Month: June 2021

Fairfield County Market Lamb Tagging and Weighing Procedure for 2021

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Over the past year, the COVID-19 pandemic caused us to change the way we do many things in life that had become seemingly routine. Fortunately, in most cases, advances in technology have allowed many of these changes to take place almost seamlessly, and in many cases more efficiently than ever before. The annual Junior market lamb tagging, and the weigh-in for the MQP lambs in Fairfield County is an example.

Youth who plan to tag-in market lambs for the ‘live’ show at the Fair in October, and/or weigh in lambs for the Muscle Quality & Performance (MQP) contest will be asked to do three things prior to this year’s July 10 tagging day. By completing a brief, on-line survey, exhibitors are asked to tell us how many lambs they plan to bring to be tagged, the scrapie tag number for each lamb, and what time they would like to arrive with their lamb(s) to be tagged, and in the case of MQP lambs, also weighed.

Specifically, the step-by-step process includes . . .

1) The deadline for ownership and possession of a market lamb project in Fairfield County remains July 1.

2) Youth/families planning to weigh/tag-in market lambs for either the live show or MQP contest for the 2021 Fair must complete an on-line survey, found linked at http://go.osu.edu/taglambs, by July 2, 2021. Complete only one request survey per family.

3) When completing the survey you will be asked for the name of each individual lamb exhibitor in your family, the scrapie tag number for each market lamb, if your lamb(s) will be housed at a location other than your home, and you will select the time between 8 and 10:15 a.m. that you will arrive at the Fairgrounds with your lamb(s) for tagging on July 10.

This process is similar to what was employed for market beef tagging back in March. That process proved to be most efficient for the volunteers while they accomplished check-in, and also minimized the time livestock were required to wait in line while on livestock trailers.

For more information on this new tagging and weighing process for your 2021 Fairfield County Fair market lambs, contact Junior Fair Director Chuck Miller at: keywest100@att.net.

Teen Opportunity: Ohio 4-H Teen Leadership Council

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Applications and more information to be an Ohio 4-H Teen Leadership Council (TLC) member for the 2021-22 program year are now available online at: go.osu.edu/TLC. Please note: applications (and other materials, including letters of recommendation and program fees) are due (received, not postmarked!) by Friday, August 13, 2021.

Here are some highlights about the responsibilities of the council:

  • Age: Individuals must be 14-18 as of January 1 the year of application to apply for council member, committee member, committee chair, and officer.
  • Number of Meetings/Events: See the program structure outline on the application for specific numbers of meetings and events. Members are required to attend at least 75% of meetings and events.
    • Working Events: Members are required to work a number of statewide events at the Ohio State Fair, and elsewhere throughout the state (Farm Science Review, Legislative Luncheon, etc.).  Each level of membership differs in the number of events that are required.  See the program structure for more information.
  • Location of meetings: Meetings are typically held at the Ohio 4-H Center in Columbus, Ohio, but there are occasionally instances when they are held elsewhere due to events on Ohio State’s Campus.  In these instances, meetings may be held at locations close to campus.  Refer to the application for the locations for the 2021-2022 year.  Members will be notified prior to the location change.
  • Additional Opportunities: Depending on the level of involvement, council members have the option to apply for additional opportunities including the National 4-H Conference, Ohio 4-H Foundation Board, and other opportunities that may arise.

Young 4-H Alumni Opportunity: Ohio 4-H Foundation Board

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The Ohio 4-H Foundation Board has recently voted to add 3 young alumni positions to the Foundation Board beginning January 1, 2022.  The application for alumni to apply that is due by August 1, 2021. 2022 Young Alumni Application Final

The positions they are looking to fill are for 4-H alumni ages 21-30.  The board will be looking for diversity in all aspects for the 3 candidates they choose.  It will be important that these members have time to devote to a new alumni pen pal program, and can advocate from the young alumni perspective to the board.

We are very excited about this new opportunity to better engage young 4-H alumni!  Please let me know if you have any questions.

2021 Jr. Fair Sale Exhibitor Information

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UPDATE: The Sr. Fair Board has decided the 2021 Jr. Fair Sale will be “partial terminal.” Details of that decision are linked here.

Live animals will also return to the sale ring in 2021.

