Author: Kristy Watters

Adams County Junior Fair Commercial Swine Program

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Commercial Swine Program

The goal of the commercial market swine project is to provide the opportunity for members to raise a commercial market animal at a reasonable cost to the exhibitor that can compete against similar backgrounded animals. There will be a limited number of animals available. Members will know if they are selected to participate by February 21.

  • To participate in the commercial hog project, members will need to enroll in project 140 Market Hog Project by the February 15 enrollment deadline.
  • Must be a member in good standing of either Adams County 4-H or an Adams County FFA Chapter.
  • Must attend the market hog clinic on March 7.
  • There will be no top weight limit for Commercial Swine classes only. Minimum weight limit of 220 lbs must be met to sell.
  • ALL other swine department rules for market swine apply to this project.
  • Commercial Market projects may sell in the Junior Fair Sale. Members may only sell one lot in the sale.
  • Apply at go.osu.edu/commercialswine by February 15.

Animals for this project will be supplied by a local breeder at market cost to the exhibitor. Price will be per pound based on local market results the week of the clinic. Exhibitors will pick up their animal at the fairgrounds at the designated date and time. Animals will be chosen through a lottery system. All exhibitors will receive one bag of feed with their hog to get started and access to an appropriate feed ration at a reasonable cost.

Hogs will be tagged and weighed on the day of pick up. Commercial hog classes will be shown at the beginning of the market hog show. First and second place class winners will be eligible to compete for Grand and Reserve Champion Market Swine. Commercial swine will be eligible to compete for Production Champion Market Swine.

Teen Winter Retreat at Canter’s Cave 4-H Camp!

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🌲 Teen Winter Retreat Registration is now LIVE! 🌲
Check out the flyer and informational letter at: https://go.osu.edu/TWRInfo
Join us for an unforgettable weekend at Canter’s Cave 4-H Camp on February 7–8, 2026!
✅ Register online by February 4th: https://go.osu.edu/TeenWinterRetreat
✅ Complete your health form: https://go.osu.edu/CantersHealthForm
💲 Cost: $40 (Pay online at https://go.osu.edu/GalliaExtensionPayment or bring your cash or check payment with you to camp)
Enjoy winter hikes, games, movies, outdoor fun, and time with 4-H friends from across southeastern Ohio!
📍 When: Sat, Feb. 7th (2–3 p.m. check-in) – Sun, Feb. 8th (10 a.m. checkout)
📍 Where: Canter’s Cave 4-H Camp, Jackson, OH
Don’t wait—space is limited!
Questions? Contact Erin Dailey at 740-688-5026 or dailey.108@osu.edu
**Register today and make memories that last a lifetime!

Adams County Junior Leaders is Back!

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🌟 Level Up Your Leadership! 🌟

Adams County 4-H Junior Leaders Meeting
📅 Thursday, January 8
🕡 6:30 p.m.
📍 Adams County Fairgrounds

Ready to kick off 2026 with energy and ideas? Join us for a fun and interactive meeting where YOU help shape the future of 4-H Junior Leaders in Adams County!

✅ Meet other teens who love 4-H
✅ Plan awesome events and activities
✅ Build leadership skills that make a difference

Parents—encourage your teens to come and be part of something BIG! Junior Leaders is all about leadership, community, and making 4-H even better.

Bring your ideas, your friends, and your enthusiasm—we can’t wait to see you!

Adams County 4-H Junior Leaders is open to any teen in grades 7-12 that is interested in developing stronger leadership skills and providing service to their community in a safe, welcoming environment. 4-H Junior Leaders will meet on the first Thursdays of each month at 6:30 p.m. at the Adams County Fairgrounds.

Market Beef Tag-in, Saturday, December 27

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All market beef (steers and heifers) to be exhibited at the 2026 Adams County Fair will be tagged and weighed on Saturday, December 27 at the Adams County Fairgrounds.

We will begin at 8:30 a.m. and all cattle must be in line by 10 a.m.

New for 2026! We will have a dairy market steer division. Dairy market beef may be any dairy breed, steers only. No beef cattle cross will be permitted. All other market beef rules apply.

Adams County Born and Raised market beef forms should be turned in at tag-in. Forms can be printed here or picked up at the Extension office.

Goat Clinic, Friday October 3

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OSU Extension Adams is hosting a Goat clinic on Friday, October 3, 6 p.m. at the Adams County Fairgrounds. Open to everyone, youth and adults!

“Wether” you’re a full time producer or feeding for the fair, we’ve got you covered. OSU Extension Highland County Agriculture and Natural Resource Educator Ty Hamilton has experience raising, breeding, and evaluating high quality Boer goats. He will share his knowledge on topics including herd health management and parasite control, nutrition, reproduction and kidding care, and selection and evaluation of breeding and market animals.

We will have live animals on site for hands on learning opportunities. Participants will have the chance to evaluate a couple of classes of livestock.

Door prizes and snacks provided! Please RSVP by October 1st by calling the Extension office at 937-544-2339 or emailing watters.92@osu.edu or stoneking.24@osu.edu.

