The 2020 COVID-19 pandemic will not stop the production of the Bourbon County Recipe for Life!  Each year every 5th grader in all school systems in Bourbon County are given the opportunity to participate in Recipe for Life.  I have been informed by parents that Recipe for Life is referred to as a "right of passage" within their homes.  What to do during the school year 2020-21, when classrooms look much different than past years? Initially the September date for this event was postponed to a spring date.  Much to our surprise when spring arrived the pandemic and virtual classrooms were still a part of lives.  We decided there had to be a way!  The Senior SNAP-Ed Assistant, Kacy Wiley and the FCS Agent, Kay Denniston decided to try a virtual presentation of Recipe for Life.  There were three sessions taped an uploaded privately to YouTube.  The 5th grade teachers were able to determine the date for each viewing with both their virtual and in person students.  Along with the YouTube sessions, each teacher was given reinforcement items to carry out small hands on activities.  The pre and post test were on Qualtrics and available to all teachers to be given to the students.  Of the 219 students that participated in the "Virtual Recipe for Life" 175 students completed the Qualtrics pre-test and 149 completed both the pre and post tests. Scores indicated that 96% of students completing both tests improved their scores after participating, 1% scored the same and 3% scored lower. Even though this virtual experience was not the same as the in person, hands on experience, it was a success and it was definitely better than skipping the opportunity of making contact with 219 5th grade students in Bourbon County!  The teachers were very complimentary of our efforts in at not forgetting the youth and for haring the information with the 2020-21 5th grade class.

This event led to a follow up appearance on the big screen.  We taped a presentation on measuring that was shown at the local drive-in theatre during the schools Family Nights which was emphasizing Math!  The Drive-In viewing was viewed by 365 individual family members.  Each family received measuring items to be used in the home to reinforce the math and measuring demonstrated on screen.