Thursday, October 14, 2021 – 5:00 p.m. – Feeder Creek Vet Show Arena
Sale Order: Market Beef, Dairy Products & Feeders, and Market Hogs

Friday, October 15, 2021 – 10:00 a.m. – Feeder Creek Vet Show Arena
Sale Order: Market Lambs, Poultry, Rabbits, Dairy Goat Products, and Market Goats

  1. All market animals except poultry will be packer bid and sold based on the Saturday/Sunday weigh-in weight except for MQP animals.
  2. The following minimum weights will be used to be eligible to sell individually: Market Steer/Heifer – 1100 pounds; Carcass Steers/Heifers – 1100 pounds; Market Hogs – 225 pounds; MQP Hogs – 225 pounds; Market Lambs – 100 pounds; MQP Lambs – 100 pounds; Market Goats – 50 pounds; Market Rabbits – 7.00 to 10.50 pounds total pen weight; Pen of Three Market Chickens – 12 pounds pen weight; Market Duck – 5 pounds.
  3. NOTE: in 2021 the Fairfield County Jr. Fair Sale will be partial terminal as indicated above.
    • With the exception of poultry which will go home as in the past, if you make the decision to take home your market animal in 2021, a ‘take home’ affidavit will be available soon that must be completed. Take Home affidavits are due at weigh-in at the Fair, no exceptions.
  4. The sales commissions that will be deducted from the Junior Fair Exhibitor’s checks are still being determined.
  5. 4-H and FFA Advisors can pick up their club/chapter buyer lists from the OSU Extension Office no earlier than Tuesday, October 19th, 2021.
  6. Exhibitors must submit a stamped thank you note to their advisor prior to November 1st. Advisors will be required to turn in their Buyer Checklist with verification of thank you notes sent in order to receive an exhibitor’s check.
  7. Checks will be available the first Saturday in December for the head Advisors of 4-H and FFA to pick-up. These advisors will be responsible for the distribution of checks in their club/chapter. If a check is not cashed within the specified 90 day period from the check date, there will be a Stop Payment Fee deduction imposed and a replacement check issued to the exhibitor. If checks are not picked up the first Saturday in December, they will be deposited back into the Sale Committee Fund.

Additional information:

  • Again this year every market turkey, duck or chicken will go through the sale either individually or in a group. Regardless there will not be a packer bid for poultry that exhibitors are required to accept. Similar to 2016 and prior, it will be the responsibility of the exhibitor to decide whether to process their birds and give them to their sale buyer or market them privately.

Sale Information . . . planning a return to ‘normal’ in 2021!

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Make plans now to show your support for our young livestock producers by attending the 2021 Fairfield County Junior Fair Livestock Sales. Exhibitors, note the sale will be ‘partial terminal‘ in 2021.

Thursday, October 14, 2021 – 5:00 p.m. – Feeder Creek Vet Show Arena, Fairfield County Fairgrounds, Lancaster, Ohio
Sale Order: Market Beef, Dairy Products & Feeders, and Market Hogs

Friday, October 15, 2021 – 10:00 a.m. – Feeder Creek Vet Show Arena, Fairfield County Fairgrounds, Lancaster, Ohio
Sale Order: Market Lambs, Poultry, Rabbits, Dairy Goat Products, and Market Goats

When you purchase an animal at the Junior Fair Livestock Sale, you are buying livestock raised by Fairfield County 4-H and FFA youth. Your purchase helps support the important educational programs of these two youth organizations. The success of the auction is up to you. You can help these FFA and 4-H members by participating at the 2021 Fairfield County Fair Junior Livestock Auction!

Summer Judging Sign Ups now available!

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The summer judging sign up link has been sent to all youth enrolled in projects that can be judged in July through 4-H Online.  The email will say from 4-H Online, so please be on the lookout – some email systems don’t like 4-H Online.  Youth and their families should have received an email (or multiple emails if they are judged on multiple days) with the link. 

Please contact Missy at 740-277-4631 if you have questions about summer judging sign ups!

OSF Poultry Judging and Avian Bowl: Entry Deadline – June 25

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A link to the 2021 Ohio State Fair 4-H Poultry Judging Contest Rules and Ohio State Fair 4-H Avian Contest Rules are posted on the Poultry Calendar of Events page at https://ohio4h.org/animalsciences/poultry/poultry-calendar-events  or www.poultry.osu.edu. The postmark deadline for entries for both the Poultry Judging Contest and Avian Bowl is Friday, June 25. Both contests will be held at the Department of Animal Sciences on Saturday, July 17.

 

Please be aware that although the state of Ohio is currently scheduled to lift several COVID-19 restrictions at the beginning of June, The Ohio State University, and therefore Ohio 4-H, may still mandate restrictions.

  • For the 2021 Avian Bowl and Poultry Judging Contests, unless announced otherwise, everyone (contestants, volunteers, advisors, family members, officials, etc.) will be required to wear a mask when in the contest rooms or walking around the building (to/from contest rooms, to/from the restroom, etc.).  All teams will have assigned areas to maintain social distancing where they may take their masks off when seated in their assigned area.
  • Failure to abide by these guidelines will result in the disqualification of the entire team.

