Fair

The Power of Thank You

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Show boxes have been emptied, ribbons have been hung, project work has been put away for another year.  You spend days, weeks, and months preparing, practicing, checking and double checking that your books are complete, you’ve done your best work, and you’re ready to compete.  Fair week is the culmination of a year of hard work and dedication and whether your project is on display in the booth building or the show ring, it’s your chance to show off your accomplishments for the year.  Fair comes and goes in the blink of an eye and when the dust settles you’re left with a sense of pride in your achievements, lasting friendships, great memories, and recognition of a job well done.

The Adams County community once again showed up in force to support our youth during the 2021 Adams County Fair.  Sponsorships of awards, banners, giveaways, and the Junior Fair Sale are just a few ways businesses and individuals recognize and reward the hard work of our junior fair members.  In order to maintain this outstanding level of support, we need to show our appreciation to those sponsors.  Saying thank you is a small but meaningful way we can express to our community how much their support means.

If you received an award during fair, there was a label on the back with the name and address of the award sponsor.  If you haven’t already, please take a few minutes and write out a thank you note to those individuals.  If you sold a project in the Adams County Junior Fair Sale, please visit this link to find your buyers’ name(s) and address(es) and send them a thank you card as soon as possible.  Now is also a great time to thank your advisors, friends, neighbors, mentors, or others that helped you achieve your goals in 2021.

Not sure where to start with your thank you note?  Check out these simple steps and suggestions shared from Teresa Johnson, 4-H Educator in Defiance County.

Saying thank you seems simple but it is a big deal.  Please be sure to reach out to all of your sponsors and let them know how much you appreciate their support!

Top Five Reasons to Apply for Fair Royalty

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Fair will be here before we know it, so don’t miss your chance to get involved. One way you become more involved at fair this year is through applying to be fair royalty. Being King or Queen of the 2021 Adams County Jr. Fair is high honor. But if you need more than just honor to apply, here are the top five reasons to apply for fair royalty.

 

  1. Tradition

Here in Adams County nothing is more sacred than the traditions we hold. Tradition is at the core of the fair, and is the reason why we still have fair royalty. Year after year, the contestants ride in the opening parade to their final presentation. And every year fair-goers excitingly watch to see who will be crowned king and queen.

We even have a Hall of Royalty in the Senior Fair Administration Building. Here the walls are lined with queens and kings from past years, all of whom proudly carried the crown. You never know, it could be hanging in the hall one day.

 

  1. Get-To-Know the Adams County Fair

When you become fair royalty, you don’t just get a sash and crown, it comes with responsibilities. It is the duty of the royalty court to work shows, passing out awards and congratulating exhibitors.

Through this work you will see more of the fair than ever before. You may be working shows you never attended before, and seeing firsthand the hard work exhibitors put into their projects. By the end of the week you will be an expert in most projects. You may even find a new project to exhibit next year.

 

  1. You are a Role Model

As royalty you will have many eyes watching you at all times. While this seems very intimidating, do not worry because people look at you with admiration. Adults and children alike know how prestigious the title is and look to you as an example.

Those who become fair royalty are the among the best and brightest our county has to offer. As fair royalty you can expect little kids wanting to talk to and take pictures with you. You also have the opportunity to get to know the exhibitors, and maybe even inspire them apply to be fair royalty.

 

  1. Visit Other Fairs

One really fun benefit of being fair royalty is you are strongly encouraged to visit other county fairs. Visiting other fairs not only builds strong relationships between the counties, but you also get to make friends from across the state.

When you are wearing your sash and crown, you are the literal embodiment of Adams County. This is a time to be proud and show off our county in the best light; highlight the best things our county has to offer.

 

  1. Life Long Memories

Being fair royalty means more responsibility and high expectations, but also lasting memories. Although fair week is long and hard work, you will cherish the connections you made during shows, and the time spent with fellow royalty. You will have new friends because of it, and new appreciation for fair.

Take my advice, this is an opportunity that left a major impact on me. I am so glad I had the chance to serve and recommend it to anyone who is thinking about it.

