Due to the COVID-19 Pandemic, 4-H programs across the state had to be held in a virtual format.  We knew that with this, program participation may be down due to youth being tired of doing anything with a computer.  The “Zoom Gloom” as the youth call it, was something we had to battle in order to reach and help youth be engaged in our programming.  A fun alternative Estill County 4-H came up with was a 4-H Project Fair Series.  In this series, youth would have the opportunity and the materials to create various State Fair projects in the comfort of their own home.  Project materials were put together in kits, that youth would then pick up and put together in a zoom meeting.   Within each project, youth learned about multiple different program areas including Agriculture, Natural Resources, and Expressive Arts.   Estill County 4-H had thirty-five youth participate in our Virtual Fair Project Series.  This was not just a follow along meeting, but each lesson had handouts and educational presentations.  Our first project was a Cotton Linter Bowl, where youth learned about paper recycling.  They each made their own bowl and decorated it with different materials.  For a cultural lesson, another project was about Sand Painting.  Youth learned about the cultural significance of Navajo sand painting and why it’s important to the Native American culture.   In the third project, youth learned about upcycling and Wire Sculpting.  Our other projects included Sun-printing and how to make closed terrariums.  Because youth enjoyed this series so much and our COVID-19 Guidelines changed, we decided to offer this series in an in-person format.  These lessons focused on Agriculture, Healthy Living, Expressive Arts, and Science, Engineering, and Technology.  The projects we included were Leaf Press and Printing, Desert Gardens, Container Vegetable and Herd Garden, Window Planter Box, and Clay Jewelry. In this format, we had 42 youth participate in the in-person Summer Fair Project Series.   One parent posted on Facebook "Today during 4-H, my daughter planted an herb garden, a tomato plant, wandering jew starters, and made a window box and planted flowers in it. I have no idea how they did all this in four hours. She even tasted the basil and peppermint."  

Photo:  4-H members Analyse Day and Tiffany Reed use teamwork to help put together their window planter boxes.