While many found quarantine boring, endless, and unprofitable, some people made excellent use of their extra time.
Among these are the Union County 4-H members. In spite of having some events postponed or canceled, many 4-H students stepped up to the plate with enthusiasm. No small thanks to the leadership skills and abilities possessed, the students adapted very well to the online platforms they switched to during quarantine and COVID-19 regulations.
Many events were either transitioned to online format, or postponed. Things like the Clover Bowl, where students learn to work as a team and gain awesome experiences, was reformatted onto an app.
The students would “buzz in” by tapping on their app, and they would be in a zoom waiting room and allowed in with the judges individually, whereas in previous years they would be on the UT campus working together and buzzing in.
Another great way the Union County 4-H Clubs took advantage of their extra time was in the “Record Book” participation. This is something 4-H-ers have as a form of “achievement day” where they give presentations in front of a group of people. This specific contest is not highly regarded in the Union County 4-H Clubs, however, this year there were several participants, four of them even becoming regional winners! There was an increase of participants because there the availability to produce something was more controlled than the normal “on the spot” presentation.
The club members were able to learn a different skill set in this though, and will definitely be able to use these skills in their future.
For those interested, videos and pictures can be found on the UT Extension Eastern Region Facebook Page. Be sure to check it out!

Scholarships
For those who really are looking ahead to higher education, many hope to earn or receive scholarships. A great way to earn scholarships is by participating in 4-H activities and events.
While a number of students can fill out their own scholarship applications, thanks to the skills they learn while being in a 4-H program (leadership development, portfolios, and participation in projects), many students rely on the promotion of 4-H to earn scholarships.
Although some may think COVID-19 caused some scholarship opportunities to vanish, this was not the case with Union County 4-H clubs. Many scholarships were still given. Farm Bureau awarded three scholarships to Union County 4-H students.
Union County 4-H congratulates Savannah Jones who earned the Charline H Powell Scholarship (as well as one from Farm Bureau), Kennedy Hill for receiving a scholarship from the Tennessee Pork Producers and a Farm Bureau scholarship and Chloe Bowman for receiving the Farm Bureau scholarship.
The Tennessee Valley Fair is an event 4-H students look forward to, mainly because of the biscuit baking they get to do. In light of the fact that it is a favorite among 4-H-ers, the 4-H staff will be doing an online demonstration of how to prepare these biscuits from home and will send a recipe to ensure success in their baking endeavors.
It is not surprising that the 4-H groups in our community have found a way to make things happen and move forward with the resources available during this unusual time. Amidst the uncertainty of this epidemic and resulting quarantine, these remarkable students have really pulled through and made the most out of peculiar circumstances.