4-H Cloverbud Camp – Photos posted!

I love camp here, I love camp there, I love everywhere!

Thank you to all campers, camp counselors, and adult staff for an AMAZING Cloverbud Camp! It was WARM, SUNNY, and AWESOME to be in-person doing our thing! How blessed are we to have this amazing facility right here in Lancaster! A huge thanks to our friends at Alley Park. Photos from 4-H Cloverbud Camp are now posted on the Ohio State – Fairfield County 4-H Facebook Page!

Next up… Intermediate Camp starts next week!

Youth Opportunity: Virtual Youth Meat Judging Summer Series

As the American Meat Science Association (AMSA) explores opportunities to attract, develop, and connect meat science talent,  AMSA will be hosting our first virtual meat judging summer series (4 virtual meat judging contests) targeted to youth (3rd-12th grade, 4-H, FFA students, etc.). Participants will compete in divisions based on their upcoming grade: Youth (3rd-7th grade) and Senior Division (8th-12th grade). Divisions will be based on the grade the student is going into the upcoming academic year. The contest will consist of 6 placing classes, 2 questions classes, quality grading (6) and 40 Retail Identification. Participants will register via the AMSA website.

Contest Dates

  • June 23, 2021
  • July 7, 2021
  • July 21, 2021
  • August 4, 2021

Contests will be open for 48 hrs. and the participant must complete the contest and submit the electronic scantron within the contest time allotment.  Additional contest guidelines will be posted in the AMSA community platform in which the contests will be facilitated. 

Points

  • Contests will be scored, and results will be posted to judgingcard.com and the AMSA website the Monday following the contest.  All results across categories will be posted, but points will be earned on the overall ranking only. 
  • Count top 3 contest rank finishes.  Students placing 1 through 20 will receive rank points.  For example, 1st place will receive 20 points, 2nd = 19 points, etc.  The students will the five highest point totals will be eligible for awards.

Awards

Youth Division- Top five students receive awards

  • 1st- $500 scholarship, 2nd- $250, 3rd- $100, 4th- $100, 5th- $50; Top 5 receive a complimentary AMSA Youth Membership

Senior Division- Top five students receive awards

  • 1st- 1,500 scholarship, 2nd- $1,000 scholarship, 3rd- $750 scholarship, 4th- $500 scholarship, 5th- $250 scholarship; Top 5 receive a complimentary AMSA Youth Membership

Registration – To register for the virtual clinics/ contests:

  • Click here to register!
  • Registration Fee: $100 per participant
  • Registration Fee Includes: 4 Contest Registrations, Electronic Scantrons, and Summer Series T-Shirt

Contest Eligibility:

  • Participants should be in 3rd-12th grade.
  • Participating in any of these contests does not impact eligibility for the in person National 4-H Contest.

Virtual 4H/FFA Meat Judging (meatscience.org)

If you have any additional questions please email lfrenzel@meatscience.org

Skillathon Requirement Info for 4-H/FFA Junior Fair Exhibitors (Alpacas/Llamas, Beef, Dairy Cattle, Dogs, Goats, Horses, Poultry, Rabbits, Sheep, Swine)

Continuing from 2020, the Fairfield County Junior Fair will require the completion of at least one Skillathon per 4-H/FFA exhibitor in order to show at 2021 Fairfield County Junior Fair for all beef, dairy, goat, poultry, rabbit (except Pet Rabbits), sheep, swine, dog, horse, alpaca/llama projects. This requirement is included on page 14 of the 2021 4-H Member Handbook. Fairfield County Skillathons may include (but are not limited to) animal anatomy/body parts, breeding and reproduction, feeds and nutrition, current events, diseases and animal health, equipment ID, feed ID, Quality Assurance, breeds, marketing, meats, and recordkeeping.

Here are options to meet this county requirement:

1. Participate in the Fairfield County Skillathon event to be held September 11th and 12th at the Fairfield County Fairgrounds. Details will be forthcoming…but save the dates now.
  • Fairfield County youth interested in competing for any Fairfield County Premier Exhibitor Award must complete the Skillathon in each respective specie they play to compete in.
  • Example: Exhibitor wishes to compete for Swine Premier Exhibitor Award and Poultry Premier Exhibitor Award must complete both the swine and poultry Fairfield County Skillathons on either September 11th or 12th.
2. Participate in the Ohio State Fair Virtual Skillathon.
  • Youth do not have to be exhibitors in the OSF to participate.
  • Registration is due June 14th by visiting: www.go.osu.edu/skillathonregistration
  • Youth do not have to be exhibitors at the OSF to participate.
  • OSF Youth participating in the Outstanding Breeding Exhibitor must register and complete the OSF Virtual Skillathon to be eligible for this award.
  • Exhibitors must have their own unique email address to create a log-in to access the online skillathon.
3. Participate in the Ohio State Fair In-Person Skillathon.
4. None of these options work? Exhibitors can schedule to take a written test with the Fairfield County Senior Fair Office.
 
Details including dates for both virtual/in-person options on the two options from the Ohio State Fair can be found here: https://ohio4h.org/animalsciences/ohio-youth-skillathons
please let Leslie Cooksey (cooksey.25@osu.edu) know if you have additional questions.

4-H Craft, and Vendor Show: VENDORS WANTED for Saturday, July 31st!

