Top youth in 4-H and FFA from across the state would usually journey to Des Moines this time of year for the Iowa State Fair, but this year due to COVID-19 special showcases have been set up instead. Washington County 4-H Youth Coordinator Amy Green tells KCII News that both livestock and non-livestock exhibitors are taking part in the programs. She explains the non-livestock projects selected have been submitted virtually through videos for a showcase called the 4-H Show Iowa, “They’re going to create a video collection of all of the different projects to say, ‘Hey, look at all of this, Iowa. Look at what our kids are doing and working on and learning.’ So, they are still in progress of putting all of those projects together in a format that the world gets to see them.”

Over three weekends livestock shows are being held in a manner that allows for social distancing in a special edition livestock show. Green said she spoke with people participating last week, “And it was a little bit different, but in the same regards I can that it was fulfilling to them. And I know the crew that was excited and packed up yesterday or today to go for this weekend is also anxious just to be there again, and be in the barns and be with their show families.” The livestock shows will wrap up on August 22nd. The shows are still taking place on the state fairgrounds.