Carlie Cluxton, 2018 Adams County Jr. Fair Queen

 

Hopefully these reasons convinced you to apply for fair royalty. Remember only those who are 16-18 years old and currently involved in Jr. Fair can apply. Those who are serving as commodity ambassadors are also ineligible. Applications are due to the extension office by 4 p.m. on June 23rd.

Contest Rules

Application

Good luck to all the applicants! We will see you on Friday, June 25th for preliminary interviews and formal wear presentation.

 

 

June 1st Deadlines

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June 1st is “Junior Fair Entry Day”, here is a list of all forms and project registrations due to the extension office 4 p.m.

Make sure if these projects apply to you or your club members that they get these items turned in. Again the deadline is June 1st, by 4 p.m.

Skillathon Update

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Update on our skillathon process for 2021.  Now that our in-person limit has been raised to 300 people we will NOT need to pre-register for skillathon.

Skillathon will be held on Wednesday, May 26 and Thursday, May 27 at the Adams County Fairgrounds from 2 – 7 p.m.  We will be set up in the Administration Building and only members will be allowed to enter the building.  Masks and social distancing are required.

All 4-H members must participate in the applicable Skillathon(s) to show at the fair and earn points for the Outstanding Exhibitor scoring. Skillathons are required for 4-H and optional for FFA. Exceptions: Participation in the Skillathon is optional for youth enrolled in horseless horse, pet goat, and pet rabbit projects.

Your livestock resource book and record book are an excellent place to begin studying for skillathon.  Looking for some additional study tools?  Check out our friends at Wayne County’s practice skillathons at https://wayne.osu.edu/skillathon-study-materials.

Makeup skillathon will be scheduled on an individual basis.  If you cannot attend the scheduled dates on May 26 or 27, please contact the office or myself.  Anyone not completing the skillathon on May 26 or 27 will not be eligible for related awards.  The makeup skillathon will however meet the requirement to show at the 2021 Adams County Junior Fair.

Market Hog Tags Available

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Official Adams County Fair market hog ear tags may be picked up at the Extension Office during regular business hours beginning Monday, March 8. The office is open by appointment on Monday, Tuesday and Thursday.  Please call the office at 937-544-2339 to schedule pick up of tags.  If you call ahead to make prior arrangements tags can be picked up on Wednesday or Friday during regular business hours.  An advisor, friend, or parent may pick up forms and tags. You do not have to pick them up yourself.

The possession deadline for market hogs is April 15. Again in 2021 exhibitors will submit their pictures and information using an electronic form.  The form located at https://go.osu.edu/markethog21 asks for information regarding identification, possession, age and photographs of your animal and should be completed in its entirety by April 15.

When tagging your market hog, please be sure the button goes on the inside of the hog’s ear with the tag on the back side.  Please tag the animal’s left ear.

We will also be distributing the ractopamine free affidavit for producers and exhibitors.  If you purchase your market hogs, please be sure to have this form completed by the breeder.  You will submit the ractopamine free affidavit at fair check in on Monday morning of the fair.  These forms can be found at adams.osu.edu as well.

 

Beef BBQ: An Adams County Tradition Continues

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The Adams County Beef BBQ committee met last night to finalize plans for the 2020 Beef BBQ to be held Thursday, September 3 from 4:30 – 7 p.m. at the Ohio Valley Career & Technical Center.  This year’s event will be held with drive thru service only.  You will be able to purchase your tickets and receive your meals without ever leaving the comfort of your car. Menu will include roast beef sandwiches, cole slaw, baked beans and potato chips.  Tickets are $9 for adults (two sandwiches) or $7 for kids (one sandwich).

The BBQ has been a long running tradition in Adams County dating back to 1962.  Corbett Phipps, Becky Foster, the BBQ Committee, FFA Chapters from all five county high schools, the OVCTC Restaurant Management class and a hoard of 4-H and community volunteers work together to make the BBQ happen each year.  This year we will be taking extra precautions including the new drive-thru only delivery system.

