Entries – or perhaps, more appropriately entitled applications for entry – for the 2019 Fairfield County Jr. Fair Barrow and Lamb MQP programs are now being accepted in the OSU Extension office. To be considered for a spot in either the 2019 Barrow or Lamb MQP, an application along with an essay not to exceed 300 words must be postmarked or received in the Extension office by the end of business on May 1, 2019.
Also new this year, the barrows will be harvested and processed at Bay Packing in Fairfield County. This new location will now allow participants to have their hams cured if they wish. However, in order to be able to accommodate such a large harvest and process the pork in a timely fashion, participants or those who have purchased the freezer pork from the participants must agree to pick up their fresh frozen pork prior to the Fair at a time yet to be announced. Cured product such as bacon or ham will be available for pick‐up at a time yet to be determined after the Fair.
As in the recent past, the lambs will also be harvested at Bay Packing. Likewise with the freezer pork, in order to be able to accommodate such a large harvest and process the lamb in a timely fashion, participants or those who have purchased the freezer lamb from the participants must agree to pick up their fresh frozen lamb prior to the Fair at a time yet to be announced.
A number of factors have contributed to these changes for the Barrow MQP program. While OSU Swine Specialist Dr. Steve Moeller has enjoyed the opportunity to be involved in Fairfield County’s Barrow MQP and looks forward to continuing in that role, harvesting and processing our 30 barrows on campus has created challenges for the Meat Lab’s ability to harvest and process their research projects in a timely fashion. In addition, the time required to process 30 barrows for freezer pork has created workload challenges while the Meat Lab also creates wholesale product for sale from their store.
Furthermore, while interest from youth to participate in MQP has grown significantly in recent years, each year we also have experienced large numbers of youth who had indicated their interest but who have not completed the project. In 2018, at one point 60 youth were listed as prospective participants in Barrow MQP. By September 30th, that number of participants had dropped to 32. Due to the harvest space limitations, thirty were accepted and completed the program in 2018.
While not yet reaching numbers beyond capacity, in similar fashion, Lamb MQP numbers have continued to grow, reaching 22 participants last year. In an effort to have a protocol in place to establish a priority participation‐ranking if Lamb MQP numbers grow beyond capacity, the Lamb MQP program will employ an application/essay process this year similar to that which Barrow MQP is using.
The application process being required this year is intended to eliminate the early rush that has been experienced to be placed on the participant list, while also allowing the Barrow and Lamb MQP Show Committees the opportunity to clearly communicate in a timely fashion to participants where they rank on the participant list. The subjective and age appropriate evaluation of the essays by several ‘judges’ will serve as the basis for that ranking that will be completed and announced by May 15.
Moving forward in 2019, both Fairfield County’s Barrow and Lamb MQP programs will operate under the following guidelines:
- Applications for the 2019 Barrow and/or Lamb MQP programs must be postmarked or received in the OSU Extension office (831 College Avenue, Suite D, Lancaster) by the end of business on May 1, 2019. The blank applications may be downloaded here: Barrow MQP : Lamb MQP
- Along with the application, on a separate paper an essay, not to exceed 300 words, must be included for each contest that is entered. The title of the essay is to be, “Why I want to participate in a livestock project that’s focused on producing high quality pork/lamb that meets the consumer’s demand.”
- The essays will be scored and ranked by an independent panel of judges. Only the author’s age, and not their name, will be revealed to the judges. Applicants will receive notice by May 15 of their ranking on the participants list.
- If a participant must withdraw from the program, he/she must agree to notify the OSU Extension office immediately in order that participants that ranked below them may be moved up on the list.
- MQP barrows must be in the exhibitor’s possession by July 15, and tagged by the club/chapter advisor between July 15 and 26. The live MQP barrows must be delivered to the Fairgrounds for the conclusion on Sunday, September 22, between 1 and 2 p.m. Note: the dates for delivery of the barrows and lambs in September have been reversed from previous years.
- MQP lambs must be brought to the Fairgrounds for tagging and weighing on July 13, and the live MQP lambs must be delivered to the Fairgrounds for the conclusion on Sunday, September 29, between 12:30 and 1 p.m. Note: the dates for delivery of the barrows and lambs in September have been reversed from previous years.
- Freezer pork and freezer lamb cutting/processing sheets must be submitted when the animals are delivered to the Fairgrounds. These sheets will made available to exhibitors in September.
- Immediately following delivery on their respective September dates and following the live evaluations, the Show Committees will transport the animals to Bay Packing for harvest on the following morning.
- Carcass data for both contests will be collected at Bay’s and the scoring of the contests will be conducted under the direction of OSU Swine Specialist Dr. Steve Moeller.
- The fresh frozen freezer pork and lamb must be picked up at a time yet to be determined prior to the Fair. Smoked/cured pork product will be available after the Fair.
- A concluding educational program where the placings will be announced will be scheduled at a time and place yet to be determined prior to the Fair.
We are privileged to have a local packing house such as Bay Packing who are willing and able to help facilitate the Fairfield County Barrow and Lamb MQP programs by harvesting and processing at least 30 barrows and 25 lambs. We also appreciate the effort of faculty and students in the OSU Animal Science Department who are willing to help score and facilitate this unique program.
If you have any questions, please feel free to contact the OSU Extension office, or Barrow MQP Show Superintendent Bryan Black, or Lamb MQP Show Superintendent Kris Doyle.