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The effort to make last week’s Rock County 4-H Showcase a meaningful experience didn’t go unnoticed by beef project judge DJ Folkerts.
“I hope we don’t have to do this again,” he said Friday morning, the third of four days of livestock showcases. “Kudos to your program coordinators for having this.”
Folkert of Pipestone spent several minutes sharing his observations as he watched the senior beef showman hold the animals.
“You didn’t have to be here today,” he added. “You’ve shown a lot of dedication.”
A total of 72 Rock County youth participated in the eight in-person livestock shows and/or virtual static project offerings.
Last year, 170 youth showed projects at the fair.
Local adult volunteers and older 4-H youth filled the 82 slots needed to conduct this year’s showcase
“Our volunteers were awesome,” said Kelsey Maeschen, Rock County 4-H Program coordinator. “I want to thank all of the parents, volunteers and our 4-H’ers for not giving up and for putting in such a great effort so that we could still have our showcase event.”
At the livestock shows, youth and adults in the indoor arena donned facemasks to prevent the spread of the coronavirus.
“This is the times we are in,” Folkerts said. “We don’t know what will happen from day to day.”
The Rock County 4-H Showcase took place July 29-Aug. 1, the same dates as the canceled 2020 Rock County Fair.
All fair activities were canceled in June following the announcement that the Minnesota State Fair would also not take place as planned.
Ordinarily local youth compete for project trips to the state fair and to the state horse and state dog shows, which were also canceled.
Instead of state shows, Minnesota 4-H is planning a virtual statewide project showcase.
Local blue ribbon winners can compete in showcase
Minnesota 4-H is hosting a virtual statewide showcase in late August and September for static and livestock projects.
Any Rock County 4-H’er who earned a blue ribbon during last week’s showcases is eligible for the statewide showcases.
Each youth can enter two static projects and/or two livestock projects, if each earned a blue ribbon at the county 4-H events.
Members can also do one public demonstration, and one club can do a performing arts presentation.
Project judging for static events takes place Aug. 31-Sept. 3. Livestock judging takes place Sept. 8-13.
A statewide virtual dog show is currently in the planning stages.
Two annual fair activities were successful
Fairgoers were able to take advantage of two traditional fair activities last week: Eating of carnival food and the endurance races.
Three food vendors spent July 27-29 at the fairgrounds, where the public could purchase food normally available at the fair.
Rock County Ag Society President Adam Kinsinger said vendors indicated they received a good response from the public.
Also receiving a good response were the enduro races Saturday night at the fairground’s racetrack.
Attendance to the popular car feature stayed under the 250-person limit, about a fourth of the usual crowds.
“We normally would have been in the 700 to 800 range,” Kinsinger said. “But with everything going on, we were just happy to be able to have a bit of normal at the track this summer.”
Kinsinger, who will begin his second year at the fair helm in 2021, is looking forward to next year.
“We are hoping to have some new and exciting attractions for the whole family with keeping the same Rock County Fair feel,” he said. “Something for everyone.”