From calving to field work, teens balance farm/ranch   duties with school assignments and a few new skills When the Covid-19 pandemic shut down schools and most extra-curricular activities for students in mid-March, teens in agriculture found several silver linings. From helping family on the farm to learning a few new skills, here we highlight a few South Dakota youth making the most of this unusual time.   Trevor Johnson, a senior at Beresford High School, believes that “rather than allowing this current situation to consume us and govern our thoughts and feelings on life, I feel it’s important that we remember that while it may seem like eternity, we will not be stuck at home forever.”   Johnson says, “There is no doubt that missing prom, spring sports, State FFA Convention, graduation, and all the other activities at school is disappointing, but it serves as a great life lesson, not everything goes as planned. Instead of being mad or angry, may we all find the courage to work together so that we can put an end to the Coronavirus and go back to the life we are all waiting for.”   Johnson is using his time to help more around the farm and has spent more time preparing equipment for planting.  Prior to the coronavirus, Johnson’s senior year was already different than most students’ because he had an afternoon internship working for his uncle, which allowed him to leave school at 11:15 each day.   “My time spent working on our family’s farm has grown even more. Now, rather than being in class in the morning, I have been able to help out more with young calves and expedite chores in the morning,” Johnson says.   The time at home has also allowed Johnson to apply the welding skills that he learned from his ag classes over the past four year. He and his younger brother Tate Johnson recently purchased two welders and have started doing custom fabrication and building metal art for neighbors.     Positive approach   Near Estelline, SD, eighth grader Kenzy Beare has been spending her time out of school helping more outside with calving around the ranch and daily chores.   “My life consists of doing homework, helping outside, working with livestock and doing other inside projects,” she says. Beare and her family show livestock through 4-H and she has been busy washing calves on a daily basis and recently purchased several pigs she hopes to show throughout the summer. While socializing plays a large role in a teenager’s life, social distancing makes it difficult for teenagers to get together and hang out. However, Beare has been able to socialize with her friends through social media platforms such as Snapchat and being able to text and call her friends.   She says, “The advice I would give to other teens during this time is to find something to get better at, enjoy the time that you get to spend with your family, and do the things that you were too busy to ever do before the coronavirus pandemic. We must realize that we are living through history, and we must make the most of it.”   On the other side of the state, Sturgis Brown High School senior Kylie Shaw has also been adjusting to a different life. Shaw has been transitioning her routine to balance school and life on the ranch. “I try to either go help with chores in the morning and do homework in the afternoon or do all my schoolwork right away in the morning and go outside in the afternoons,” Shaw explains. “I have been helping my dad and uncle with calving, chores in the morning, night checks and pulling calves.”   Not only does Shaw help outside around the ranch, she is also helping her mom in the house with various tasks and she is working on learning new skills with her time at home.   “One of my friends and I have been trying to learn to do the splits over quarantine. We aren’t very good at it yet, but the plan is to have it perfected by the end of quarantine!” says Shaw.   Shaw has been using social media to stay in contact with her friends and enjoys the extra time that she gets to spend with her family, especially her grandparents. Shaw advises teens to just stay home.   “Many teens are still going out and hanging out with friends. Too many of them are doing this and should follow the quarantine rules and take it more seriously. If they would stay home, we could let this virus settle down, so that we can move on and start opening things up,” she concludes. Kimball High School senior Jessica Kott is utilizing her quarantine time on the ranch to share leadership lessons with other youth. Kott has created a Virtual Leadership Academy as part of her duties as a state 4-H Ambassador. She emails out weekly lessons for youth to read and discuss to help grow their leadership skills. Youth can also watch brief TED Talks with a leadership focus at listenlearnlead4h.weebly.com.     Service opportunities for youth and adults during Covid-19 pandemic   Dedicating your efforts to helping others, can also boost your own well-being and feeling of purpose during this time of isolation. How might you provide help, while minimizing physical contact with others? Here are actions to consider:   1.      Be encouraging. •   Share signs of encouragement in your window or yard to help uplift the spirits of others. •   Write positive and hopeful messages with chalk at the park.   2.      Donate if you are able. •      Local food pantries are very much in need of food or monetary donations. •     If you have extra books for kids/families drop them off at little free libraries (or laundromats) or offer them to others via Facebook.   3.      Get involved with an activity. •     Pick up litter at the city park, in a school parking lot, or along a road ditch. •     Tutor another student, relative or friend via Zoom or FaceTime •     Reach out regularly during the week and visit with friends and elderly family members to minimize loneliness/depression   4.      Seek out opportunities online, several offer free mailing labels. •     Refill empty boxes with clothing and other donation items and send them to charities. Visit: givebackbox.com to learn more. •     Donate blue jeans to be used for insulation to: bluejeansgogreen.org •      Play educational games at freerice.com and food donations will be made to others in need around the world. •     Join charitymiles.org and accumulate points for your miles walked or jogged. Monetary donations will then be made to the charity you choose. •     Recycle household items through: www.terracycle.com