For University of Missouri Extension, facilitation of Missouri 4-H\u27s participation in the Missouri State Fair (MSF) during the COVID-19 era was a challenge and an opportunity for improvement. In a time when positive youth development experiences are more necessary than ever, Extension professionals must consider how to uphold the foundations of positive youth development and maintain a sense of program normalcy while ensuring new levels of safety and security. We describe lessons learned before, during, and after Missouri 4-H made the decision to open the MSF 4-H building in the midst of the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic and issue a call for related action by others

Calvert, Maria L.

Fabregas Janeiro, Maria G.

English

Clemson University: TigerPrints

Journal of Extension Volume 58 Number 6 Article 4 December 2020 Impact of COVID-19 on Missouri 4-H State Fair Participation and Implications for Youth Development Programs Maria L. Calvert University of Missouri Maria G. Fabregas Janeiro University of Missouri Follow this and additional works at: https://tigerprints.clemson.edu/joe Recommended Citation Calvert, M. L., & Fabregas Janeiro, M. G. (2021). Impact of COVID-19 on Missouri 4-H State Fair Participation and Implications for Youth Development Programs. Journal of Extension, 58(6). Retrieved from https://tigerprints.clemson.edu/joe/vol58/iss6/4 This Commentary is brought to you for free and open access by TigerPrints. It has been accepted for inclusion in Journal of Extension by an authorized editor of TigerPrints. For more information, please contact kokeefe@clemson.edu. December 2020Volume 58Number 6Article #v58-6comm1CommentaryCommentaries conform to JOE submission standards and provide an opportunity for Extension professionals toexchange perspectives and ideas.Impact of COVID-19 on Missouri 4-H State Fair Participation andImplications for Youth Development ProgramsAbstractFor University of Missouri Extension, facilitation of Missouri 4-H's participation in the Missouri State Fair (MSF)during the COVID-19 era was a challenge and an opportunity for improvement. In a time when positive youthdevelopment experiences are more necessary than ever, Extension professionals must consider how to upholdthe foundations of positive youth development and maintain a sense of program normalcy while ensuring newlevels of safety and security. We describe lessons learned before, during, and after Missouri 4-H made thedecision to open the MSF 4-H building in the midst of the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic and issue a call for relatedaction by others.Keywords: state fairs, 4-H exhibitors, COVID-19  IntroductionFairs are a tradition for the 4-H program, including in Missouri, where agriculture is an $88 billion industry(Missouri Department of Agriculture, n.d.) and the majority of 4-H members' projects relate to agriculture andlivestock. Fairs are mastery events showcasing what members have learned (Puckett, 2018) and are theculmination of the process of learning, creating, and discovering through 4-H experiences leading todevelopmental outcomes in youths (Agans et al., 2014; Turner, 2018). Missouri 4-H has been active at theMissouri State Fair (MSF) since 1918 (Missouri State Fair, n.d.), with the fair having been canceled only duringWorld War II (Willis, 2020). The MSF is the premier showcase event for the Missouri 4-H program, a familyevent, and a source of revenue for many families. However, during the COVID-19 pandemic, the potential ofhaving the 2020 MSF was in jeopardy.In March 2020, while University of Missouri (MU) Extension canceled all face-to-face programming andconfronted system-wide budget cuts, 4-H members continued preparing their exhibits and went through astrict county selection process to be able to show at the state fair. During the first 3 months of the pandemic,upcoming MSF fairground events as well as 4-H camps, trainings, services, events, and club activities werecanceled. MU Extension professionals understood, however, that in difficult times, young people need positiveMaria L. Calvert4-H State Agricultureand Natural ResourcesEducatorMaria G. FabregasJaneiroDirector of Missouri 4-H Center for YouthDevelopmentUniversity of MissouriExtensionUniversity of Missouriyouth development opportunities more than ever to help ensure the success of their generation (Arnold,2020). We describe the struggle and challenges MU Extension professionals, including the 4-H team, wentthrough to be present at the 2020 MSF and the capability of MU Extension professionals to adapt to newcircumstances and thrive. As the pandemic continues, Extension professionals are benefiting from reports ofone another's experiences; herein, we contribute to that body of work.Missouri 4-H and the 2020 State Fair: Evolving CircumstancesThe MSF is organized by superintendents for each of the livestock species and buildings. Missouri 4-H isresponsible for naming two superintendents—one for overall livestock exhibits and one for all other exhibitshoused in the 4-H building. Maria Calvert is one of the superintendents for the 4-H building.The Missouri 4-H team started planning the 2020 MSF in November 2019 as fair planning takes at least 10months. In March 2020, when the country began experiencing closures due to the pandemic, comments aroseregarding cancelation of county and state fairs. A couple of weeks later, MSF announced the closing of thefairgrounds and