If you are interested in learning how the process works, be sure to tune in to c103 on Wednesday, September 2nd at 10 a.m. to hear Corbett and Becky talk about the ins and outs of firing the pit, getting the beef ready to cook and serving 1200 hungry supporters.

All proceeds of the Adams County Beef BBQ go to Junior Fair improvements.  We hope to see you there!

Junior Fair Board: Fair and a Whole Lot More

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If you’ve been to the Adams County Fair you’ve probably seen Junior Fair Board members in the barns, around the show ring or working in the office.  They are pretty easy to identify, not only because of their matching shirts and smiling faces, but because they are often the ones doing the work to make things happen fair week.  In Adams County we are fortunate to have a Junior Fair Board that helps run Junior Fair.  They work the make up ring, take over the mic and log weights.  You can find them in the office answering questions, on the computer helping finish show bills or in the barns helping our youth move livestock.  During fair week they log a ton of hours and do a lot of heavy lifting, but Junior Fair Board is a whole lot more.

Our fair year starts at the October meeting.  This is our organizational meeting each year where we welcome new members, fill empty board seats and elect our new officer team.  Over the past three years we have grown as a board to now include 36 members from 4-H, FFA, Scouts, FCCLA and SkillsUSA.  This diversity in groups and members help make us a stronger board, with each member having different experiences and expertise.  Through the fall and winter we work hard to come together as a board, form committees and start planning for fair.  Planning means making lots of decisions.  Each suggestion that is submitted during fair and through early October is reviewed, discussed and voted on by the Junior Fair Board and their recommendations are forwarded to Senior Fair Board.  Our Junior Fair program is truly a youth led organization.

In January we send a delegation of our members to the annual Ohio Fair Manager’s Conference for Junior Fair Day.  This is a terrific opportunity for professional development, gathering new ideas and sharing some of our own strengths with Junior Fair Boards from across the state.  Members who attend are asked to share with the full board something they learned that could help improve and grow our own county fair.  We’ve had some really great ideas, interesting suggestions and a whole lot of laughs come out of this Columbus trip.

As soon as the calendar turns to spring, we start hitting the pavement.  Our Junior Fair Board members are responsible for soliciting donations for all those terrific awards we hand out fair week.  This involves writing letters, making personal contact with many of the donors, and thanking them for their continued support of the youth in our communities.  Spring also brings weigh-ins, tag-ins and clinics.  Everything from unloading trailers, to tattooing livestock to recording weights is handled by our Junior Fair Board members and advisors.  Again, these events couldn’t happen without those who show up and do the work.

And then we get to fair season.  Junior Fair work days have become one of my favorite experiences.  In two days we clean, weed, plant, bed, paint and organize everything we can get our hands on.  With the help of our Ag teachers, 4-H Clubs and Senior Fair Board, we make sure the grounds are ready and waiting when move in day arrives.

It sounds like a ton of work, right?  Well, I’m not going to lie, it is a lot of work.  It’s also a whole lot of fun.  Most members come onto the board early in their high school career and keep coming back until they age out.  During our monthly meetings we work hard, we laugh a lot and we form friendships.  You gain leadership experience, conflict resolution, and communication skills.  Junior Fair Board is some serious on the job training that you can’t get anywhere else.

If you are interested in joining us on the 2021 Adams County Junior Fair Board, download the application here.  Completed applications are due September 1 to the Extension Office or by emailing watters.92@osu.edu.  You must be at least a freshman in high school and active in an Adams County Junior Fair organization to apply.  If you have questions, feel free to reach out to Kristy or a current Junior Fair Board member.  Hope to see you around the board table!

