GRIDLEY, CA (MPG) – National 4-H week this year falls on October 4^th - 10^th and our local 4-H groups are gearing up. The 2020 theme is “Opportunity4All” and since COVID has changed the game for our local 4-H’rs, more opportunity within 4-H is being offered.

Many equate 4-H with animal projects and showing at local fairs. COVID19 effectively shut down all rural fairs, with rumors circulating that will continue into 2021, leaving local 4-H groups limited options to show their animal, thus completing their projects. This year, Biggs 4-H leader Brian Harrison says the goal is to not be so “fair-driven” and intends to turn focus to the other aspects of 4-H by offering crafting, photography, cooking, fishing and crop management groups. Manzanita 4-H intends to offer a public speaking group along with a family history group to their members.

4-H motto is “To make the Best, Better” and our local groups are making the best of the COVID situation by finding creative ways to operate during the pandemic. Manzanita 4-H has been holding bi-weekly meetings via Zoom since early September, getting a jump on their programs and allowing leaders to provide instruction on 4-H member “books” or journals of their projects and progress. Biggs 4-H, under guidance from Butte County 4-H’s Ryan Cleland, has occasionally met in small groups of 10 or less, to organize their community service events and get their yearly projects underway, but continues to utilize Zoom to communicate with the 40-member group. Many Biggs 4-H members have purchased and begun raising/working with their animal projects, which range from rabbits, pigs and new to Biggs - horses. The future of fair showing may be in question, but 4-H’rs are learning to be flexible and adaptive.

Both Manzanita and Biggs 4-H continue to actively serve the community, although traditional holiday events, like caroling to senior citizens at Hovlid, may look different this year. Recently, Manzanita 4-H donated $250 of gift cards to the Palermo 4-H group to build sifter boxes for those affected by the Bear Fire.

Keep an eye out for the 4-H green clover and these amazing young adults in our area who continue to work to support each other and our community. They are doing great things!