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Mineral County

Business as Usual (with a few small adjustments)

Published: 2020
By Dave Brink
Throughout 2020, life continued its march ever forward. Despite a global pandemic and restrictive health precautions, crops and livestock still needed tending, community leaders still needed guidance, and 4-H youth and volunteers still needed support. Once more into the breach went MSU Extension in Mineral County. This year did not seem all that different for Extension in Mineral County. Organized programmatic instruction has never been a major need of the community, but more the demand for the individualistic approach to instruction and information sharing. This was more evident this year, with many people working from home or self-isolating, especially early in the year, there was a marked increase in the need for horticulture resources and instruction, but online instruction platforms do not appear to be popular in Mineral County. A casual survey of constituents identified limited bandwidth, unfamiliarity with technology, and unease to be recurrent issues with virtual instruction. This information supports the individualistic approach by Mineral County MSU Extension to best serve the needs of Mineral County. One Mineral County event that did not take the virtual route was a special 4-H Fair in August. When the Mineral County Fair, like so many others in the state, was cancelled by the Fair Board in June, Mineral County MSU Extension stepped up and planned a “4-H only” event with approval by County Commissioners and the local Health Department. Safety guidelines established by the Montana 4-H Center for Youth Development provided a clear and easy framework within which local 4-H youth and adult volunteers could still exhibit projects, display knowledge and skills, and receive feedback and recognition for their efforts. One benefit of this year’s event and the absence of other activities during the fair: 4-H youth and families were able to spend more time preparing and helping each other than is usual during a normal year. One parent remarked, “It’s nice to see the kids able to focus on their animals and spend more time practicing in the show ring. Normally, with the rodeo and concerts, we don’t get the time.” Perhaps there are some good things that come out of a quarantine. Oh, and former state Senator Orville G. Willett? Unfortunately, his condition deteriorated and in 1927, along with his wife Elsie, he traveled by train to a leprosarium in Carville, Louisiana. He died there on January 10, 1928. No one seems to know what became of his endearing wife, Elsie. Perhaps she returned to her home state of Kentucky or changed her name; it remains a mystery.
A 4-H member prepares to show a cat during the Mineral County 4-H Only Fair in August 2020.