Bradshaw 4-H Weathers the Pandemic

The Bradshaw 4-H Club was created at the beginning of the school year 2019-20, just months before the world-wide COVID-19 pandemic hit our country. Some projects that were in place were unable to continue due to the many restrictions of health and safety protocols that were implemented to mitigate the spread of the virus. Now, as Bradshaw 4-H approaches the end of the 20-21 school year, we reflect on what experiences the club has brought to its membership and the larger community, while adjusting to a more restrictive environment. Club projects and sponsored events that were able to go forward for this year included; Dirt Bike/ATV, Shooting Sports and Sheep. Bradshaw 4-H also supported a BBQ dinner fundraiser for the Sacramento County AG Foundation and an SPCA community project. We are grateful for all of the opportunities this year has brought to Bradshaw 4-H.

This year, Bradshaw 4-H has just three projects.

• The Dirt Bike/ATV project faced difficulties with access to county facilities, training and equipment due to COVID restrictions. However, the project leader, Steve Morse, is hopeful that the county restrictions will be lifted and looks forward to a productive next year and all of the opportunities which that will include. Steve is diligently working with the county to gain access to county training, dirt bikes and protective equipment so new riders can be introduced the activity while limiting initial investment costs.
• The Shooting Sports project, led by Joshua Correa, has 28 youth members. As a project they have spent many hours at the range and have competed in multiple competitions. Some members of the project have made a California Youth Shooting Sports Association (CYSSA) trap team, consisting of 10 members and they recently took two gold medals and a bronze medal in their first competition.
• The Sheep project, led by Butch Hage, has nine youth members and are preparing to show their sheep in the upcoming Sacramento County Livestock Grading & Husbandry Expo (formerly known as the Sacramento County Fair). Three of the project sheep are being boarded at Bradshaw Christian School while the rest are boarded at each youth member’s home.

THANK YOU! Bradshaw 4-H is very fortunate and grateful to all of the adult volunteers that have worked hard to provide a valuable experience for all of the clubs’ members. A big thank you goes out to the club’s adult volunteer secretary and registrar, Christina DeMarco. Christina has been an invaluable resource to the whole club. She has been a consistent point-of-contact for club members with questions and/or needs throughout this year. Christina is the parent of youth members in the Sheep project and Shooting Sports project. Thank you, also, to the club project leaders Steve Morse (Dirt Bike/ATV project), Joshua Correa (Shooting Sports project) and Butch Hage (Sheep project) for taking on the challenge of leading club projects for this year. They and their families have given themselves and their time to Bradshaw 4-H and the local community. Finally, thank you to co-leaders Butch Hage and Jared Newman for keeping the Bradshaw 4-H Club going through thick and thin!

LOOKING AHEAD: While Bradshaw 4-H winds down for the year, we are excited for next year’s opportunities anticipating a relaxing of COVID restrictions. We hope to maintain and expand project offerings, welcome new 4-H members to the club and expand community project opportunities, since a large part of 4-H is serving the community. As we look forward to next year, Bradshaw 4-H is excited to build on the momentum this year has generated and we are grateful to serve our youth, our community and our club.