|
 As the days of the calendar tick off, we have to
wonder if we will get back to normal or will this be the new normal
until a vaccine in found for this virus?
Last week Governor JB Pritzker announced a modified stay at home
order that lessened some of the current restrictions, and cracked
down a bit in other areas. We all have to wear masks when we go to
the store or the gas station. Our favorite retailers can sell their
products online but the stores are still not open. However, state
parks are now open for specific activities while playgrounds remain
closed.
With so much uncertainty right now, the Logan County Fair Board is
moving forward with cautious optimism that by the time we get to the
end of July, we may be able to have a fair.
Two weeks ago the fair board sent out information for advertising
and sponsorship in the annual fair book, and that gave us all a
little hope that maybe we will have something to look forward to
toward the end of the summer.
Which brought to mind, what are all those 4-H kids doing right now
for exhibits at the 2020 Logan County Fair? Are they still
preparing?
Following the guidelines set by the state and the University of
Illinois Extension, clubs are not holding face-to-face meetings
right now. However, virtual meetings are taking place and kids are
still preparing for the fair.
Terri Miller, County Director for Logan, Menard and Sangamon (LMS)
Counties says that 4-H is hopeful for county exhibits. “Currently we
are moving forward with our planning of the 4-H shows in Logan
County as normal, understanding of course circumstances may change
due to the Covid-19 situation. Our goal is to provide an opportunity
for youth to showcase their projects and display their learning and
growth,” Miller said. “If circumstances interrupt the 4-H shows,
Illinois 4-H and Extension staff will work to develop other
alternatives consistent with social distancing guidelines.”
For now, the Logan County Extension is promoting the use of virtual
meetings to keep clubs rolling along, and is also increasing the its
social media presences for 4-H to help keep the community and the
club members informed and feeling good about their recent
accomplishments.
On the LMS 4-H Facebook page, there are tons of posts about
participating in projects via online resources. For example there
are the 4-H Project Learn & Share opportunities. On these posts, 4-H
members are encouraged to share pictures and comments about a
particular experience that ties to one of their 4-H projects.
Students who are working on Child Development projects, for example,
are given a list of virtual resources to learn more, then they can
share comments about what they have learned and also pictures of
activities they did in relation to the project.
There are also other interaction opportunities such as the recent
College Q & A event. Members who are preparing for college had the
opportunity to participate in a question and answer session via
Zoom.
The page also posts reminders about other things, such as the 4-H
Records Tip of the Month that reminds kids about what they can and
should include in their record books as they prepare to enter their
records for judging. An example - the tip of the month for April
reminded members to put if they are participating in “online
learning related to 4-H projects.”
Also posted on the FB page is this fun slideshow of personal
messages from 4-H leaders in the Tri-county District.
https://www.facebook.com/ LMS.4H /videos/582756029260523/
While everyone wants to see a fair this year, Miller noted it is
wait and see and hope for the best. “As far as the 4-H shows, it is
wait and see. If in-person fairs end up not being possible and we
will have to use alternatives.”
In the meantime, here are ways Logan County 4-H has adapted
programming during this current situation:
Holding virtual 4-H Leader Meetings.
Virtual Trivia for 4-H families to participate in and have fun.
Providing education materials to continue 4-H project work three
times a week on Facebook called 4-H Project Learn & Shares.
Celebrating our 4-H volunteers through posts on Facebook with quotes
from leaders and 4-H members on what 4-H means to them.
Encouraging members to participate in virtual competitions provided
by the State 4-H Program, such as 4-H Everyday Sportsman’s Skills
Challenge via email.
Facebook Video: Sent out positive messages to 4-H members that their
leaders and 4-H staff are thinking about them via a video on
Facebook.
Sharing with 4-H members how they can continue with their 4-H
records with entry suggestions.
Encouraging 4-H alumni to participate in a state-wide 4-H alumni
Facebook page and fill out informational survey.
Celebrating 4-H Clubs that were awarded a Farm Credit grant via
Facebook post. For local leaders, the
challenge of going virtual has gone pretty well.
Cindy Schempp - Atlanta Ag 4-H
Cindy Schempp, leader of the Atlanta Ag 4-H Club commented on the
experiences she is having with her members.
“This situation has certainly given us all a chance to brush up on
our technology skills. I am curious how other 4-H Clubs are
functioning during this time. Every club has their own style and I
appreciate that Logan County gives us opportunities to share what
works for each club. [to top of second
column] |
“Atlanta Ag 4-H Club just had our first successful
virtual 4-H meeting!
