There is a test-out option for youth who are 12-14 years old, and again for youth 15-18 years old. All youth may take this option for 2018. If youth do not pass this option at this time they must attend at least one Quality Assurance Clinic for 2018. A youth may test-out when reaching the age of 12-14. Once 15 years old, youth may again test-out of Quality Assurance until s/he completes their 4-H career. Test-out dates are May 7-11, 2018 by appointment at the OSU Extension Office. If youth try to test-out and do not pass, youth must complete a QA clinic by June 30th of the current year to meet the QA requirement. Contact the OSU Extension Office for questions and to set up an appointment.
Who needs Quality Assurance?
All exhibitors who take the following projects must attend the required Quality Assurance Clinic during the current year in order to exhibit at the Fairfield County Fair:
- Beef (Breeding & Market)
- Dairy Breeding & Dairy Feeders
- Goats (Angora, Dairy, Meat, Market, Pygmy)
- Poultry (Breeding & Market)
- Sheep (Breeding & Market)
- Swine
- Rabbits (Breeding & Market—this does not include Pet Rabbits)
How to Meet the Quality Assurance Requirement
When a member attends your club meeting Quality Assurance or one countywide make-up Quality Assurance Clinic, s/he is validated to exhibit at the fair in all species. (So if Chris Clover is taking Beef, Dairy, and Poultry, he only needs to attend one Quality Assurance Clinic.) Exhibitors will be asked to mark all species planned to exhibit at the county fair when signing in at the club meeting or countywide make-up clinic. If members do not attend a club clinic or countywide make-up Quality Assurance Clinic, they will be ineligible to exhibit and show livestock at the Fairfield County Fair.
Additional Quality Assurance Training Options
There are opportunities at different clinics, meetings, & livestock shows around the state offering approved QA training. Examples of these types of sessions that would fulfill an exhibitor’s Quality Assurance requirements are: the Ohio Beef Expo, OSU Junior Swine Day, Bi-State Youth Poultry Clinic and other counties countywide Quality Assurance clinics. For a list of approved QA Training events throughout the state, contact the OSU Extension Office. If a club member chooses to attend one of these types of sessions, they need to provide the OSU Extension Office with proof of attendance by June 30th, 2018 so accurate records will be available for verification if necessary.