PATAGONIA REGIONAL TIMES AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2020 SERVING THE MOUNTAIN EMPIRE COMMUNITIES OF CANELO, ELGIN, PATAGONIA AND SONOITA VOL. 10 ISSUE 7 No Final Answers as SCCFRA Planning to Schools Set to Reopen Host County Fair By Marion Vendituoli The Santa Cruz County Fair and Rodeo Association (SCCFRA) Board has announced that plans are underway for the 105th annual Santa Cruz County Fair to take place this September. In a statement to the PRT, Harry Dotson, President, SCCFRA, wrote, “The SCCFRA Board of Directors is com- mitted to conducting a County Fair in 2020. However…this year’s fair may not look like those in the recent past. We are particularly committed to hav- ing the 4H/FFA/Champions for Youth Foundation portion of the fair. To that Photo by Marion Vendituoli end, we are working closely with those Elgin 4th grade teacher Angela Brown prepares her classroom for the begin- organizations to provide a meaningful Photo by Marion Vendituoli ning of the school year. “We’re ready,” she said. “We’re a big family. We all event for the youth of our community. miss each other.” 4-H members show their goats at In addition to the 4H and FFA activities the 4-H/FFA Livestock Show at last By Sarah Klingenstein than mandating one start date and one we envision a fair that hearkens back year’s County Fair in Sonoita. As of July 29, Patagonia Schools will delivery model. They believe plans will to a basic celebration for our commu- may be able to attend the event at the begin school online on August 17, with change over the course of the year as nity. We are working now on activities fairgrounds in person to show their distance learning for at least the first Arizona grapples with surges of the and events that are safe and fun for animals. month. Elgin Schools begin online virus, and there is a strong possiblity all members of our community. But “August 15 will be when we will August 10, moving on campus August that many students will spend part of as we all know the COVID landscape make the decision,” Fish said. “We 17. Patagonia Montessori School plans the year in distance learning. seems to change daily. We can assure would have to comply with CDC to begin the year on campus August The state is requiring that districts you that as we plan, the health and guidelines and state or county require- 17. Principals of all three systems provide an onsite option for certain safety of our community will be in the ments.” The decision will be made by acknowledge plans may change, de- students, even if the school is in a full forefront of our thoughts.” the U of A, which oversees the Coop- pending on the severity of the virus in distance learning model. Students Dean Fish, who, along with Amanda erative Extension program, with input the community and any state man- whose parents cannot supervise them Zamudio and Valerie Burleson chair from the livestock committee, 4-H dates. Each school will allow parents to at home due to their work or students the Champions for Youth Foundation, leaders and FFA advisors. “We are now choose to keep their children home if with other special needs will be provid- discussed the challenges associated in a holding pattern,” Fish said. “We and when classes move on-campus. ed a safe place to engage in distance with putting on the 4-H / FFA livestock are going to make our decision based At a July 23 press conference, learning. show and auction this year. The live- on the health and safety of the young Governor Ducey and State Superin- Patagonia Supt. Kenny Hayes said stock and small stock show, auction, people involved.” tendent of Education Kathy Hoffman that, after starting the year online, and judging of non-animal projects is The 4-H / FFA auction is important announced that local districts can de- the school will watch the trends in the culmination of the year’s work for for the youth involved in raising and termine when and how they will start COVID19 cases. After there has been the 65 youth preparing ‘market proj- showing their animals, as the money the school year, with the state offering a 14-day decline, as recommended ects’ - working with animals to show earned enables the participants to pay guidance as to the data to be used in by the Centers for Disease Control, and sell at the annual event - and the for the feed and care of the animals making those decisions. Unfortunately, they will begin plans to open cam- more than 100 kids involved in 4-H and they are raising and to purchase their that guidance will not be available until pus. On-campus options range from FFA projects. next project, as well as put money August 7, only a few days before some smaller groups of students attending “We work with Cooperative Exten- aside for higher education. When districts’ planned first day of school. in person on alternating days to full sion and the U of A and we will abide asked if he were concerned if restric- Many schools now are making their campus opening. Onsite learning for by their guidance,” he said. “We’re tions, or perhaps the need to hold the plans based on the information they students who need a supervised place going to provide an opportunity for auction online, would hurt sales, Fish have on hand. to participate in distance learning will these young people to complete their responded, “We’ll provide a way for Leaders on both the state and local always be an option. Some special projects,” he said. There might have these kids to financially make out with levels lean towards flexible planning, to be a ‘virtual’ competition and/or these projects.” which Hoffman said is more durable See Schools/ Page 3 auction this year, or the competitors ters in June and three in July and has What We’ve been been posting updates and summaries of COVID statistics in Santa Cruz County, announcements from the up to this summer Governor and the County Board of PRT By Marion Vendituoli The PRT was very active on the Health, an article that marked the MISSION STATEMENT web over the past two months. We 100th day of COVID, and school and Traditionally, the summer months hosted a two-hour forum for candi- business updates. To publish a nonprofit have been a time for us at the PRT to dates for County Sheriff in June that Our web reporting and our web community newspaper which catch up on the laundry and weeding was live streamed on Facebook. We presence has increased dramatically serves the Mountain Empire and maybe take a vacation, but not were thrilled with the response to since the beginning of the pandemic. communities of Santa Cruz this year. The pandemic has pushed us this event, which had more than 5700 For the months of January and Febru- County, including Canelo, Elgin, to increase our coverage and expand Patagonia, and Sonoita, and views and hundreds of comments. ary 2020, our website had 9485 views. our mission to our readers and to sort which is open to all views, high- My favorite comment about the In June and July we have had 44,425 out new ways to bring you the infor- lighting local issues and empha- forum was a resident who wrote views, an increase of close to 470%. mation that we all need to find our sizing the contributions of local “Isn't it amazing that a small, local On a lighter note, in August we will way forward. Adding to that is the fact talent. not-for-profit publication like the PRT be filming gardens, chicken coops, that this is an election year, and we could produce a political forum with baby goats and more for our video are committed to helping voters make WHO WE ARE greater effectiveness and success than series, “How’s It Growing?” a virtual informed decisions at the ballot box. national media and other outlets and garden tour that is the brainchild of We are a nonprofit organization, In the last issue of the PRT we organizations for something like a Board member Francesca Claverie. funded by paid advertising, do- shared responses from both the candi- presidential debate?” We hope to do segments on flower nations and grants. PRT is a free dates for the Patagonia Town Council Assistant Editor Aisha Sander post- gardens, edible gardens, small stock monthly publication distributed to and candidates running in the primary news stands and local merchants ed zoom video interviews on YouTube raising, kids and animals and roses. If for the AZ House of Representatives. in The Mountain Empire. that she conducted with the two you would like to participate, please In this issue we introduce two of the candidates running for County email us at [email protected]. Managing Editor: four candidates for Santa Cruz Recorder in the Democratic Primary We are also starting to work out Marion Vendituoli County Board of Supervisors for Dis- and will post her interview with the the details for the second annual stu- trict Three, Bruce Bracker and Donna Assistant Editor: independent candidate running for dent essay and photo contest that was Federici. In the October issue, we plan Aisha Chapra Sander that office next month. such a success last year. to feature Justin Lima and Valerie The PRT will be hosting a live- What’s next for the PRT? One thing Bookkeeper: Kerby-Lockey, if she gains enough streamed forum on Facebook for this pandemic has done, I believe, Cynie Murray write-in votes to make it on the ballot.