Virtual fair will use pictures, videos

It will be a wholly different Wahkiakum County Fair this year, much of it thanks to youth who are leading the way.

Wahkiakum County Fair Manager Patty Dursteler has been working on new computers and a much improved internet service at the fairgrounds in Skamokawa, upgrades recently provided by Wahkiakum County.

She is tackling some heavy duty data entry, getting a recently purchased program ready to showcase entries online for this year’s virtual fair. Soon, fair participants will be able to upload pictures of their entries, for judging and for the community to enjoy.

Meanwhile, Wahkiakum 4-H youth are setting up their own program for a virtual showcase which will run in tandem with the fair’s website, as well as setting up an online auction.

“It’s a volunteer group largely driven by youth made up of middle and high school students from Naselle and Wahkiakum schools,” Wahkiakum Extension Agent Carrie Backman said.

It’s exciting because the youth are spearheading it, Backman said. “They know the technology better.”

They've encouraged the adults to use Google Docs, a program they’ve been using in school and have become comfortable with.

Folders are being set up for each fair category, and there is guidance provided for how to take good pictures or videos. 4-H members will be responsible for taking pictures or videos of their entries, and can upload them to their program beginning August 1 until the end of fair week. Volunteer judges will view their entries in the week following, using the same scoring protocols as they do in a real life fair, and award ribbons.

They will also hold a virtual market sale. The youth will be able to post pictures of their sale items at the beginning of August. Each participant will share pictures of the animal or item for sale, as well as information about it and themselves, and what they plan to do with the money they make.

The event will be advertised on Facebook and in The Wahkiakum County Eagle. Buyers will be able to find links to register for the event on the Wahkiakum 4-H Facebook page, and on the Wahkiakum Extension website. After signing up, they will be able to enter a bidding forum, and watch other bids in real time, much like a silent auction. The auction will go through August, till the fair ends.

Backman was thankful to Wahkiakum County for providing wi-fi hotspots countywide, including the new one at the fairgrounds in Skamokawa, which allows youth to participate in this virtual event.

The extension office will have cameras available to 4-H youth or other fair participants who need to take pictures of their entries.