday, June 15 – Counselor Training, 1-3 p.m.
• Tuesday, June 16 – Counselor Training, 1-3 p.m.
• Tuesday, June 16 – Camp, 6-9 p.m.
• Wednesday, June 17 – Camp, 6-9 p.m.
• Thursday, June 18 – Camp, 6-9 p.m.
• Friday, June 19 – Camp, 6-9 p.m.

Registration is being worked on as we speak.  More details will be forthcoming as they are available.  

Counselors can still apply!  Details were emailed to those who had completed the application earlier this afternoon and those who haven’t yet will receive an email hopefully by the end of the week.

If you have any questions, please let Sarah know.

Update on Suspended 4-H Activities

Dear 4-H Families:

During this time of uncertainty, we are in this together!  We are learning alongside one another and living by the 4-H motto, “To Make The Best Better.”

K-State Research & Extension (KSRE) has made an incredibly hard and heart-wrenching decision.  We had a meeting this afternoon which informed us of the decision to continue with no face-to-face (or in-person) Extension programming activities or contact with our participants through July 4. We are sharing this information with you at this time so you hear it from us first.  However, we ask that you please do not make any posts on social media until after you have received information from Kansas 4-H tomorrow.

Here is why:

• The health of YOU (our constituents), volunteers, and professionals is KSRE’s #1 priority;
• We cannot assure that health through July 4; and
• We need to divert planning and preparations to alternative activities.

Therefore, the following state 4-H coordinated events will be impacted:

• Discovery Days
• 4-H Camps
• Campference
• Insect Spectacular
• Geology Field Trip
• Shooting Sports Matches
• District Horse Shows
• Shutterbug Events

Other events that will be included (but not limited to):  CKD 4-H Dog Show, Horse Clinics, and in-person project meetings.

While the above events are impacted, we do not know what virtual option(s) may or may not come about.  I ask that you keep up on your email and the CKD 4-H Blog for announcements.

Before you ask, will we have in-person county fairs?  The answer is, at this time, we just don’t know.  Regardless if an in-person county fair happens or not, there is no doubt that we will work with our local fairboards on providing a showcased learning experience for our 4-H members.  For our livestock exhibitors that still need tags, we ask that you continue to be patient.  Once a plan has been devised and approved, we will get information out to you.  For KSF and KJLS exhibitors only:  Since you will have nomination paperwork that needs to be signed and it cannot be signed until the tag has seen in the animals ear, please contact Cade Rensink (crensink@ksu.edu).

Again, we are in this time of uncertainty together!  The decision that KSRE administration has made is the responsible decision.  Now, we are responsible for:

• Abiding by this decision;
• Planning to engage and keep engaging in ways that are offered (i.e., virtual club meetings, leadership workshops, etc.);
• Planning for county fairs & alternate activities; and
• Developing alternative showcases for 4-H participants while obeying social distancing for the safety of everyone.

While the situation is fluid and more information will continue to come your way, know we are here to help you and answer questions!  Do not hesitate to reach out to us.

Our methods are changing, our opportunity is growing, and our 4-H mission remains the same!  

Update on Livestock (Small Animal Ear Tags & YQCA)

Small Animal Ear Tags for County Fairs

All small animals that will be shown at the county fair must be owned and in the 4-H member’s possession by May 1.  We will not have small animal check-ins on April 29 and 30 as originally scheduled.  At this time, we are waiting until we know more about what may happen with our current situation with COVID-19.  At this time, small animal owners do not need to do anything.  Once we know more, we will post it on the Central Kansas District 4-H Blog. 

YQCA for Livestock Exhibitors

The YQCA program is offering a “Flash Sale” for the month of April. This will allow youth to complete the online course at a reduced rate of $9, only during the month of April.  However, in order to take advantage of the reduced price, participants must use a coupon while registering for the online course. Extension units or individual families may obtain these by using the attached form. To be clear – using a coupon is the ONLY way a family can take the online course at the reduced rate. A family will not receive the discount if they just log in, sign up for the online course and pay with a credit card. I realize it is a really cumbersome process to get the $3 price reduction, but the board expressed that this is the best option. The platform developer would have to overhaul the system to institute a price change, so the coupons are the best method YQCA could develop, with a reasonably quick turnaround, to reach their objective. It will be more efficient if counties or extension units submit one order and distribute the coupons to their clientele. However, the staff will accept coupon orders from individual families, so anyone interested may take advantage of this opportunity. It is imperative that the instructions on the order form are closely followed and a copy of the form/payment are sent to sales@yqca.org prior to mailing.

If there are youth who are enrolled in an instructor-led class and would like to take the online course, they may cancel their current registration and receive a refund. The family will just need to log in to the family’s account and cancel each child’s registration. If a family used a coupon code originally, it will be re-activated for future use. There are more details on cancelling class registrations in the attached resources.