The Adair County ISU Extension office, in partnership with the Adair County Fair Board, are experiencing unprecedented times as we move forward quickly and cautiously with plans for the 2020 Adair County Fair. The COVID-19 pandemic is having a large impact and influence on what the 4-H/FFA fair experience will look like this year. In fact, COVID-19 is causing the cancellation of many fairs, events, and festivals both in Iowa and around the nation.

Adair County Extension staff continue to gather information daily from public health authorities, CDC guidelines, emergency management, and ISU Extension and Outreach guidelines and restrictions, so we may do our due diligence to keep our youth, staff, fair volunteers, and visitors as safe as possible during this extremely challenging time. This will not be a normal fair experience. However, we are working hard to create an environment that highlights the hard work of our youth, while providing a modified platform to create a safer experience.

In the interest of public health, Adair County Extension is creating plans to implement procedures to follow regarding mandated CDC guidelines with social distancing, added signage, additional hand sanitizers and increased sanitation procedures throughout all of our events. As a reminder, if you feel you are sick, vulnerable, showing symptoms of COVID-19, or have been exposed to someone with COVID-19, we ask that you please stay home. We understand families and friends will need to come to their own decision on whether to participate and/or attend this year’s fair. We ask that you adhere to CDC guidelines and keep a social distance of six feet or more from others.

This year’s 4-H/FFA mission for fair is to provide an opportunity to showcase all that 4-H and FFA youth have learned, skills they have gained, and life lessons they have experienced which will help them in their future endeavors. We are concentrating on how their projects and livestock exhibits have taught them valuable lessons and how it will help to empower them as they move forward in life. This year is not necessarily about the competitions and rewards. It is more about resiliency, persistence and the gaining of knowledge.

Please check the Facebook page ‘Adair County ISU Extension’ or website at https://www.extension.iastate.edu/adair/ for the latest information.