PUTNAM CO. — It's been a whole new world for an Indiana summer tradition.
While 4-H participants never paused their projects, they've sometimes had to get creative in ways to present them due to the pandemic.
There are fewer people, all keeping their distance, and masking up whenever they go inside of barns.
At the Putnam County 4-H Fair, families are limited to just a handful of people inside the arena at a time, where usually the bleachers would be full.
Instead of staying overnight and camping out, kids are sent home right after their events.
Those RTV6 talked to say they're grateful for the safety efforts, but feel bad the experience is not quite the same this year for the kids who have worked hard to compete.
"I really feel sorry for the kids because they're not getting to experience what we experienced love all the camaraderie," Gary Judy, who's been involved in 4-H for 61 years, said. "I thought I'd seen it all, but I've never dreamed that we would be going through something like this."
Kids at the fair said they hope next year things return to normal.