We may also restrict the number of individuals allowed into the building per team (i.e. only 6 individuals per team (including the contestants, coach, and any family members).  This will depend on the number of teams per age division that register for the contest.  This information will be updated and emailed to coaches after registration is closed.

Summer Judging Scheduling – to be released Monday, June 21st

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Thank you for your patience as we work through the summer judging scheduling process.  The link to the judging sign-up will be released on Monday through 4-H online.  Those youth that we are hoping to see at summer judging will receive an email with the judging sign-up link.  Please view the Summer Judging Schedule to verify what day your project is judged prior to receiving the email.

Community Service Opportunity: Pet Heaven Cemetery in Reynoldsburg/Etna

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Read on if your 4-H Club is looking for a community service opportunity!

From Joe Downs, Cemetery Director at Pet Heaven Cemetery:

A brief explanation of who we are; Pet Heaven was purchased by The Basement Doctor in 2018, and is now one of their many sister companies. In the years prior to the purchase of the cemetery, it has been pretty neglected and overgrown. Since purchasing the cemetery in 2018, the employees at The Basement Doctor have been volunteering their time to mow, meet with families, dig graves, and even set monuments. Finally this year, they realized the cemetery has too much business to keep running on volunteer capacity, so they hired me. I am a former dog groomer and humane agent, as well as a current funeral director and crematory operator. I am now THE only person responsible for everything related to the cemetery.

Over the past few months I have contracted with casket suppliers, monument artists, and a lawncare team.

My final big task before re-opening the cemetery and accepting new burials; is landscaping!

Pet Heaven dates back to the 1950’s, and is home to hundreds of companions final resting places. Being that we have headstones from the 50’s and up, many families don’t make it out to care for the graves anymore, and I really want the grounds to be clean and welcoming before reopening.

Some of the biggest tasks I have include:

  • Washing off headstones with soap and water
  • Pulling weeds around headstones – we do not use a weed-eater around the headstones because the string contains metal reinforcement, and can damage the stone ☹
  • Leveling stones – Many of the headstones have settled into the ground over the years and shifted. Since our headstones are sized for pets, they are fairly small and lightweight. Most of the stones just need to be re-centered on their slabs, so the rows are in nice straight lines.
  • Gardening and landscaping – I have been reaching out to local nurseries and garden centers for donations of mulch and stone. Right now, the cemetery is just lawn and trees. I want to have a nice eye-catching entrance with bright flowers and dark mulch. We also have a large empty area in the center of the cemetery where I would like to add a “Pick-your-own flower garden” – growing a variety of flowers and greenery, offering a unique experience for visitors to pick their own arrangement of flowers to place on their loved ones grave.

I am reaching out to see if your 4H community would be interested in helping us complete any of these tasks. We are eager to open our doors again and start accepting burials for at-need families!

Everything necessary will be provided for our volunteers; gloves, sunscreen, glasses, brushes and cleaners etc…

I will also be installing a community board with local veterinary office info, coupons for pet supplies etc, and would be more than happy to add a big banner thanking the Ohio 4-H volunteers for making our cemetery beautiful!

***Pet Heaven as well as all of our sister companies have been completely covid free during the entire pandemic. While our employees are getting vaccinated, we are still enforcing a strict mask policy in our offices, vehicles, and common areas. Outdoor activities are mask optional as long as a 6-foot distance is still enforced, or members are from the same household.

Thank you so much for taking the time to read this email, and I look forward to hearing back from you! 😊

JOE DOWNS 

CEMETERY DIRECTOR

PET HEAVEN CEMETERY

ADDRESS: 13701 NATIONAL RD. SW, ETNA OH, 43068

SITES: www.PetHeavenOhio.com / Facebook/PetHeavenCemetery

PHONE: 740.927.3582

~ JDowns@PetHeavenOhio.com ~

Attention Teens and Young Alumni: Work at the 2021 Ohio State Fair!

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The Ohio State Fair is quickly approaching. In the past, each year, hundreds of thousands of our closest friends gathered to make memories and enjoy their fair favorites – food, the butter cow, a visit with Smokey Bear, a performance by the All-Ohio State Fair Band, or a run in the show ring. The 2021 Ohio State Fair will only feature livestock competitions and educational competition such as 4-H project judging.

Ohio 4-H is accepting applications for Educational Assistants for the 2021 Ohio State Fair. This is a paid position. The first day of work would be around July 25 and ending on August 9, 2021. Unfortunately, housing will not be available in the Rhodes Center Dormitory this year.

All applications MUST also be completed on-line in Workday. Applicants can enter the Student Job Board in Workday by completing the following steps:

  1. Log into Workday: https://www.myworkday.com/osu
  2. Enter the Careers Application on the home page.
  3. Select *Search Student Jobs*
  4. Search for the R17134 4-H Educational Assistant job.

Please share this information with those that you think might have an interest.