4-H Plans for Virtual Shows, Meat Animal Sale

JAMESTOWN, NEW YORK (May 27, 2020) -- Cornell Cooperative Extension of Chautauqua County prioritizes the health, safety and well-being of the communities we serve. The 4-H Youth Development Program is continuing to provide opportunities for youth throughout the summer months. The cancellation of the Chautauqua County Fair posed a challenge to 4-H staff and volunteers to showcase the hard work of youth who have been raising animals and working on projects since the fall of 2019. Project evaluation day, animal shows, and the Meat Animal Sale are annual events traditionally held at the Chautauqua County Fair that will be offered virtually this summer.

Evaluation Day is generally held two weeks before the fair. A host of volunteers spend the day providing feedback on youth projects ranging from ceramics to woodworking to horticulture. Because this can’t happen in-person, 4-H is hosting the event virtually via Zoom. Youth will have the opportunity to speak to the judges, if they are able. Youth participants who don’t have stable internet will also be able to participate by submitting their entries to be evaluated by a proxy. Evaluation is a key component of 4-H as it gives youth a sense of pride in their work, as well as ideas on how to continue to create quality projects.

Another highlight of the fair are the animal shows that fill three arenas for the duration of the fair. Each animal project is led by a volunteer committee who are currently working to offer youth who are raising beef and dairy cattle, dogs, goats, hogs, horses, poultry, rabbits, and sheep the opportunity to show in some capacity. Some projects have decided to take a lighter approach and will do a fun show while others are considering submitting photos and/or video of their animals for evaluation by top livestock judges.

The 56th Annual 4-H Meat Animal Sale will take place via an online auction hosted by Peterson Auctions. The sale will begin at 6:00pm on Thursday, July 16th and will end on Friday, July 17th at 6:00pm. In the past 65 hogs, ten market goats, 30 pairs of market chickens, 40 lambs, and 20 steers have been available for purchase. The number of available animals will be announced after June 15th.

For more information regarding programming at Cornell Cooperative Extension please visit http://chautauqua.cce.cornell.edu/ or call 716-664-9502.

The 4-H Youth Development Program is one of many programs offered by Cornell Cooperative Extension of Chautauqua County (CCE-Chautauqua). CCE-Chautauqua is a community based educational organization, affiliated with Cornell University, Chautauqua County Government, the NYS SUNY system, and the federal government through the United States Department of Agriculture’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture. For more information, call 716-664-9502 or visit our website at www.cce.cornell.edu/chautauqua. Cornell University Cooperative Extension provides equal program and employment opportunities.

Last updated May 27, 2020