SPECIAL FEATURES

No Fair! Fair and exhibition cancellations impact youth programs as supporters seek to find solutions

by Managing Editor Stevie Ipsen

12 California Cattleman June 2020

The coronavirus pandemic of 2020, known by most as COVID-19 has wreaked havoc on global economies as businesses of shuttered and social activities have been nixed.

While the disease itself seems to have little impact on young, healthy Americans, the youth have not been unscathed by the wild turn of events seen in the U.S. since the first case of the Chinese-born respiratory infection was confirmed in Washington State on Jan. 20.

When school closures were announced in early March, impacting 6.1 million California students, followed by the ceasing of all contact sports and spectator events for the remainder of the spring, many in rural communities were hopeful that the bulk of the pandemic’s ripple effects would end by the time summer activities were getting underway. However it wasn’t long before decisions to end long-held agriculture traditions would soon be made.

With the early announcement of the cancellation of the Alameda County Fair hopes of a normal summer began to be dashed and the April 24 announcement of the cancellation of the California State Fair was the nail in the coffin for many who 4-H and FFA youth who had spent the spring raising their fair projects for exhibition.

While not all exhibitors have their opportunity to market their animals at Cal Expo for the State Fair, the top stock brings upwards of $300,000 each year with other fairs like San Diego County’s Del Mar and Napa County fairs grossing into the millions of dollars raised on behalf of 4-H and FFA youth.

For those in the livestock community whose family traditions revolve around summer fairs, it was bad enough but for the kids relying on the sale of summer annual livestock projects to build college savings accounts, it was salt in their wounds to know their work may be all for not.

Many former exhibitors, buyers, sponsors and others immediately took notice of the cancellations and the ramifications they could have on youth programs and put their heads together to come up with solutions.

Though some junior livestock shows and sales are being cancelled entirely, leaving youth out in the cold, there are a myriad of local fair boards committed to helping their exhibitors sell their animals, albeit by a less traditional avenue.

Just as the livestock industry as a whole has become more familiar with online sales, junior livestock auctions in Northern California have resorted to using online sale management to help their youth market their livestock projects.

The Silver Dollar Fair in Chico, held late last month announced its event cancellations early, but remained committed to helping its junior livestock auction still to take place by utilizing BidCal, an online auction company based in Chico.

Tehama County District Fair also made the early call to cancel its fair, but proceeded to hold a virtual livestock auction that took place May 16 and 17. Entries were submitted online with 60- to 90-second videos that were uploaded via YouTube. The videos would be used both in

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14 California Cattleman June 2020 judging the animals and placing them into weight categories, so the kids still had the opportunity to exhibit the projects they’d spent months developing.

“It was important to our local agriculture community and leaders at the fair level to make sure that this impacted our kids as little as possible,” Tehama County’s University of California Livestock Farm Advisor Josh Davy said. “While it is an unconventional way to do things, we are happy the youth still get the event they have worked hard for and all in all it worked out and the kids still had an experience that improved their fitting, showmanship and let them be judged on their project.”

Melissa Gilardi is a mother in Tehama County with five active show kids ranging from 11 to age 18 who show a variety of species. While they are really missing the social aspect of show life this spring, she says she is grateful for all the behind-the-scenes work that has been put in to ensure the youth of Tehama County will still get a show and sale experience to help all their hard work pay off.

“It’s amazing that the kids are able to get back some of what they have invested,” Gilardi said during the chaos of an untraditional show week. “The whole virtual show thing has been way harder than I thought it would be and judging quality without in-person evaluation – especially in lambs and goats – puts more emphasis on good showmanship. But with our kids’ lives coming to a halt on March 13, it’s a blessing that they had livestock to keep them going and motivated.”

Another auction going online is the San Joaquin AgFest Junior Livestock Show and Auction, after it was announced that the San Joaquin County Fair, scheduled to begin its four-day run June 18, had also been canceled.

Holly Foster of well-known Western Video Market (WVM) said that as a company built solely to market livestock online, WVM reached out to various fairs to assist them in hosting junior livestock events.

“I’ve been really disappointed when I see fairs completely cancel and wash their hands of helping kids find outlets for marketing their animals. While the livestock kids will get along alright, there are so many exhibitors and their families that would have no clue how to market the animal legally,” Foster said. “I’m glad to see any of the various online companies stepping up to help through this time and fair boards that are willing to explore those options.”

As of press time 25 California fairs with junior livestock sales had been cancelled with many others being postponed. Officials for the popular California Mid-State Fair say they are monitoring the situation and are hopeful their longtime event will contiue as planned July 22 though Aug. 2.

For those areas with late summer fairs, youth, their parents and leaders are holding out hope for a happy ending after a long spring has left their favorite part of the year in question.

When the pandemic started to show its potential impacts on youth programs mid-spring, longtime junior livestock advocate Col. Jake Parnell and wife Molly and their large circle of marketing and fundraising contacts circled the wagons to help mitigate the impacts that COVID-19 might have on youth in the livestock industry.

Starting with helping host several junior livestock auctions for nearby fairs, Parnell and some of his livestock friends came up with a bigger plan to help livestock kids end their summer in a new, exciting way.

Similar to the Oklahoma Youth Ag Expo, Parnell helped form a new non-profit – the California Youth Ag Expo which is slated to go forward with “THE SHOW” Aug. 5 through Aug. 9 at the well-known International Agri-Center in Tulare.

Though formed during a time of crisis, Parnell and California Youth Ag Expo co-founder Chris Bayne look forward to the new, live, in-person stock show event continuing well into the future. 2020 Entries will be taken for beef cattle, sheep, goats and swine.

“We are incredibly excited to launch the California Youth Ag Expo,” said Bayne, in a mid-May press release. “Not only is this providing a much needed opportunity for our California ag youth to show their livestock this year, but it is a show we hope will only continue to grow for decades to come!”

Parnell said expected improvements in the COVID-19 situation lead them to believe the event should go on as currently planned.

“Barring any further unforeseen crisis, this event will give a lot of kids and their parents the chance to have a successful end to a stressful and chaotic season,” Parnell said. “We have already been in touch with local officials there to ensure that this event can be held and benefit livestock youth from California and beyond.”

With hopes for “THE SHOW’ eventually becoming one of the biggest and best youth stock shows in the west, Parnell and Bayne have consulted with the Oklahoma Youth Ag Expo who will manage the show for 4-H and FFA youth in its inaugural year.

For more information on the California Youth Ag Expo as it evolves in its inception, follow the event on Facebook or online at www.calyouthexpo.com.

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