Important 2020 Junior Fair Information

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This year the fair, like everything else, will look a little different.  Fair will run Wednesday, July 15 – Saturday July 18.  We will be following social distancing guidelines, recommending masks and encouraging extra sanitation.  We are able to hold a Junior Fair because we have agreed to work within these guidelines and know that our members, exhibitors and their families will help us put forth our best effort to run a safe and successful Junior Fair.  Here is some information that will help us all have a smoother week:

In Order to Show

  • Complete Quality Assurance if needed.
  • Complete your livestock record book or the livestock record supplement.  Turn this in to your advisor. They will provide the Junior Fair office with a list of members who have completed before 5 p.m. on Wednesday, July 15.
  • For 2020 ONLY skillathons are optional but encouraged.  They will be posted online on Monday, June 29 through Saturday, July 4.  Watch for more details.
  • Follow all other Junior Fair Rules.

Fair Week

  • Large animals can begin moving in Tuesday, July 14.  Please do not move tack in on Monday as Junior Fair will still be working to ready the grounds.
  • All large animals must be in place by 8 a.m. on Wednesday, July 15.
  • Small animal check-in begins Wednesday morning.  Please check the schedule.
  • Crop and shop check-in will be Wednesday evening, 4 – 5:30 p.m. at the Floral Hall.  Interviews will be Thursday morning.
  • All livestock will be released at 9 p.m. on the day of their show.
  • Junior Fair Board will not have bedding available for purchase.  Please plan accordingly.
  • Weight limits have not changed for livestock.  Over or under weight projects will not be eligible for awards but will show.
  • While there will not be a sale, there will be a market for your project.  At weigh-in you will be asked if you wish to send your livestock to the packer or take it home.  If you choose packer, you will receive payment directly from the packer/stockyards.
  • Champions in market beef, market hog, market goat, and market lamb must go to the packer.
  • 2020 will be a premium show.  Exhibitors that come to the fair and show their project will receive a premium.  One premium per market livestock exhibitor, not one per project.  The details for this will be released as soon as they are finalized.
  • 4-H Booths are not required for 2020 but space will be provided for clubs that wish to display projects.  Clubs that would like to have a display should contact the Extension office no later than Thursday, July 2.

Health Precautions

  • If you or your family member have a fever, cough or shortness of breath, please stay home from the fair.
  • High risk individuals are also encouraged to stay home.
  • We are working with community supporters to provide a live stream of the livestock shows for those not able to or comfortable with attending.
  • Please observe social distancing in barns, show arena and throughout the grounds.  Maintain 6 feet between your family group and others.
  • Please give families of exhibitors in the ring priority in the show arena.
  • Hand sanitizer and hand washing stations will be placed throughout the grounds.  Frequent hand washing is encouraged.
  • Barns will be closed to the public during their show.
  • Masks are recommended, especially when indoors or social distancing is not possible.

Additional information will be provided as it becomes available.

I encourage all of our members and families to exhibit an extra dose of patience, kindness and respect as we navigate these changes.  Although we may have different opinions and views, I believe we all want the best for our youth.  If we continue to work together we can provide an opportunity for them to safely and successfully showcase their hard work.  If you have specific questions, please email watters.92@osu.edu.

Adams County Junior Fair A Go

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The Adams County Junior Fair is on for 2020.  Due to COVID-19 the Junior Fair will be shortened to run from Wednesday, July 15 through Saturday, July 18 and the modified schedule will focus on showcasing livestock, crop and shop projects. Plans to recognize special interest projects such as food and nutrition, sewing, fishing, rocketry, etc. as well as horse members are in the works for later this summer.

While the schedule will look different, Junior Fair rules and guidelines, including weight limits, quality assurance requirements and code of ethics will still apply.  Market rabbit exhibitors will see a slight change as they exhibit single fryers in place of a pen of two.  Check-in and release times have also been modified.  Please check the updated schedule for show dates and times.

The Junior and Senior Fair Boards are working with the Adams County Health Department to follow recommended health protocol to protect our members and families.  Social distancing, additional hand washing stations, increased sanitation and limiting crowds inside buildings will be part of the fair this year.  Fair participation is not required for completion of a project and families should make the best choices for themselves.

Continue to watch your email and follow the Adams County Junior Fair Facebook page for details as they are confirmed.