We hope to see you there!

 

Adams County 4-H Junior Leaders is BACK!

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Are you ready to take your 4-H experience to the next level? The Adams County 4-H Junior Leaders is open to teens in grades 7-12 and is about FUN, FRIENDS, and LEADERSHIP! As a Junior Leader you’ll get the chance to:

  • Take part in awesome community service activities
  • Plan and lead events for other 4-Her’s
  • Be mentor and role model for younger members
  • Build skills in teamwork, communication, and leadership
  • Have fun with old friends and new

We are ready to jump start our JL year on October 18 at Fright at the Fairgrounds Haunted Barn in Jackson, Ohio. Teens will meet at 6 p.m. at the Adams County Extension Office to carpool to Jackson County Fairgrounds. Please bring $20 for the haunted barn. Pizza and pop will be provided. Please RSVP by calling the Extension Office at 937-544-2339 or emailing Kristy at watters.92@osu.edu.

We’re going to have a frightfully good time!

Camp Life Registration is Open!

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Camp Life is here!
Join us November 15 & 16 at Canter’s Cave 4-H Camp for a weekend of life skills and camp fun. Teens will learn skills they’ll actually use – like sewing on a button, preparing a meal, basic car care and more – then kick back and relax with an Ohio State Buckeyes tailgate, dance, and campfire. A weekend of life skills + camp vibes = memories made.
Open to teens in grades 7 – 12. Register at go.osu.edu/CantersCampLife by November 1. $40 registration fee includes all meals, snacks, a t-shirt, and a life skills kit to take home.

Leadership Opportunities Available!

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Jim Rohn Quote: “Leadership is the challenge to be something more than average.”

Leadership opportunities are available in the 4-H and Junior Fair Programs!

Youth opportunities:

Adams County Junior Fair Board applications are due Tuesday, September 2! Applicants must be a member in good standing of a junior fair organization (4-H, FFA, Scouts, FCCLA, or SkillsUSA) and at least a freshman in high school. Fair board members should be goal oriented, team players, and interested in giving back to the community.
Applications can be submitted at go.osu.edu/adamsJFB or paper applications can be found at adams.osu.edu or the Extension office.

Adams County Advisory Committee youth must be active, project-age members of the 4-H program. Up to four youth members will be appointed to serve a one-year term. Youth members may reapply each year. Interested youth may apply online at go.osu.edu/adamsac before September 30.

Small Animal Committee youth must be an active 4-H member ages 13 & up. Up to four youth members will be appointed to serve a one-year term. Youth members may reapply each year. Apply online at go.osu.edu/adamssacapp by September 30.

 

Adult opportunities:
The Adams County 4-H Advisory Committee helps direct the work of the county 4-H program. They assist in planning countywide events like Kids College, Officer Training, Volunteer Conference, Skillathon, and more. Advisory Committee members meet monthly and provide support and guidance for the 4-H Extension staff. Applicants must be  screened, trained 4-H volunteers in the current year. Interested volunteers may apply online at go.osu.edu/adamsac before September 30.

The Adams County 4-H Small Animal Committee gives guidance to the rabbit and poultry projects. Adult members serve a three year term. They meet regularly and oversee the Revolution of Rabbit program, poultry orders, clinics, and assist with skillathon and fair. Applicants must be screened, trained 4-H volunteers and may apply online at go.osu.edu/adamssacapp before September 30.

If you have questions about any of these leadership opportunities, please contact the Extension office at 937-544-2339 or Kristy at watters.92@osu.edu.

Pre Fair Judging Schedule and Guidelines

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Pre fair project judging will take place at West Union Elementary School on Tuesday, June 24, 2025. Please enter on the playground end of the building near the school cafeteria.

The schedule and project requirements for pre fair judging can be found at https://adams.osu.edu/program-areas/4-h-youth-development/non-livestock-projects. Members should plan to bring a completed project book as well as all other required items listed for their project(s). Food & Nutrition project members are required to complete the Food & Nutrition skillathon while at judging. Clothing members are required to participate in the Style Revue at 3:30 p.m. that day. Family and friends are welcome to attend the Style Revue in the school cafeteria.

Woodworking, welding, and crop projects will complete interviews during the fair. Please see the Junior Fair schedule for check-in and interview times.

Projects MUST be displayed in the Junior Fair booth building at the Adams County Fair in order to be eligible for premiums, awards, and State Fair qualification. If your club does not have a booth, you should drop your project off on Saturday, July 5 between 9 a.m. and 6 p.m. in the booth building.

If you cannot attend on June 24 but would still like to complete your project, there are two options for makeup.

  • Early makeup – Tuesday, June 17 by appointment. If you complete this makeup you ARE eligible for awards, premiums, and OSF.
  • Makeup – Tuesday, July 1 by appointment. If you complete this makeup you are eligible for premiums and will counted complete.
  • If you need to attend either makeup judging session, please call the Extension office at 937-544-2339 to schedule a time.