Each year the Grayson County 4-H Council hosts a series of 5K events that are a part of the community festivals; Grayson County Freedom Festival, Clarkson Honey Festival, and Hometown Christmas. These 5K events have served as the primary fundraising events for the 4-H Council and 4-H Clubs. At the events, the club members are encouraged to be part of the route crew, which entails duties such as handing out water to the participants, giving directions, and calling times. Those that show up to ‘fundraise’ for their club help earn a percentage of the profit from the event to be put directly to their clubs accounts. This format has reduced the amount of extra fundraising events the clubs have had to host (i.e. bake sales, car washes, etc.), and also reduces stress on parents of having to get kids to multiple events as many have kids that participate in more than one club.

With the limitations of having in-person events over the last year, the 4-H Agent gave a new spin to these events. After having participated in several virtual run/walk events, the agent brainstormed on how to make the current 5Ks feasible in a virtual format to allow the council to continue to raise funds. After much planning, the first event was the Freedom Run/Walk in July; the participants were allowed to select distances of 5K, 10K, half marathon, or full marathon and given a two week period to complete the distance they choose. If they choose a shorter distance, they could complete a farther as a personal challenge to themselves. Additionally, there was no penalty to not completing the selected distance. All participants registered through Qualtrics and received a mileage tracker to complete; those were then reported back to the agent at the end of the ‘event’.

After a fairly successful Freedom Run/Walk, it was decided to have the annual Honeyfest 5K as a virtual event as well, with distances being the same as before as well as the time frame for completion. The yearly Christmas event also occurred the same way; each of those events were given fun titles as well as fun names for the distances: Honey Hop with bee themed distances and Holiday Hustle that went from Thanksgiving weekend into December.

Between the three events, 54 total participants took part in the virtual events; 13 of those in all three events, and 11 in two events. A survey was sent out to participants at the end of the Holiday Hustle, 14 responded; of those, 694 miles were completed between the three events. Six had never participated in a virtual event that was for running/walking, but all say they would continue to participate in this type of format, including when in-person events were able to be had again. Some of the favorite aspects of the virtual events was that they were able to complete at their own pace, able to work it around their schedule (and weather), setting self-goals, and getting to exercise as a family.