Reminder for Junior Fair Royalty

It is time again for youth to be thinking about the Junior Fair Royalty Contest. Youth 15 to 18 are eligible to compete for King or Queen; youth 12 to 14 are eligible to compete for Prince or Princess; and youth 9 to 11 are eligible to compete for Junior Prince or Junior Princess. (Ages are as of January 1, 2020). Youth enrolled in the following organizations are eligible to participate in the Junior Fair Royalty contest: 4-H, FFA, Skills USA, Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts or Farm Bureau Youth.

Interested youth need to complete an application and be interviewed. An application may be requested from the OSU Extension Office, to be mailed or picked up or find it online at morgan.osu.edu. Completed applications, including all required signatures, are due on August 7, 2020 by mailing it to OSU Extension, P.O. Box 179, McConnelsville, OH 43756. Youth need to schedule their own interviews for Monday, August 17th by calling the Extension Office at 740-962-4854.

The Royalty crowning will be held at the Morgan County Fair on Tuesday September 8, beginning at 2:00pm at the small stage. The chosen Queen, King, Princess and Prince will be required to participate in various activities during the Morgan County Fair, with the Junior Princess and Junior Prince assisting. The Junior Fair Queen will be invited to participate in the 2021 Ohio Fair Manager’s Queen Contest.

Moving Forward

Morgan County Junior Fair Exhibitors:

The Morgan County Agricultural Society has had a rough road to travel to get to a fair option this year. We greatly appreciate everyone’s patience and flexibility during this time. The Governor’s announcement was to hold Junior Fairs only across the state starting on Friday, July 31, 2020. Senior Fair Board met last night to discuss the options, and the best way to move forward this year.

Junior Fair:

The Morgan County Fair will move forward with a Junior Fair for 2020 upon approval by the Morgan County Health Department. The Junior Fair will follow a revised schedule. More details will become available soon. The plan does include a jackpot show style (bring your own bedding) with showmanship, breeding, and market classes, but will not include an all-around showmanship show or a horse fun show. A jackpot show means each specie will move-in, weigh-in, show, and leave that same day. The 2020 Morgan County Fair will have to follow the latest order from the Governor: Current Order for Junior Fairs.

Livestock Sale:

The 2020 Livestock Sale will be held in-person with a possible online option as well. Only Grand and Reserve Grand Champions will go through the sale ring. More details and logistics of the sale are to be determined at the next Sale Committee meeting.

Camping:

Campers will not be allowed this year due to conflicts with security and the 10pm curfew restrictions set by the Governor in the latest Junior Fair order. Any concerns or refunds needed will be handled by Senior Fair Board.

Royalty:

We will continue to hold royalty crowning on Tuesday of the fair. More details will become available soon.

Non-Livestock/Still Exhibits:

We are working on some updates to our plan on exhibiting posters at the fair for still exhibits and Cloverbuds. We do plan to do recognize youth with still exhibit awards Tuesday of the fair. More details will become available soon.

Pre-Fair Preparation:

Quality Assurance (QA) is scheduled for August 10 – 14, 2020. If youth plan to attend in-person, they must sign up in advance at this link: go.osu.edu/QAmorgan. Youth must be signed up for a session by Monday, August 10, 2020. Another option is to complete the training online at this link: YQCA Training. The online training is $12, and youth must complete this survey: go.osu.edu/YQCAmorgan upon completion.

Skillathon is scheduled for Saturday, August 22, 2020. Times are sorted by last name: 8-9:30am is T-Z, 10-11:30am is M-S, noon-1:30pm is F-L, and 2-3:30pm is A-E. Please notify the office if you have dropped a project so we are not waiting for you at skillathon. Another option is to correctly complete your entry form(s) and turn them into the Extension office by Saturday, August 22 to gain access to the online skillathons. Online skillathons must be completed by Friday, August 28 by 5pm.

Feeder calf vaccines are still required to show at the fair as well as the 5-way shots for horses. Be sure to keep in mind the financial responsibility in case the plan does not get approved and no fair occurs. We understand it may be a difficult decision and a financial hardship. If you decide not to exhibit at the fair, be sure to cancel your appointment to save time and money.

**The one thing that can be guaranteed about changes for the 2020 Morgan County Fair is that everything above is subject to change pending plan approval and participants, exhibitors, and families following the guidance stated in the order**

Skillathon Help Needed

Skillathon is an event that test the knowledge of the livestock species that youth exhibit at the fair. In Morgan County, it is required by the Senior Fair Board to complete to exhibit at the county fair, receive a premium, and compete for premier market exhibitor. There are three stations involved: 1) a review of the project record book and questions on quality assurance, 2) an interview based on knowledge of the animal, and 3) an activity to complete based on knowledge of the animal. This is a learning opportunity for the youth to apply their knowledge and practice life skills.

