Kenton County 4-H Livestock sets dates for livestock education hours a year in advance and follows a planned schedule of meeting times.   Due to the Covid-19 pandemic the opportunity to meet in person changed in mid-November 2020 and resulted in the adaptation of lesson preparation, lesson materials, and planned programs.   Fortunately, the Kenton 4-H Certified Livestock volunteers had discussed this potential eventuality since early in the pandemic 2020 and at their yearly re-certification conducted by CEA 4-H Youth Development Kelley in July 2020, when in person but socially distanced small group meetings were permitted. 

Following consultation with the Livestock volunteers, a special education professional, and local veterinarians, multiple hours and options for education hours completion were provided over a 9-week time frame.  All educational packet distribution dates corresponded with dates announced and publicized since January 2020.  Lessons were designed for youth 9-18 years with independent study options for older youth.  Lessons targeted multiple youth skill sets including but not limited to communication skills, writing, reading comprehension, math, art, graphic design, computer skills, and information sharing for multiple social media platforms.  Lessons also accounted for youth age, pertained to specie planning to exhibit or country ham, and youth special needs.  Ten new lessons were created by CEA 4-H Youth Development Kelley and 19 different lessons were adapted from University of Kentucky and 4-H curriculum sources.  Lessons were provided for in person pick up, porch pick up, sent direct email, and provided on the Kenton 4-H website.  Families involved were notified via multiple documented emails, traditional mail, text messages, social media, and many personal direct phone calls.  The multiple contact approach was time consuming, however necessary due to the many adults and 4-H’ers sharing computers and dealing with disrupted schedules.   Several families were quarantined and suffered illness during different weeks of the time frame when education efforts had to be completed, therefore multiple accommodations were required to be made.   

Research based materials from the University of Kentucky and a variety of educational methods were adapted for livestock use and provided to 4-H members.  Materials shared by the Extension Livestock specialist were also provided for youth members.  Adults and youth reported working on the projects together and they shared their experiences.  Several families reflected that youth worked together with grandparents or older adult family members and that they discussed the reading and video assignments.   Youth created multiple pieces of work that can be entered in contests and exhibited at the county fair.  4-H Livestock youth prepared 68 different written pieces that can be entered in the 4-H Written Communications contest.  4-H’ers prepared 47 different posters for county fair exhibition.  3 Senior 4-H members wrote essays to enter in the KY Department of Agriculture essay contest and 3 additional 4-H members created posters for the same event.  8 speeches are completed for future contests.   Submitted written assignments reflect many changes including adopting different practices and behavior changes.  Knowledge of effective grazing practices was shared in writing by Quentin; Charlie shared understanding about black vultures and their economic impact on farmers; Bristol shared that her opinion of farming changed because her understanding of a farm work force and scope of farming changed.   

The program year end evaluation data maintained since 2008 will vary due to the adjustments made because the livestock youth were only permitted to have two in-person meetings.  However, the initial design of the evaluation document will allow for multiple corresponding questions and maintain integrity of the data collected.