General 4-H

Essay Lamb Contest

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Win a Free Lamb for your 4-H Project by writing about why you want to take a lamb to the Defiance County Fair.

Essay Sponsor:       Fairview Young Farmers
Essay Due Date:     April 1, 2025
Email essay:            Teresa Johnson: johnson.1389@osu.edu  OR
On-Line Application:  https://go.osu.edu/essaylamb

Essay Contest Guidelines:

 

2025 ESSAY LAMB

  • NEW: Must attend project clinic on Tuesday April 15th at 6:30 pm at Fairview Elementary.
  • This will also count for Livestock Quality Assurance requirement.
  • Siblings are welcome to attend for credit.
  1. Open to 4-H members when child is age 8 AND in third grade, or when child who is age 9 or above regardless of grade level.  Also open to FFA members.       
  2. New Sheep Projects Only: Entrants who have shown sheep at the Defiance County Fair in previous years are not eligible.
  3. Entrants must be able to provide facilities to house and feed a lamb.
  4. Entrants must be enrolled in a Defiance County 4-H Club or FFA Chapter and enrolled in a Lamb Project.
  5. Must complete Quality Assurance and a Livestock Skill-a-thon.
  6. Must show the lamb at the County Fair the same year. Essay winners from previous years are ineligible
  7. Essay Length:  Minimum of 100 Words  “Why do you want to take a sheep project to the Fair?”
  8. Essay must include member name and age. Essays must also be signed at the bottom by the entrant and parent/guardian.

General Information

  1. The Lamb Essay is under the guidance of the Fairview Young Farmers. A limited number of lambs will be given out.  Selection will be based on essay content.
  2. Fairview Young Farmers transfers all liability associated with the animal to the winner at the time of pick up. In the event the animal dies, Fairview Young Farmers will not replace the animal or allow the winner to re-enter the competition the following year.
  3. Winners will be notified in writing and given a date/location to pick up lamb.
  4. Members will enter the Lamb Essay class at the Defiance County Junior Fair and are eligible for all premiums. Must meet the minimum weight 90 pounds to be eligible to show at the Fair.
  5. The grand champion market lamb class will be comprised of the division winners from the market lamb and essay lamb classes.

2025 4-H Enrollment is OPEN

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New and returning 4-H members have until March 30, 2025 to register and select projects through 4-H Online.  We ask that you register as soon as possible in order to help with communication.  You can register by visiting oh.4honline.com.

  • All returning families have an account so please use the e-mail address and password that was used last year.
  • New families will need to set up their account.  For help with registration, please call 419-782-4771  or e-mail Chris Comden at comden.1@osu.edu 

Enrollment Information

Winning 4-H Plan Request Form
This is an accommodation plan for 4-H members with any type of disability taking 4-H Project.

Ohio 4-H membership is based on a child’s age AND grade as of January 1 of the current calendar year. Eligibility for Cloverbud participation begins when a child is age 5 and enrolled in kindergarten. Eligibility for participation in 4-H projects and competitive events begins when a child is age 8 and in third grade. Any youth age 9 or above is eligible for project membership, regardless of grade level. A youth’s 4-H eligibility ends December 31 the year he/she turns 19.

General Information

 

 

2025 Livestock Quality Assurance Dates

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2025 Livestock Quality Assurance Dates
Please make sure to get a date on your calendar. Youth in NW Ohio may attend any of the dates listed.

  1. You must register for the Zoom sessions and any session you are attending OUTSIDE of Defiance County.
  2. The 4-H Educator will verify your attendance with your county.

PIG CATCH & LAMB ESSAY
QA for these animals from Fairview Young Farmers will be April 15 at 6:30 pm at Fairview Elementary.  Siblings are also welcome to attend for the QA credit.

Livestock Weigh-In at Fair

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Weigh-In Procedures:

  1. Weigh Slips for market animals will be available at check-in.
  2. Please complete weigh slips prior to taking animal to the scale.
  3. Determine where your animals are going prior to weigh-in.
  4. Complete on-line DUNF survey PRIOR to weigh in. Link will be activated Aug 14th and available on the Defiance County 4-H App.


Destination Options

Livestock Sale Ring:

  • Animal is going through the livestock sale on Friday. One trip through sale ring/exhibitor. Exception: Champion animals.
  • Feeder calves are now considered a two year project and can go through the livestock sale for a premium only and then go home. Please check on weigh slip “Return Project/Premium Sale Only.


Direct to Packer:

  • Animal not going through sale ring. Animal not going home
  • Feeder Calves NOT going home and NOT going through the Livestock Sale Ring should check Direct


Feeder Calf Auction:

  • Feeder Calf that has checked direct will automatically be entered into the Feeder Calf Auction


Custom:

  • Exhibitor plans on having animal butchered at a local processor. Please list processor. Must have made an appointment. Check with processor to see if transportation is provided.
  • SWINE: Swine going through the sale ring CAN NOT go home w member for custom slaughter unless they purchase animal in sale ring. This has always been the guideline.

 

2024 Still Project Results

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Congratulations to our 4-H Members

2024 Results List 

 

  • State Fair Delegates will need to contact the Extension Office to let us know if you plan on going to the Ohio State Fair and make arrangements to pick up your packets.
  • Members may view project specific information for the Ohio State Fair at:  https://ohio4h.org/nonlivestockguidebook
  • State Fair Project Judging Schedule: Click here

 

4-H Still Project Judging – July 9

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4-H Still Project Judging
July 9,2024 at Defiance K of C Hall

4-H Interview Grade Guidelines

Judges will be using the following guidelines when determining project grades.  Please keep this in mind as you prepare your project for judging.

  • Member will receive an “A” if they meet all the project requirements.
  • Member will receive a “B” if they meet only some of the requirements and/or forget project books.
  • Member will receive a “C” if they do not meet any of the requirements.

Project Note: Member projects cannot be a school or home school project.  A reminder that 4-H projects must be different than projects which have received a grade at school.  A member may not use a Science Fair project, Family Consumer Sciences project, Art project, etc. for a  4-H project.

Benefits of/Reasons for Interview Judging

  1. The educational 4-H project experience and the keeping of accurate, up-to-date records.
  2. Gains interview skills and builds self esteem and poise.
  3. Provides the opportunity to share what has been learned.
  4. Provides members with feedback on their projects.
  5. Provides balance for knowledge gained regardless of the features of the finished product.

Interview Judging Guidelines

  1. Interview judging of all projects is required for 4-H members; those not participating will be automatically graded incomplete.
  2. Members must bring their completed project book and records to judging.
  3. Members must complete all project requirements as outlined in the Defiance County 4-H Handbook.
  4. Consideration in judging will be given for member’s age, number of years in the same project or project area and any handicaps or learning disabilities.

Tips for 4-H Judging

  1. Be well groomed. Don’t chew gum.
  2. Use good posture. Sit and stand straight and tall.
  3. Be polite and use your best manners.
  4. Be prepared by talking about your project. Know what you did, how you did it, what you learned and what you might do differently the next time.
  5. When answering the judge’s questions, speak clearly and loudly enough for the judge to hear your answers.
  6. During your interview, look directly at the judge. Give him/her your full attention.  Don’t be distracted by other people or noises around you.
  7. Thank the judge when the interview is finished. Remember, the real purpose of judging is sharing and learning.
  8. Be pleasant and confident. Smile and be enthusiastic!
  9. Be proud of your accomplishments!! You worked hard to earn them.