cancellation of events through May 10. During April and May, fair superintendents andcommissioners continued to plan and prepare for the state fair, which was scheduled to occur in August.During those months, amid rumors about sponsor, vendor, and concert cancellations, Missouri Governor MikeParson announced that a final decision about the 2020 MSF would be made in June. On June 18, GovernorParson announced that the MSF would go on, with the exclusion of concerts: The carnival would occur,vendors would be present, and buildings would be open. This news initiated discussions in MU Extensionaround whether 4-H could safely participate at the fair and, especially, whether to open the 4-H building. Bythe end of June, seven midwestern states (Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Minnesota, North Dakota, Ohio, Wisconsin)had canceled their state fairs, and Nebraska had announced that its would focus only on 4-H and FFA exhibits(Neades, 2020).By that time, many Missouri county fairs also had been canceled. On July 17, it was announced that the MSFcarnival would not occur, vendors would not be present, and open-show buildings would be closed; however,Governor Parson stated that Missouri would stay true to its agriculture roots and host the MSF for youthexhibitors (Office of the Governor of Missouri, 2020). Missouri 4-H then consulted with FFA, and the groupsmade the decision to support the MSF by opening the 4-H and FFA buildings in addition to supporting thelivestock shows. The 4-H building superintendents continued to plan, with support from the MSF director, andsought reapproval from MU Extension leadership to open the 4-H building.The Challenge of COVID-19At multiple points during the time period described above, MU Extension, especially Missouri 4-H, questionedthe risk and reward of having a presence at the MSF. Youth participation in fairs has a significant positiveeffect on participants' levels of caring, contribution, and character and is a catalyst for developmentaloutcomes in youths (Arnold et al., 2007). For the majority of Missouri 4-H youths, fairs are the highlight oftheir summer (Sharpe & Santl, 2020), a circumstance that reflects the urgent need to pivot 4-H programs towork in this new reality in order to keep vital programming momentum and participation moving forward(Arnold & Rennekamp, 2020). In our roles, we in particular understood how vital fairs are to 4-H youths, butwe also had the responsibility of keeping exhibitors and visitors safe. The challenge was to review the COVID-19 recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and determine whether weCommentary Impact of COVID-19 on Missouri 4-H State Fair Participation and Implications for Youth Development Programs JOE 58(6)©2020 Extension Journal Inc. 1could do so.After the decision was made to open the 4-H building, safety became the number one priority for 4-Hprofessionals, families, and supporters. Plans around every aspect of participating in the MSF changedregularly as the situation developed. It was critical to have the ability to adapt and to remain vigilant ofupdates in COVID-19 policies and procedures coming from MU, the MSF, local government, and the State ofMissouri.Strategic partnerships allowed MU Extension to maintain an appropriate level of preparedness and safety.Before the MSF, Missouri 4-H created a partnership with MU Sinclair School of Nursing senior communityhealth students to host a social media campaign to remind families to maintain healthful habits. The 4-Hbuilding was professionally cleaned and disinfected following CDC guidelines. The exhibit drop-off and pick-uptimes were extended to give those with exhibits more time and space in which to work. Faculty, staff, andvolunteers were encouraged to check in and out their own items in order to achieve social distancing.During the fair, the building was equipped with masks, hand sanitizer, and signs to direct the traffic. Everyonewho entered the building was required to wear a mask and maintain a distance from others of 6 ft. Thebuilding hours were limited, and office and private areas were restricted to only fair staff. All high-contactactivities (in-person demonstrations, hands-on activities, and the 4-H Building Ambassador program) werecanceled. Missouri 4-H used technology as an optional way for youths to submit their qualifyingdemonstrations via a recorded video. These virtual demonstrations were shared on social media and ontelevisions around the building.When the fair ended, all employees who assisted at the fair were instructed to work from home for 2 weeks.No cases of COVID-19 were reported among employees or visitors to the 4-H building.Lessons LearnedThrough our facilitation of 4-H involvement in the MSF during a pandemic, we gained several lessons learned:MU Extension 4-H professionals' main challenge was navigating emerging policies and changing guidelinessurrounding COVID-19 from MU, MU Extension, and the MSF.The COVID-19 pandemic exposed the reality that MU Extension 4-H professionals needed to strengthentheir innovation, flexibility, and adaptability to provide services during emergencies.MU Extension 4-H professionals were equipped and prepared to make informed and research-baseddecisions and swiftly share those with the public during stressful situations.MU Extension 4-H professionals, parents, volunteers, and youths were required to follow policies andguidelines, as the situation was not open to negotiation.Due