Fwd: Important Pennsylvania 4-H Update - May 22, 2020

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From: 4HOnline - Pennsylvania 4-H <pa@4honline.com>

4-H Families and Volunteers:   As Penn State Extension makes decisions regarding in-person events for the 4-H program, the public health and safety of the members, families, volunteers, and staff will always be our priority.  In the interest of safety for all, Pennsylvania 4-H has made the difficult decision to cancel all in-person 4-H events through October 1, 2020.   While clubs will not be able to meet in person, we are continuing to serve our members and provide opportunities to them, just in a new format. Over the past several weeks, the Educators within the 4-H program have been working hard to shift as much programming as possible to a virtual/on-line format. We will continue to work with our club leaders and volunteers to offer virtual club meetings where possible and we will also continue to offer activities that youth can complete at home. Since these activities will be facilitated from the State level, we can count these activities toward the Pennsylvania 4-H Clover Award program due to the current circumstances. If you do not have access to the internet and would like to access the activities, please reach out to your County 4-H Educator and they will assist you with accessing those materials. The activities can be found at the following address and new activities are uploaded weekly: https://extension.psu.edu/programs/4-h/projects/home-activities  We realize that this decision will directly impact 4-H participation at county fairs. 4-H Educators have been provided with an implementation resource on how to work with fair boards to develop ways that youth could participate as "junior participants".This would apply to all 4-H project areas that youth are engaged in. In regard to animal science projects, because the purpose of 4-H animal science projects is education, the State 4-H Office has made the decision that Penn State Extension, including local 4-H programs, will not be hosting nor conducting  virtual auctions. Our focus is providing the best education to our members on raising, managing, marketing, and directly selling their livestock. The 4-H program is currently working on a webinar series that we will be releasing soon on how youth with livestock projects will be able to direct market their animals locally. We are also developing virtual show/exhibition opportunities for our members projects.   The decision to cancel events was one that was not taken lightly. We held off on making the decision in the hopes that we could potentially go back to normal during the summer. Unfortunately, that was not an option. 4-H programming will look different this summer. We are working hard to ensure that 4-H'ers will have the opportunity to demonstrate their learning. We appreciate your understanding, support, and everything that you do for our Pennsylvania 4-H members.  Sincerely, Joshua E. Rice, Ph.D. Assistant Director, 4-H Youth Development Programs Penn State Extension  Be sure to watch Pennsylvania 4-H on Facebook and Instagram for the most current event details. Check us out on social media and on the web.  https://extension.psuu/programs/4-h                    Pennsylvania State 4-H Office, 115 Agricultural Sciences & Industries Building, University Park, PA 16802