Wednesday, July 29, 2020 The Nugget Newspaper, Sisters, Oregon
9
4-H livestock show falls victim to pandemic restrictions
By Jodi Schneider
Correspondent
The 4-H program strives to
prepare young people for suc-
cess in life by teaching them
life skills through many dif-
ferent experiences 4 in sci-
ence, health, agriculture and
civic engagement.
Raising livestock is one of
those experiences.
Learning what it takes to
care for an animal teaches the
children tremendous respon-
sibility. Along the way they
build confidence as they learn
new skills or share what they
know with others.
For 35 years Pam
Mitchell has been leading
the Cloverdale Livestock
4-H Club, and the Deschutes
County Fair has been a key
part of her life since the fourth
grade when she became a 4-H
member.
This year most states,
including Oregon, have can-
celed their traditional state
and county fairs due to the
COVID-19 pandemic.
The 2020 Cloverdale
Livestock 4-H Club has a
group of local kids raising
beef, sheep, and swine. The
young members have been
working hard with their ani-
mals since February and
did their part to be ready. A
modified County Fair 4-H
Livestock Show was to be
held at the Deschutes County
Fairgrounds this week, but
unfortunately because of the
increase of Coronavirus cases
in Oregon, Governor Kate
Brown recently announced
new COVID-19 measures.
<The news came our way
on July 22 that the maxi-
mum indoor capacity limit is
capped at 100. The 4-H live-
stock show had to cancel,=
Mitchell told The Nugget.
<The numbers just wouldn9t
work anymore.=
She added, <This was
tough news to process. We9re
here at this outdoor meeting
so I could visit more with the
kids and their animals. And
we are ear tagging some of
the lambs for the virtual auc-
tion that is still taking place.
It9s been quite a roller coaster
ride this year. I feel especially
bad for the seniors that have
been doing this for nine years
and never quit working on
their projects.=
Candi Bothum, coordina-
tor of the 2020 4-H livestock
show and auction, is consid-
ered to be a key creator of
what the Deschutes County
4-H has evolved into today.
She has been involved in the
Deschutes County 4-H pro-
gram since she was 9 years
old and has worked over 20
years as a staff member in
Deschutes County.
Bothum said, <It9s a very
sad day to have to cancel the
show, we have so many 4-H
members who have worked
hard to prepare. This virus is
something none of us have
seen or can predict. Healthy
communities are so very
important. Fortunately, we
also know these youth still
had the opportunity to learn
and experience many things
in spite of not being able to
participate in a culminating
competition.=
The 4-Hers learned to be
responsible for something
other than themselves. They
learned work ethic, prepara-
tion, setting goals and striving
to meet said goals, financial
management and strategies.
This all comes with the young
members9 dedication and
commitment to their projects.
Conner Cyrus, age 12, is in
his third year as a Cloverdale
4-H member and for the first
time learned about livestock
breeding.
<I did get to breed my
lamb, Perry,= Cyrus said.
<I9ve walked him around
enough, so he9s used to me.
But I am a little disappointed
because we aren9t going to
have the competition and
receive awards.=
Hayden Habein, a senior
in Bend, has been working
with a steer, a heifer, and a
show or breeding ewe.
He noted, <This is my
fourth year in 4-H. I9ve been
working every day since
February on this. I9ve put
up my own money for feed
and other necessities for my
animals. I had to pay for my
steer, and I went all the way
to Idaho for my calf. This is
my last year and I wanted to
do well.=
This is the first year for
Joel and Jayden Vogt, ages
10 and 14, as members in the
Cloverdale 4-H Club. Both
brothers had lambs that they
have been working with for
months.
<I9m disappointed about
the cancellation of the show
and just frustrated about
COVID-19 in general,=
Jayden said.
Despite the COVID-
19 pandemic closing the
Deschutes County Fair this
year, local students involved
in 4-H and FFA will still be
able to sell their animals on
Saturday, August 1.
The Deschutes County
Youth Livestock Auction is
working with the Deschutes
County Health Department
to meet the criteria from the
state to have a safe event.
The Auction will comply
with state guidelines, and all
attendees must wear a face
mask.
Bothum said that the
current plan is to have an
I’m disappointed
about the cancellation
of the show and just
frustrated about
COVID-19 in general.
— Jayden Vogt
PHOTO BY JODI SCHNEIDER
Conner Cyrus, 12, raised his lamb, Perry, for the 4-H program this year.
auctioneer at the fairgrounds
and livestream into each of
the three Conference Centers
on the grounds and on a web-
site. The auctioneer will be
selling each animal and com-
munity members will see a
photo of the member with
their animal and learn a little
about the member as well.=
Community members
who wish to participate must
pre-register at https://www.
s u r v e y m o n k e y. c o m /
r/2HSYK8L. Questions can
be directed to deschutesco
4hffaauctioncomm@gmail.
com.
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