to the unique challenges of the situation, maintaining intrinsic and extrinsic motivation among 4-Hteam members was critical.Communication was a key element while dealing with stressful situations. It was necessary to send strongand consistent messages through multiple outlets.Commentary Impact of COVID-19 on Missouri 4-H State Fair Participation and Implications for Youth Development Programs JOE 58(6)©2020 Extension Journal Inc. 2It is possible to offer positive youth development opportunities in a secure way during the COVID-19pandemic.ImplicationsMissouri 4-H, as part of MU Extension, led, adapted, innovated, and provided alternative solutions to emergingissues while participating at the 2020 MSF during the COVID-19 pandemic. Through our efforts, we confirmedthat 4-H continues to evolve and adapt programming to reach the changing needs of youths (Arnold &Rennekamp, 2020). The goal is to offer positive youth development opportunities to ensure the success of thenext generation. Even through uncertain times, with proper research and planning, comprehensiveexperiences can still be offered to youths. We are asking 4-H professionals to be inspired by the uniquecircumstances facing us now to lead, adapt, innovate, and find solutions to current and future challengesfacing youths and to provide them with the positive youth development they need. Contemplate how a senseof program normalcy can be maintained, but with new levels of safety and security. It is crucial for youthdevelopment professionals to be cognizant of the needs of those we serve and offer solutions that result inpositive impact.Author NoteCorrespondence concerning this article should be addressed to Maria L. Calvert. Email:calvertml@missouri.eduReferencesAgans, J. P., Champine, R. B., Desouza, L. M., Mueller, M. K., Johnson, S. K., & Lerner, R. M. (2014). Activityinvolvement as an ecological asset: Profiles of participation and youth outcomes. Journal of Youth andAdolescence, 43(6), 919–932. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10964-014-0091-1Arnold, M. E. (2020). America's moment: Investing in positive youth development to transform youth andsociety. Journal of Youth Development, 15(5). http://jyd.pitt.edu/ojs/jyd/article/view/20-15-5-TLC-02/1123Arnold, M. E., Meinhold, J. L., Skubinna, T., & Ashton, C. (2007). The motivation for and developmentalbenefits of youth participation in county 4-H fairs: A pilot study. Journal of Extension, 45(6), Article 6RIB5.https://www.joe.org/joe/2007december/rb5.phpArnold, M. E., & Rennekamp, R. A. (2020). A time like no other: 4-H youth development and COVID-19.Journal of Extension, 58(3), Article v58-3comm1. https://joe.org/joe/2020june/comm1.phpMissouri Department of Agriculture. (n.d.). Missouri ag highlights. Retrieved September 8, 2020, fromhttps://agriculture.mo.gov/topcommodities.phpMissouri State Fair. (n.d.). Fair history. Retrieved September 10, 2020, fromhttps://www.mostatefair.com/fair-history/Neades, C. (2020, May 12). Most Midwest states cancel state fairs for 2020. Midwest Living.https://www.midwestliving.com/travel/around-region/state-fairs-cancelled/Commentary Impact of COVID-19 on Missouri 4-H State Fair Participation and Implications for Youth Development Programs JOE 58(6)©2020 Extension Journal Inc. 3Office of the Governor of Missouri. (2020, August 13). Governor Parson celebrates youth in agriculture at2020 Missouri State Fair [Press release]. https://governor.mo.gov/press-releases/archive/governor-parson-celebrates-youth-agriculture-2020-missouri-state-fairPuckett, K. N. (2018). Examining Illinois 4-H member youth fair participation [Unpublished master's thesis].University of Illinois. https://www.ideals.illinois.edu/bitstream/handle/2142/101071/PUCKETT-THESIS-2018.pdf?sequence=1&isAllowed=y.Sharpe, K., & Santl, K. (2020). Helping youth to cope with fair cancellations. University of MinnesotaExtension. https://extension.umn.edu/fairs-events-and-training/helping-youth-cope-fair-cancellationsTurner, R. (2018, November 28). Why are fairs so important to 4-H?https://www.canr.msu.edu/news/why_are_fairs_so_important_to_4_hWillis, J. (2020, August 14). Parson speaks at Missouri State Fair, little social distancing and masks among fairgoers. https://krcgtv.com/news/local/parson-holds-press-conference-at-the-missouri-state-fairThe Discussion Forum for this Commentary can be found at:https://joe.org/joe/output/2020december/comm1.php#discussionCopyright © by Extension Journal, Inc. ISSN 1077-5315. Articles appearing in the Journal become the propertyof the Journal. Single copies of articles may be reproduced in electronic or print form for use in educational ortraining activities. Inclusion of articles in other publications, electronic sources, or systematic large-scaledistribution may be done only with prior electronic or written permission of the Journal Editorial Office, joe-ed@joe.org.If you have difficulties viewing or printing this page, please contact JOE Technical SupportCommentary Impact of COVID-19 on Missouri 4-H State Fair Participation and Implications for Youth Development Programs JOE 58(6)©2020 Extension Journal Inc. 4

Impact of COVID-19 on Missouri 4-H State Fair Participation and Implications for Youth Development Programs

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Impact of COVID-19 on Missouri 4-H State Fair Participation and Implications for Youth Development Programs

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