While the fair was canceled in 2020 due to the
pandemic, this year organizers had fortunately made plans with
precautions. With the onset of rising Covid-19 numbers, this past
week Illinois and other areas of the country have reverted to
recommendations to wear a mask and social distance while indoors.
For everyone's protection exhibiting youth were divided into club
groups and asked to arrive at a specific time for their judging.
When finished, youth were encouraged not to wait around for the end
of the shows. This kept the numbers inside the barn quite low
throughout the day.
The day began at the exhibit barns on the Logan County Fairground
with the Cat Show for Logan, Menard and Sangamon Counties.
The Home and Family exhibits were then judged in a variety of
categories. Typically the Home and Family Show, as well as the Food
and Nutrition Show are held weeks prior to the fair.
Judging for the Home and Family Show was in the categories of
sewing, home interior and communication. Local residents Tonita
Reifsteck, Sherry Fulton and Deanna Mott were the judges of the
categories respectively.
At noon the Food and Nutrition Shows were held at the extension
office. The judges for the day were Samantha Danosky and Michelle
Dawson.
While the home and family exhibitors were lower on numbers and the
gathering inside the barn was sparse and sporadic, the food and
nutrition participants from each club were much larger in number.
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As the extension meeting room filled with exhibitors
and family members representing only a few of the Logan County
Clubs. The pre-decision to spread things out a bit was a good one.
Amanda Gray with the extension said that organizers
had planned carefully so that they could control the number of
people in one place at one time. The only hitch in the plan would be
that of giving out special awards. Because kids were being
encouraged not to stick around, the odds that at the end of the day
the special award winners were on hand to receive those plaques was
slim to none.
Gray said that after the shows were completely finished, state fair
delegates and special award winners would be chosen and those 4-H
members would be called back in to receive their awards.
The same method of show scheduling will continue with the general
projects judging on Monday.
Gray said that because the livestock shows are more of a competition
than a judging, the judging will not take place by club.
Those who attend the events on Monday should be prepared to don a
face mask as it is going to be required by youth and more than
likely spectators as well.
[Nila Smith]
[Text from file received from
] |