4-H Alberta Suspends In-Person Activities Amid COVID-19 Health Crisis

4-H Alberta Suspends In-Person Activities Amid COVID-19 Health Crisis

Michelle Pinon News Advertiser

4-H Alberta issued a press release on March 30 to suspend all in-person activities and events to protect members, volunteers, and supporters of the program. The suspension of activities includes club, district, region, and provincial levels.

Clint McLaughlin, Leader of the Innisfree-Minburn 4-H Beef Club, said that “Instead, the kids will be “Achieving” their projects by recording a video of their project calves being led around their yard, fully groomed and ready for the show. The videos will be posted to our Facebook page in late May. We will be using actual weights to determine winners for rate-of-gain for the year, but we will not be able to have a traditional steer or heifer competition.

This year, we will be hosting an online steer sale through DLMS.ca on May 27. Bidders will be able to log in to the DLMS system or call in with a proxy bid. It will be a timed auction, starting at 9 am and ending at 5 pm, with the steers going to the location of the winning bidder’s choice. The calves will be weighed the week before on May 20th, and so they will be sold at a $/lb price.”

Clint’s son Brad, who is a junior member of the club, said, “For achievement, at least we can still lead our calves around and show what we’ve we done with them this past year. I think we might be able to have a more successful sale because I think more people will be able to view it because it is an online sale and they will be able to call in or log in to buy a steer they want. I think it’s ok that we are still doing a rate-of-gain competition to compare the steers. We (the members) are all happy that we can still do a show and sale because it would be disappointing if we didn’t have the opportunity,”

Chipman 4-H Beef and Multi- Club Member Kaitlyn Elsner with her steer. (Submitted/Photo)

The Chipman 4-H Beef and Multi-Club are hosting a COVID-19 Sale Alternative, and have posted pictures of members and advertised the estimated prices and contact information on Facebook for potential buyers. Sales are on a first come first serve basis and are booked at the butcher for June 3. For any other arrangements, email the club chipman4h@gmail.com

Club President Abigail Goy stated, “Sadly, our annual achievement day show and live auction have been canceled for this year. We are selling our market animals in the community, we have steers available in quarters, halves and wholes, we also have lambs. If you purchase from us we will deliver your order frozen, to your door, with no additional fees.

This is a huge change, and we are disappointed not to be able to show off all we have worked for, but as 4-Hers we change, adapt and overcome whatever life has to throw at us! This is a great opportunity for us to show the community the quality meat that comes from our club and the 4-H program.”