Barrows will be harvested and processed at Bay Packing in Fairfield County. In order 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 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.
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.
The application process being required is intended to allow 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 or as soon as possible.
Both Fairfield County’s Barrow and Lamb MQP programs will operate under the following guidelines:
- Applications for the 2021 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, 2021. Applications are available on the OSUE website under livestock forms. Paper forms will be sent upon request.
- 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, not their name, will be revealed to the judges. Applicants will receive notice by May 15th or as soon as possible 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 15th, and tagged by the club/chapter advisor between July 19th and 30th. The live MQP barrows must be delivered to the Fairgrounds for the conclusion on Sunday, September 26th, between 1 and 2 p.m.
- MQP lambs must be brought to the Fairgrounds for tagging and weighing on July 10th, and the live MQP lambs must be delivered to the Fairgrounds for the conclusion on Sunday, October 3rd, between 12:30 and 1 p.m.
- 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 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 or his designee.
- The fresh frozen freezer pork and lamb must be picked up at a time 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 is 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.
Applications can be found on the Fairfield County website under Livestock Information and Resources: