4-H and FFA youth can show what they know about 9 different animal species through 10 skillathon events during the Ohio State Fair (see the schedule below). Skillathons are free, registration is the day of the event (an adult must accompany the youth), youth can come anytime between the hours listed, and youth do not have to be a state fair exhibitor or be enrolled in an animal project in order to complete. Youth vying for the Outstanding Market Exhibitor (OME) award for goat, sheep, poultry, swine, and beef must participate in the Skillathon, showmanship, and live animal show in order to qualify. Rules, study resources (including the station topics for each species), and other information are available at: go.osu.edu/osfskillathons
- July 20th – Goat Skillathon, Voinovich Livestock Center Mezzanine (2nd Floor), 12:00-5:00 pm; Awards given out 7/21
- July 24th – Sheep Skillathon, Brown Arena, Wool Room, 9:00am-2:00pm; Awards given out 7/25
- July 25th – Horse Skillathon, Voinovich Livestock Center Mezzanine (2nd Floor), 9:00am-2:00pm; awards following contest in Coliseum, about 4:30 pm
- July 26th – Dairy Skillathon, Voinovich Livestock Center Mezzanine (2nd Floor), 3:00pm-6:30pm; Awards following contest in Cooper Arena, about 8:00 pm
- July 31 – Dog Skillathon, Buckeye Sports Center (north end), 9:00am-3:00pm,; Awards following contest, about 4:30 pm
- August 1st – Dairy Skillathon, Voinovich Livestock Center Mezzanine (2nd Floor), 1:30pm-5:000pm; Awards following contest in Cooper Arena, about 7:00 pm
- August 1st – Poultry Skillathon, Rabbit/Poultry Pavilion, 4:00pm-7:30pm, Awards given out 8/3
- August 2nd – Swine Skillathon, Voinovich Livestock Center Mezzanine (2nd Floor), 8:00am-1:00pm; Awards 8/4
- August 2nd – Beef Skillathon, Voinovich Livestock Center Mezzanine (2nd Floor), 4:00pm-7:00pm; Awards 8/4
- August 3rd – Rabbit Skillathon, Rabbit Poultry Pavilion, 8:00am-12:00pm; Awards following contest, about 2:30 pm
We’ve had great participation in the past – let’s get participation in every one of these events this year. The link above will provide the rules and study resources – what other competition give you the topics that the event will cover? Good luck and happy learning!