We need some volunteers to donate their time as judges for skillathon. The event is scheduled to take place on Saturday, August 22, 2020 at the Morgan County Fairgrounds. You do not need to be an expert in livestock, and you do not have to stay all day! We have a morning shift option from 8am – Noon or an afternoon shift option from Noon – 4pm. You are more than welcome to stay all day (8am – 4pm) if you’d like. We are not separating the youth up by species this year. Instead they will be coming to skillathon based on the first letter of their last name: 8-9:30am is T-Z, 10-11:30am is M-S, noon-1:30pm is F-L, and 2-3:30pm is A-E.

If you’re interested in helping, we just need your name, email, and your time commitment. You can either call Lydia at 740-252-5430 or email her at flores.191@osu.edu to sign up.

QA Sign Up Reminder

QA is required by each market livestock exhibitor in order to show and sell at the Morgan County Junior Fair. There are two options for completing QA this year.

Option 1: In-person training (held at the Morgan County Fairgrounds) are planned to take place on:

  • Monday, August 10 at 6 pm
  • Tuesday, August 11 at 10 am
  • Thursday, August 13 at 6 pm
  • Friday, August 14 at 10 am

We will be following the 4-H guidance for in-person meetings and events.

  • If youth or family members are ill or experiencing COVID-19 symptoms, they must stay home. We will accommodate for their absence due to illness.
  • Youth must register for a session in advance. If parents/guardians plan to attend, we ask that only one parent/guardian attends to limit the crowd size. Each session will be limited to 55 participants.
  • Appropriate disposable masks or cloth face masks are expected.
  • Seating will be pre-set to meet social distancing guidelines and not allowed to be moved.
  • Upon arrival, youth and their parent/guardian will need to complete a health check (3 simple yes or no questions)
  • Appropriate signage will be visible for entrance and exit of the building, 6-foot distancing, and good hygiene.

The link to register for in-person QA is here: go.osu.edu/QAmorgan. Youth must be signed up for a session by Monday, August 10th.

Option 2: Online training (via YQCA) must be completed by:

  • Friday, August 21

The on-line module completed MUST be for the correct 4-H age (as of January 1) for the youth. There is a cost of $12 per youth (credit card purchase). Youth will have to create an account, before proceeding to complete the training. Here is the link to create an account and access the online training: YQCA Training.

All other online courses do not meet the Ohio Youth Food Animal QA certification requirements (ie. BQA, PQA, BEST, etc). The YQCA test-outs are NOT an option at this time.

Instructions on how to access the web-based training can be found here: YQCA Online Training

DO NOT FORGET: Once completed the training and received your certificate, complete this survey: go.osu.edu/YQCAmorgan, so we know you have completed QA. Doing the online training is one option for all youth for 2020 only.

Not sure of your QA status for 2020? Did you test out more than 3 years ago? Contact Lydia Flores at flores.191@osu.edu or 740-252-5430 to check your status prior to the week of August 10-14th.

Livestock Skillathons

Skillathon is an event that test the knowledge of the livestock species that youth exhibit at the fair. In Morgan County, it is required to complete to exhibit at the county fair, receive a premium, and compete for premier market exhibitor. There are three stations involved: 1) a review of the project record book and questions on quality assurance, 2) an interview based on knowledge of the animal, and 3) an activity to complete based on knowledge of the animal. This is a learning opportunity for the youth to apply their knowledge and practice life skills. There are two options for skillathon completion this year.

Option 1: In-person (held at the fairgrounds) scheduled for:

  • Saturday, August 22
  • Times are sorted by last name
    • 8-9:30am is T-Z
    • 10-11:30am is M-S
    • 12-1:30pm is F-L
    • 2-3:30pm is A-E
  • Please notify the office if you have dropped a project so we are not waiting for you at skillathon
  • Early arrivals will be asked to wait outside the building until their designated start time while observing safety protocols

We will be following the 4-H guidance for in-person meetings and events.

  • If youth or family members are ill or experiencing COVID-19 symptoms, they must stay home. We will accommodate for their absence due to illness.
  • If parents/guardians plan to attend, we ask that only one parent/guardian attends to limit the crowd size.
  • Appropriate disposable masks or cloth face masks are expected.
  • Seating will be pre-set to meet social distancing guidelines and not allowed to be moved.
  • Each station will be timed to keep a consistent and timely schedule of the day.

Option 2: Online (via Qualtrics) must be completed by:

  • Friday, August 28 by 5pm

Due to the current global pandemic, this online option is for youth that do not feel comfortable in large crowds or are at high risk. Entry forms must be complete and turned in for youth to gain access to the online skillathons. The online skillathon will cover the same materials as stated in the skillathon study guides. For this year only, youth that complete the online skillathon will remain eligible for premier market exhibitor.

