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  2022-04-26

  #REL101 COVID-19's Misery

  Wow, it’s crazy to think that COVID-19 has affected our entire world for a whole 2 years now. I remember when the pandemic had first started, and I was so lost and so confused as I had no idea what our world would come to. I remember being at work, I was working at a coffee shop at the time and my boss asking me if we should shut down or not. That day I came home from work with blistering hands from washing my hand so much because of the paranoia I was experiencing. The paranoia was not because of me or my feelings but it was because of the people that surrounded me and the way they had reacted to this illness that had spread so quickly across the globe. Life during the pandemic has been tough I lost my grandpa to COVID-19 in August of 2020, and it was one of the hardest and saddest time of my life. It was a huge shock and none of my family was expecting this at all, but it impacted us so heavily. Looking into power and how that has affected our world, I think immensely. With people in power not following rules and mask regulations because of the power trip they may have. It wasn’t fair to the rest of the world who didn’t have as much power to have to wear a mask when they were choosing not to. When it comes to religion, gatherings were impacted heavily, churches shut down and, on some occasions, churches decided to go online with their services. I don’t think it was fair for churches to have to shut down, but coffee shops could stay open, church and having that sense of belonging and purpose was stripped and taken away from so many people and so quickly. This was a crazy time and a time of so many unknowns and it sucks because we are still not done with this yet, there is still so much growth and rebuilding that needs to happen before we can fully be 100% okay again. Overall, COVID-19 has taught me a lot about our nation and how quickly things can get out of hand.
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  2021-09-17

  "The Big E readies for just-announced mask mandate"

  This MassLive article reports on the Big E's reaction to the newly instated mask mandate in Massachusetts. The Big E, or the Eastern States Exposition, is a New England fair held in West Springfield, Massachusetts, annually. It was cancelled in 2020 due to the pandemic.
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  2021-09-16

  "Masks at the Big E: Mask mandate will take effect in West Springfield as Big E begins 17-day run"

  This MassLive article reports on the Board of Health's decision to enact an indoor mask mandate, which will affect the Eastern States Exposition, or Big E, held annually in West Springfield, MA. The New England fair was cancelled in 2020 and is trying to make a comeback in 2021 despite the pandemic.
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  2021-09-20

  "Despite COVID and mask mandate, The Big E had its largest Sunday attendance for an opening weekend in a decade"

  This article reports on the crowds on the third day of the Eastern States Exposition. Commonly referred to as the Big E, the Eastern States Exposition is a New England fair held at the end of September in West Springfield, Massachusetts. It was cancelled in 2020 due to the pandemic, and town residents have concerns about the Big E in 2021.
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  2020-07-25

  Orange County Fair at Home!

  It is a huge summer tradition in our family to go to the Orange County Fair. Even when we go somewhat ironically, we always have a great time. When the fair was cancelled this year, my mom and I decided we would run the fair for my kids at our house. We went all in. We made a “photo booth” and a theme, to emulate the somewhat cheesy themes the fair has every year. My daughter made rides and games, with tickets for purchase. There was an art exhibit, and a “carnival of products” where my daughter “sold” suncatchers she and her brother made. We awarded items in our garden with fair ribbons. And, most importantly, we home made every fair food you can imagine - Orange Julius, soft pretzels, sausages, grilled corn, corn dogs, funnel cake and more. Orange County Fair 2020, COVID, Quarantined, and Closed actually turned out to be a pretty amazing day!
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  2020-06-13

  Virtual Colusa County Fair Junior Livestock Auction

  On June 6, 2020, the California Department of Food and Agriculture informed the Board of Directors of the Colusa County Fair that an in-person junior livestock sale would be prohibited to combat the spread of COVID-19. As a result, local students who raised livestock with 4-H and FFA were left with little choice but to participate in a virtual auction hosted by EZ2Bid. For students who were unable to care for their livestock at home and relied on school facilities, raising animals quickly became difficult as campuses closed. Having already purchased their livestock well before the COVID-19 outbreak in the United States, local students had to adapt to the shifting climate to avoid losing thousands of dollars in invested time and money. In Colusa County, agriculture is an integral part of the educational experience that prepares students to succeed in the local economy. In an all-too-real scenario, students received an irreplaceable life lesson on the unexpected challenges faced by farmers and ranchers. While COVID-19 might have negatively impacted the education of K-12 students overall, there are some lessons that could not have been taught any other way.
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  2020-06-10

  No Iowa State Fair for the First Time Since WWII

  After two consecutive years with record attendance, the momentum of the Iowa State Fair has come to a screeching halt due to the COVID-19 pandemic. For the first time since WWII there will be no Iowa State Fair, one of the largest in the country and the second largest in the Midwest. The Iowa State Fair has only been cancelled a total of 5 times in its 166-years history and was even held during the 1918 Spanish Flu pandemic. One of the most anticipated and loved events for Iowa residents is no more for 2020
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  2020-04-14

  Colusa County Fair 2020 Junior Livestock Show and Auction Notice

  Letter written by the Colusa County Fairgrounds CEO announcing changes to the Colusa County Fair and Junior Livestock Auction because of COVID-19. While most aspects of the fair would be cancelled, the Junior Livestock Auction would continue, allowing K-12 students to show and sell animals raised prior to the pandemic.
• 2020-04-30

  Life isn't fair and that's okay

  College student's perspective on senior year ending during the COVID-19 pandemic.