1. Red River Valley Fair update - Laserfiche WebLink

1. Fairs provide 4-H youth an opportunity to demonstrate what they have learned. This represents an educational function in which the 4-H'ers can share what they have done and serves to strengthen their life skill development. 2. Fairs provide 4-H youth feedback on their accomplishments. This recognition opportunity stimulates positive self-regard for their efforts. 3. Fairs provide families a chance to work together. This fellowship opportunity helps strengthen family relationships. 4. Fairs also provide an opportunity for the public to see 4-H in action. This showcasing opportunity serves to help our external audiences better understand what 4-H members are able to achieve. The mission compatibility of these two entities, the history of the volunteer base serving both organizations, and the economic and social capital generated by fairs/events taking place on fair grounds property, makes its difficult to separate many of the functions that have evolved because of this relationship. This request has also provided the Cass County Extension Office an opportunity to examine its own program and its relationship with the Red River Valley Fair Association. Some of these observations are: 1. Major uses of RRVF association's facilities to carry out the Extension & 4-H Youth Development programming include: 4-H Exhibits, Exhibitors and their families at the Red River Valley Fair 4-H Livestock Achievement Days 4-H Workshops & Club meetings 4-H club-sponsored Horse Show 4-H Fruit Fundraiser Extension Service as a significant partner in a Living Ag in the Classroom event 2. The amount of premiums paid to 4-H youth for their 4-H exhibits. The current rate structure has been in place for over 20 years. Within the past 10 years, a request for additional premiums was made but not approved. A significantly higher amount of funds is paid for premiums in non-4-H areas. This should be revisited. 3. Clarity is needed about fee structures, even for those involving 4-H and Extension as the organizer/sponsor. There have been inconsistencies in fees charged for some building use. As examples, at one time 4-H was charged for use of the Ag Building. Also, the Extension Service is a significant partner in the Living Ag in the Classroom event held on the Red River Valley Fairgrounds and building rent is charged for that event. Clarity about building use and payment/fee responsibility should be clarified. 4. Many of our needs, particularly those involving animals, cannot be easily met through other community resources/facilities. Even those that we could hosted/held somewhere else may be difficult to do so because of the integration of resources between the two entities. 5. It is difficult to measure the value of the social context provided by the fair and fairgrounds setting. It is an excellent setting for the opportunity to promote 4-H and Extension Work. It is invaluable and probably difficult to replicate without significant