Entry forms are being mailed out soon. Additional entry forms will be available outside the extension office pick up. It is going to be a very quick turnaround. If you have any questions, contact the OSU Extension office at 740-962-4854.

Junior Fair Building 4-H Project Exhibits

What is needed in the Junior Fair Building to exhibit your 4-H project for 2020?  A poster no larger than ½-sheet of poster board.  The poster needs to be educational.  It could include terms learned while completing the project, tools needed and what they are used for, pictures of activities completed from the project book explaining the pictures and activities.  A picture of the 4-H member with the completed project whether that is a garment for a clothing project, a toolbox for woodworking, or a picture of breeding or market animal if not shown at the fair is not an educational poster.

In 2020, we will not be exhibiting any completed projects — only posters — due to challenges created by the coronavirus.  The Junior Fair building will be set up Friday, September 4th at 4:30 pm.  4-H members and parents are to put up their own posters by noon on Tuesday, September 8th.

4-H members eligible to exhibit their non-livestock projects in the Junior Fair Building either attended project judging on July 21st or turned in their projects by July 31st to the Extension Office.

4-H Project Books 2020

Did you order your 4-H books online through OSU Extension Publications (extensionpubs.osu.edu)?  If so, the Morgan County 4-H Advisory Committee agreed to cover the extra cost associated with the online order.  To be reimbursed, you need to turn in your receipt to the OSU Extension Office by September 1, 2020 (by mail: OSU Extension Morgan County, PO Box 179, McConnelsville, OH 43756) or you can put it in the drop box located in the hallway outside the office if the office is closed.  The receipt should list the books purchased, the name of the 4-H member the books were purchased for, the name of the individual to be reimbursed, and the address where a check can be mailed.

Remember, the 4-H Advisory Committee does not pay for resource books but they voted to pay the difference this year in the cost online and the same book purchased at the office.  Here is an example — the beef resource book is $15.50 when purchased at the office, but online it’s $20.00.  The committee would reimburse $4.50.

In a normal year, the 4-H Advisory Committee pays half the cost of the 4-H projects books.  In 2020, if you purchased project books online you would be reimbursed any amount over half the cost charged for the book purchased at the Extension Office.

Checks will be mailed out between September 15 -October 15, 2020.  If you have any questions, please feel free to call the OSU Extension Office at 740-962-4854.

4-H Cloverbud Members–What do they need to do for the booth at the Fair?

This year we are asking that every Cloverbud member to make a 4-H clover to exhibit at the fair.  It can be made with materials that a member has at their home (crayons, color pencils, paint, markers, construction paper, poster board, paper bag, notebook paper, etc.).  The clover should not be any bigger than a half-sheet of poster board.  Members should have their full name on the clover and the name of their 4-H Club on the back or the front, it is up to the member.  Clovers can be dropped off at a space labeled Cloverbud Clovers for Fair Booth outside our office from August 3-21.  The Riecker Building is open Monday – Friday, 8 am to 4 pm.   A couple examples have been included from the The Lighthousers 4-H Club.

Reminder: Junior Fair Royalty

It is time again for youth to be thinking about the Junior Fair Royalty Contest. Youth 15 to 18 are eligible to compete for King or Queen; youth 12 to 14 are eligible to compete for Prince or Princess; and youth 9 to 11 are eligible to compete for Junior Prince or Junior Princess. (Ages are as of January 1, 2020). Youth enrolled in the following organizations are eligible to participate in the Junior Fair Royalty contest: 4-H, FFA, Skills USA, Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts or Farm Bureau Youth.

Interested youth need to complete an application and be interviewed. An application may be requested from the OSU Extension Office, to be mailed or picked up or find it online at morgan.osu.edu. Completed applications, including all required signatures, are due on August 7, 2020 by mailing it to OSU Extension, P.O. Box 179, McConnelsville, OH 43756. Youth need to schedule their own interviews for Monday, August 17th by calling the Extension Office at 740-962-4854.

The Royalty crowning will be held at the Morgan County Fair on Tuesday September 8, beginning at 2:00pm at the small stage. The chosen Queen, King, Princess and Prince will be required to participate in various activities during the Morgan County Fair, with the Junior Princess and Junior Prince assisting. The Junior Fair Queen will be invited to participate in the 2021 Ohio Fair Manager’s Queen Contest.

Reminder: 4-H Project Drop Off

4-H members have until Friday, July 31st to drop off a completed project book and display to the Extension office for a project completion and an A grade. There is a table in the hallway to drop off your project book and display. Make sure your first and last name are on both items.

If only one item is turned in, the grade will result in an automatic C. Similar to make-up judging, youth that do not participate in project judging do not qualify for county placings for each project. Clothing project members will need to turn in a total-look printed photo as their project display (no garments are to be turned in).