Faircracker SUMMER 2020
Statewide Teamwork as 14 Closed Florida Fairs/Events Help 4-H and FFA Exhibitors Sell Their Projects
By Stephanie Collins:
Agnewstoday.com In February, it started like the rumble of a distant roller coaster train slowly
going up a steep hill, during the Florida State Fair. There was a bad virus in Washington State with the potential to spread. Some 4-H and FFA exhibi- tors talked about it, but they were able to continue showing without a hitch. The Pasco County Fair occurred on schedule, but during the final days of the Florida Strawberry Festival which ended in early March, the rumble be- came louder. The virus was spreading, and government was pondering shutting down businesses including Fairs and enacting mandates. In the final days of the Festival there was talk amongst the 4-H and FFA exhibitors of the uncertainty to come. Shortly after the Florida Strawberry Festival ended what sounded like a
slow rumble, became the sound of a flying roller coaster train. Covid-19 caused the government to shut down Florida. Fairs across Florida were canceled. 4-H and FFA exhibitors with market projects had the rug pulled out from under them. How were these youth exhibitors going to sell their market animals and plant projects? When you examine the history of Fairs in the US, there is a strong rela-
tionship between 4-H and FFA exhibitors and Fairs. 4-H (represented by the green clover) is an organization for youth ages 8 to 18. FFA (represented by their blue jackets) is designed for youth in middle and high school. While Florida 4-H is overseen by UF and FAMU with Club leaders for the most part volunteers, FFA is a separate organization designed for the school system (although not all schools have FFA). FFA Chapters are led by schoolteachers. Fairs get the benefit of having a varie- ty of arts, crafts, plants, and livestock available for viewing by the public, while encouraging positive youth development with youth ex- hibitors. When Fairs began closing – the strong relationship between Florida Fairs and their 4-H and FFA exhibitors shined strong. As a Statewide and National advocate for 4-H and FFA, I remember getting the call that the Miami Dade Fair was closing. This was
the first Florida Fair to “fall.” Jessica Davila leader of the 4-H Miami Dade Livestock Club called explaining they had unloaded their Clubs’ market animals a few hours prior and were told they had to be removed by the next day. The government had enacted a shut- down that included the Fair. Their Club and FFA Chapters needed a way to sell their market animals. The Miami- Dade County Fair is unique as each year, to help youth learn about agriculture they provide loans to 4-H and FFA exhibitors for their market animals. The Fair also does the market- ing bringing in buyers to their livestock auction. Most Fairs do not provide loans and the youth must find buyers. The Miami exhibitors are mostly inner-city youth with no ties to agriculture nor those who may be interested in buying. With loans ranging from $400 for hogs and sheep to around $2,500 for steers, these youth had a serious problem. Jessica had the idea of selling to the public with the goal of her Club members hopefully break- ing even. She even reached out to Miami FFA chapters to help those who responded. Her idea was that individuals could group together to buy part or a whole animal. She would load up and take the livestock to the processor in Lake City then deliver the meat cut and wrapped to order after processing. Jessica reached out to me to brainstorm ways to market her idea. What we developed was Jessica would post info on her FB page and send me info and updates to post on my FB page and website. The Miami Dade County Fair provided free bedding until the animals could be sold and gave advice as possible. Jessica and I did not realize at the time that we were developing a blueprint to be used by others for selling to individuals as well as social media outreach how to’s. While working with Jessica –many Florida Fairs across the State began to “fall.” I got calls,
Disappointed Miami-Dade Youth Fair
emails or instant messages asking for ideas and help. Those Fairs who had not reached out to me, I reached out to as a group team approach was needed. The closures were leaving 4-H and FFA youth around the State with the same problem, how to sell their market projects. They had the same financial problems as Miami exhibitors, but their loans were from family members or their own personal pockets. As closures spread, Fairs across Florida stepped up to the plate to help these 4-H and FFA members. When I speak of livestock needing to be sold, it was not one or
two steers or pigs, it was large numbers. For instance, Suwanee County Fair 4-H and FFA members had 200 hogs that needed to find buyers, Hernando County Fair had 114 4-H market animals that needed to be sold from hogs to steers. That is just a sampling of the Statewide mountainous numbers of youth market projects needing to be sold. I started posting on both my Florida 4-H and FFA Supporters and Ag News Today Facebook pages real time almost
daily updates on each Fair with contact info for individuals interested in purchasing a market animal. It was a team effort as Fairs and supporters fed me data.
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