The Fairfield County 4-H Advisory Committee will host a Craft and Vendor Show on Saturday, July 31st, 2021 from 9:00am to 3:00pm to raise money for the county program. The event, which will be held at the Fairfield County Fairgrounds, 157 E Fair Ave, Lancaster, OH, in the Ed Sands Building will help raise funds for county activities like summer camp, state trips, awards, and so much more.

This is a great way to shop locally and support the county 4-H program. Parking and admission is free for the event. For more information about the Fairfield County 4-H program, visit fairfield.osu.edu. If you are a vendor who would like to participate in the show, please contact 4-H Advisory Committee Treasurer, Natalyn Wymer, at landisnatalyn@gmail.com to request an application and more information.

Link to Vendor Application: Fairfield County 4-H Vendor Sale Contract 2021.06.09

 

See You at Camp!

  • Registration for camp is now closed for all Fairfield County 4-H Camps. We are looking forward to seeing all of our campers!
  • Cloverbud Camp is June 5th at Alley Park – All Campers should have received a confirmation email and details about camp
  • Intermediate Camp (Ages 11-14) is June 15-17 at Alley Park – All Campers should have received a confirmation email and details about camp
  • Junior Camp (Ages 8-10) is June 29-July 1 at Alley Park – All Campers should have received a confirmation email and details about camp
  • If you have questions prior to arriving to camp, please call our office at 740-653-5419!

Ohio Youth Skillathons (Virtual and In-Person Sessions)

Ohio Youth Skillathon information for VIRTUAL and IN-PERSON sessions is now online at: https://ohio4h.org/animalsciences/ohio-youth-skillathons

VIRTUAL Skillathon Registration is due by JUNE 14th, 2021!

A few important notes:

  • Those exhibiting at OSF and want to be eligible for Outstanding Market Exhibitor (OME) awards MUST participate at the IN-PERSON skillathons at the state fair
  • Those exhibiting at OSF and want to be eligible for Outstanding Breeding Exhibitor (OBE) awards MUST participate in the VIRTUAL skillathons online

Countywide Quality Assurance Opportunity: Thursday, June 10th (registration is required)

Countywide Quality Assurance opportunity: Thursday, June 10th at 7:00 p.m. at the Ed Sands Building at the Fairfield County Fairgrounds. Registration is required and will be limited to 50 participants. Register here: https://osu.az1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_0P19iWcND165rpQ

For more information about 2021 Quality Assurance options, click here.

Ohio 4-H COVID-19 Update as of June 1st, 2021

Ohio 4-H and OSU Extension have made updates as of June 1st, 2021 to our Ohio 4-H Planning Guide for In-Person Meetings and Events. Please know that there are significant updates and this is a must read!

Overview of updates are included below, but please be sure to read the entire Ohio 4-H Planning Guide for In-Person Meetings and Events.

URGENT: Face Masks Update

Effective immediately, June 1, 2021, we have been given university approval to follow local guidance for our statewide campuses with regard to masks.

What this means for OSU Extension, in general:

  • Facemasks are not required to be worn inside or outside at 4-H camp (day or overnight) for ALL employees AND clientele
  • Facemasks are not required to be worn inside or outside at any OSU Extension (including 4-H non-camp) programs and activities for ALL employees AND clientele
  • Face masks are not required to be worn inside or outside at county offices for ALL employees AND clientele
    • Face masks are strongly recommended for those who are not yet fully vaccinated (strongly recommended means the individual chooses to wear a mask or not)

All other health and safety guidance is still in effect, such as physical distancing and sanitizing.

Local guidance (i.e., local health department, local landlord or building requirements, etc.) prevails, if there are more stringent requirements.

You can  include this message in your pre-meeting/event/program communications with clientele –
Individuals and/or family members may not attend if they or anyone living their household is experiencing any of the following symptoms: fever, cough, shortness of breath, loss of sense of taste or smell, or as been directly exposed (confirmed or suspected) to COVID-19 if they are not fully vaccinated.

COVID-19 vaccinations are our best current protection against infection and a fatal outcome. Fully vaccinated individuals are not required to wear a face mask, however we strongly recommend eligible, but unvaccinated, individuals to continue to properly wear a face mask when social distancing cannot be maintained.

A reminder: As the case has been to date, know that these guidelines may be modified at any time if conditions change, and/or if the guidance is not followed, and/or if a local health department issues more stringent requirements.

4-H Pledge and Creed Speaking Event: Registration deadline extended through June 7th

Speak out and get involved! Improve your public speaking skills and raise awareness of health and safety topics. The Fairfield County Health & Safety Speaking Event will be Wednesday, June 9th, 2021 starting at 1:00 p.m. at the Ag Center. Any 4-H or Cloverbud member can participate. The following events will take place:

  • Junior and Senior Individual Health & Safety Speaking Events
  • Health & Safety Speaking Team Event
  • 4-H Creed Speaking Event
  • 4-H Pledge Speaking Event (Cloverbuds Only)

Earn a chance to also participate in the Ohio State Fair with the Health & Safety events!

Registration HAS BEEN EXTENDED THROUGH June 7th at 4:00 p.m. by calling the Extension Office at 740-653-5419. For questions, contact Leslie Cooksey at cooksey.25@osu.edu.