2020 Richland County 4-H Only Fair, Aug. 3-7

The Richland County Fair is an event where youth and their families gather to showcase educational project work, learn through evaluation and make lifelong connection with others. Richland County 4-H members look forward to the fair every year. It is a time to celebrate their accomplishments for the year.

This year we will still be celebrating the many accomplishments of the youth, but it will be a lot different. Due to COVID-19, the public Richland County Fair and Rodeo was cancelled, however, it was decided that 4-H could continue. Richland County 4-H members, parents, volunteers and staff are very appreciative of this opportunity to continue the hands-on education that 4-H and the fair provides to its youth members. We too, will miss the normal fair experience and the camaraderie that comes with it.

In April, Richland County 4-H started developing a plan for this exact circumstance, with so many unknowns this year, it was felt that we should plan for anything and everything. Richland County 4-H partnered with the Richland County Fair Board, the Richland County Health Department, Montana State University Extension and the Montana 4-H Center for Youth Development to ensure that a detailed and safe plan could be implemented, if need be. The plan that was developed will be implemented Aug. 3-7 as 4-H holds a 4-H only fair.

The plan follows the most up to date guidelines provided from the Montana Governor's Office, including the mask mandate, which allows 4-H to keep involved safe. All the 4-H events are limited to the exhibitors and two family members per exhibitor; no public will be in attendance. This allows for safe physical distancing to occur. All those who are in attendance will be required to fill out a Health Screening Form that has been provided by the Richland County Health Department. 4-H staff and volunteers will also be sanitizing in accordance with the CDC guidelines. For safety precautions there have also been many usual fair events that will not be taking place. This year there will be no interview judging, no round robin, no champion of champions, no Cloverbud Parade, no rabbit or poultry classes for the Cloverbuds, no awards presentation and no food or refreshments will be available for purchase.

The horse show will be on Monday, Aug. 3 in the large rodeo arena at the fairgrounds. 4-H members and their horses will show and then go home. Class sizes will be limited to maintain a safe distance between all participants. Also, on Monday, all members have a scheduled time to drop off their indoor or static projects. Each club has a designated time to drop off projects to limit person to person contact. The projects will be judged by a limited number of judges on Tuesday morning. On Wednesday morning, hogs, sheep, goats and alpacas will show. The show will include market, breeding and showmanship classes. After the show is over the youth and the animals will go home. On Thursday morning the beef and the dairy will show. The show will consist of market, breeding and showmanship classes. All animals will go home after the show. On Friday morning, the poultry, rabbits, dogs and cats will show. Class sizes will once again be limited to ensure physical distancing. All the animal events will take place at the 4-H arena on the fairgrounds except for the horse show.

The Livestock Sale will still take place on Friday, but the sale will be virtual. Richland County 4-H has partnered with R/K Auction Company. The sale will be hosted on the company website. It will be a live online sale. To bid on Richland County 4-H livestock, buyers will need to go to http://www.rkauctionco.com. The auction will begin at 3 p.m. If a buyer does not feel comfortable bidding online, we will also be accepting call in bids. If a person would like to bid in person, the event will be hosted at the Sidney Livestock Market Center, however seating will be limited. A sale catalog was also created to allow potential buyers to preview the animals that will be for sale. The catalog will be mailed to past buyers. If someone has questions about buying an animal and supporting 4-H, or would like a sale catalog they should call the Richland County Extension Office at 406-433-1206.

Monday, Aug. 3

8:30 a.m .: Horse Show, Grandstand Arena

9 a.m.-12 p.m .: Indoor Project Drop Off, 4-H Exhibit Building

Tuesday, Aug. 4

12-6:15 p.m .: Delivery, Weighing & Ultra-sounding of Hogs, Goats & Lambs, 4-H Arena

Wednesday, Aug. 5

7 a.m.-4 p.m .: Judging and Showmanship of Hogs, Alpaca, Sheep & Goats, 4-H Arena

4-9 p.m .: Delivery, Weighing and Ultra-sounding of Beef & Dairy, 4-H Arena

Thursday, Aug. 6

7 a.m .: Judging and Showmanship of Beef & Dairy, 4-H Arena

Friday, Aug. 7

8 a.m .: Showmanship and Judging of Rabbits, 4-H Arena

9:30 a.m .: Cat Showmanship , 4-H Arena

10 a.m .: Showmanship and Judging of Poultry, 4-H Arena

10:30 a.m .: Dog Showmanship and Obstacle Course, 4-H Arena

3 p.m .: Virtual 4-H Livestock Sale, hosted at Sidney Livestock Market Center