4-H/FFA events fit nature of ‘fair’ this year

■ Editor’s note: A special section on all the 4-H/FFA events, including ribbon placings and photos, will be published in September

    It was not the Chase County Fair as we know it.
    But events scheduled last week at the fairgrounds—most of which were 4-H/FFA livestock shows and static exhibits—helped fill the void created by a year of COVID-19 restrictions that cancelled the fair, likely the first time in history.
    Extension Educator Debbie Kuenning said, overall, she believes the Extension staff, 4-H Council and other volunteers walked away last week with a positive feeling and felt the support of the community.
    “We were glad we had the (livestock) shows in person,” she said.
    Kuenning said the livestock exhibitor numbers were very similar to previous years, and from her vantage point, crowds were similar, too.
    As in previous years, the beef and swine shows drew the largest crowds.
    Even though most of the livestock events normally at the fair were held, there were two big changes this year due to COVID-19 restrictions.
    “The biggest change was the animals weren’t on the grounds,” Kuenning said.
    Animals were brought in the day of the show, weighed, took part in the show and went home right afterwards.
    “It fit the nature of ‘fair’ this year,” she said.
    “We embraced the simplicity. It was all about who showed that day. We were able to complete one thing and go onto the next,” she said.
    During the shows, Kuenning said they encouraged the health measures from the Southwest Nebraska Public Health Department,

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