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COVID-19 forces Quesnel 4-H auction outside

The auction has moved outdoors and allowed for proxy bidding to accommodate social distancing
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4-H member Hanna Fitchett’s steer Ace will be up for auction on Aug. 23 at Alex Fraser Park (submitted)

Despite a global pandemic, the Quesnel and District 4-H’s livestock auction is set to go - albeit with some changes.

Erin Kishkan is a key leader with the district, and said the auction will be held outdoors this year, to allow proper social distancing.

“This year has presented some challenges in the sense that we need to be more conscientious about the number of people we have here,” she said. “We do have a very strict COVID-19 plan in place that we’ve gone through with Northern Health, and we are going to have all our protocols in place.”

The auction will take place at the Alex Fraser Park outdoor arena on Aug. 23 at 1 p.m.

The club has put together an online livestock catalogue, a printed catalogue and is allowing proxy bidding. Forms are available on the Quesnel and District 4-H club’s Facebook page. This is the first year the club created an online catalogue.

READ MORE: Quesnel and District 4-H program continuing with modifications due to COVID-19

Kishkan said the online catalogue was such a success the district plans on producing one every year moving forward.

“We are trying to normalize this as much as possible for the kids,” she said. “We’ve been watching other 4-H districts and how they’ve hosted their events and how their sales have gone, and they’ve been very successful.”

Kishkan said planning around the pandemic has given the opportunity for the district to change ‘how things have always been done.’

“I think it’s important - sometimes you’re given a giant shove into uncomfortable, and this is it,” she said.

The online catalogue can be found at quesnel4hauction.weebly.com. The website features the livestock, as well as a description from each 4-H member selling.

“What we want the community to know is you’re buying a locally produced product by a locally produced kid,” Kishkan said. “Now is the time, more than ever, to support your local farmers. Buy local, you know where it came from you know how it was raised.”

READ MORE: Meet Quesnel and District 4-H Member of the Week Sara Pfannmueller

Do you have something to add to this story, or something else we should report on? Email: cassidy.dankochik@quesnelobserver.com


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cassidy.dankochik@quesnelobserver.com

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