Melissa Voss | Editor
After the Sioux Empire Fair came and left, the 4H shows took on the Sioux Falls Lyons Fairground on Saturday, August 15. Hustlers Kyla and Nate Struck, members of the Humboldt Hustlers 4H club, found great success at the 4H showcase despite the changes that came about with COVID-19.
Kyla became a 4H member at a younger age because of her older brother’s involvement, and Nate followed suit. Kyla won reserve senior showman and Nate won champion junior showman and grand champion breeding heifer. Because of Nate’s success at the 4H showing in Sioux Falls, he also had the opportunity to attend the Showdown of Champions, as well as an opportunity to showcase at state.
Due to COVID-19, 4H members across South Dakota did not do their shows throughout the week-long Sioux Empire Fair. Kyla describes the process of preparing for the shows was similar to any year.
“It is a daily routine, we wash, groom and feed them well. But it was the fact that we could not stay there the entire weekend,” Kyla stated.
On a typical year, 4H members can keep their animals at the fairgrounds for fair attendants to go and see the animals in the barns. With COVID-19, 4H showers were allowed to bring in their animals for showing and then pack up.
Although it was no their ideal year, members of the 4H Humboldt was grateful that there was a showing at all.
“I did wish we had the full weekend to show and enjoy the fair, but the one day is better than nothing,” Kyla said.