Updates on limited 4-H fair activity

While there will be in-person 4-H events at the Putnam County Fair and the Indiana State Fair facilities, the events will look much different than we are accustomed to with past ones. Neither of these 2020 events will be the carnival and elephant ear fanfares many expect to see.

The only individuals who should come to the 2020 Putnam County Fair are those who are 4-H members, 4-H parents and 4-H volunteers.

The Putnam County Fair Board and Purdue Extension-Putnam County appreciates the public support for the fair events related to 4-H, Adult Open Class, Harris Hall and all of the public non-4-H fair events. However, the general public should wait to come visit at the 2021 Putnam County Fair, as this year will strictly be a limited audience event providing the opportunity for 4-H members to exhibit and compete.

The Indiana State Department of Health and the Indiana Back on Track COVID-19 recommendations are being followed. There will be no livestock kept overnight at the fairgrounds during the Putnam County Fair to accommodate social distancing guidelines. Putnam County Fair 4-H events will generally continue to occur on the same dates with the exception of the swine and beef show dates, which have switched. Barn superintendents should be providing info for their 4-H members, if they have not already, regarding time changes with check-in, show time and release.

4-H Exhibit Hall project judging will be conducted in a closed, rather than open, format. The Exhibit Hall will open with the intended audience of the static displays being 4-H families in a limited capacity.

Thanks to the great community partnerships with businesses, like Endeavor Communications, who have streamed many of the livestock shows the past several years, we are working together to hopefully provide extended family members the opportunity to view more events. Extension staff will also work to make more displays available via online viewing.

Tentative schedules have been released for dramatically different 4-H livestock and animal shows with limitations as well. Many of these are still being determined. 4-H families should stay tuned to 4honline emails, the Purdue Extension-Putnam County website and the Indiana State Fair website for more details. Information is also posted on the Putnam County 4-H (Indiana) Facebook page.

Visit www.extension.purdue.edu/putnam or contact the local Purdue Extension office by calling 653-8411 for more information regarding this week’s column topic or to RSVP for upcoming events. It is always best to call first to assure items are ready when you arrive and to RSVP for programs.

While many publications are free, some do have a fee.

Upcoming Events

June 18 – Healthy Ponds: Pond Construction, Vegetation and Stocking, 1 p.m., register at https://tinyurl.com/healthyponds

June 18 – Food and Gardening Series – Growing Berries, 2 p.m., view on Purdue Extension-Putnam County Facebook page

June 25 – Composting for Better Results webinar, 1 p.m., register at https://tinyurl.com/PurdueComp

June 25 – Food and Gardening Series – Adding Berries Into Your Diet, 2 p.m., view on Purdue Extension-Putnam County Facebook page

June 25 – Public Speaking/Demonstration 4-H contest, 5:30 p.m., Zoom

June 25 – Summer Judging 4-H contest, 6:30 p.m., Zoom

July 1 – 4-H livestock enrollment deadline

July 1 – Fair entry opens for all 4-H projects coming to county fair

July 2 – Food and Gardening Series – Growing Tomatoes, 2 p.m., view on Purdue Extension-Putnam County Facebook page

July 7 – Fair entry closes, deadline to enter projects into Putnam County Fair

July 9 – Food and Gardening Series – Adding Tomatoes Into Your Diet, 2 p.m., view on Purdue Extension-Putnam County Facebook page