“President Jamie Carlock ran the meeting as we normally would and
started us off with the pledges. Secretary Rose Catterson took
attendance and shared the Secretary notes from last meeting.
Treasurer Winton Carlock gave the financial report.
“Following our meeting, Anna Catterson did a Photography Workshop
and offered us specific tools for using our cameras and creative
suggestions for taking photos during our social distancing.
“We did have to alter our theme for May from a meal to bring our 4-H
Families together for a Food & Nutrition and Etiquette theme to
HEROES of the Covid-19. We look forward to sharing photos and
stories of folks who are heroes in our eyes during this time of the
virus and follow up with letters of appreciation to those heroes.
“Kim Carlock is our Communication Leader and has excelled at working
with our officers to share meeting notes, photos, and to communicate
before and after meetings with reminders and deadlines.
“Even though we are meeting virtually, the members are using their
Heads to work on planning and organizing how we can contribute to
communities during this time of need as some are working on sewing
masks and putting together face shields.
“Members are using their Hearts to communicate to others by sending
them notes of encouragement. Hands are put to work in the home
learning/helping to prepare meals for the family and have meals they
prepare delivered to neighbors. Members are keeping in good Health
by exercising with family to keep themselves strong in order to help
others. I look forward to reading about what they have learned from
these experiences in their 4-H Records this year!
“Although separated by social distancing, I am proud of the 4-H
Ethics that the Atlanta Ag 4-H members/families are showing as
individual units. They are “Making the Best Better” for our
community – our country – and our WORLD!”
Leslie Starasta - Cloverdale Club
Leslie Starasta, leader of the Cloverdale Club is helping her
members adapt to the circumstances. For herself, she says that the
duties as a leader really aren’t that different from before
Covid-19. The big differences are lying in how the club meets and
interacts.
“During ‘normal’ existence, I reach out to my members and their
families via email, text message, and phone calls especially when a
deadline is coming up such as registering their projects for the
fair. So my individual contact with members really hasn't changed
that much. As I see posts from the 4-H office or the state 4-H
office that relate to projects members are doing, I send them a
message to make sure they have seen the opportunity.
“What has changed is our monthly meetings. For our April meeting, we
met using a Zoom conference call. During that month we did not have
a presentation from a guest speaker but we had our usual business
meeting. We said the pledges together, read the secretary and
treasurer reports, and discussed new and old business as we usually
would. As that meeting was at the beginning of April and we were
still early into our "shelter in place" existence, we had each
member share what they had been working on for one project.
“As we look toward our May meeting, I am hopeful that a guest
presenter will be able to join us. We also have several members who
are signed up for talks or demonstrations for our next meeting. I
hope those members will be willing to give those in our Zoom format.
If not, I'm going to encourage them to send me a video that we can
share among other members.
“Our club did receive a Farm Credit Service Grant for butterfly
conservation efforts at Creekside Environmental Center. We will be
continuing with our grant but will be arranging for member families
to go out at separate times until restrictions are lifted. There are
also aspects of the grant that we can do from our homes and I will
be sending information to members about those opportunities.”
To help 4-H leaders and members prepare for the future and what
could lie ahead this summer, the Illinois Extension also put out a
release for members and the public about how 4-H projects will be
able to move forward, and what summertime activities have had to be
canceled for the time being.
Shelly Nickols-Richardson, Associate Dean and Director of Illinois
Extension noted in the release, “Illinois Extension is part of the
solution of protecting the health of our residents across the state.
We will not compromise on our commitment to health, but we also
support the education mission and beloved tradition of our summer
4-H shows. These events provide unparalleled opportunities for you
to demonstrate sportsmanship, mastery of skill, and support of their
peers and communities.”
The release also states: “For more than 100 years, Illinois
Extension has delivered educational programming through in-person
meetings, webinars, conferences, camps, and contests. Following the
stay-at-home order in March, Extension mobilized staff to transition
most in-person events to digital webinars, meetings, podcasts, and
videos. To help Illinois families, business owners, and agricultural
producers respond to the COVID-19 crisis, Extension staff created
more than 400 new educational resources since mid-March, which are
available at @go.illinois.edu/ExtensionCOVID19.”
So, while we are all holding out hope that we will be able to see
all these great 4-H members at the fair, we know that the local
leaders and staff at the local extension are doing all they can to
keep our youth safe and healthy and at the same time prepare them
for a new style of exhibiting and showing their projects.
We look forward to seeing how this all works out, and will roll with
the punches, just like all our kids are right now.
[Nila Smith] |
