Month: August 2023

Poultry Exhibitors – Read this to prepare for Skillathon!

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2023 Skillathons will include 4 stations – Project Interview, Breeds, Parts, and Feed Identification.

Unfortunately, there is no resource book available for Poultry. Poultry Resources are available here online: https://ohio4h.org/poultry#Resources

FFA Exhibitors are encouraged to check with their FFA Chapter to see if Skillathon Kits or 4-H Resource Books are available to study as many chapters do have these items as classroom resources.

Project Record Books for 4-H and FFA should be for the CURRENT project year and as up to date as possible on Skillathon day. Project Books will be reviewed on Skillathon days. They will be returned to you at the fair during your specie’s show.

Additionally, regarding feed identification, we have prepared this document to help you study: Poultry Feed One Sheet. These are all ingredients commonly found in poultry feed.

Rabbit Exhibitors – Read this to prepare for Skillathon!

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2023 Skillathons will include 4 stations – Project Interview, Breeds, Parts, and Feed Identification. All information on breeds, parts, and feeds is available in your 4-H Rabbit Resource Book.

FFA Exhibitors are encouraged to check with their FFA Chapter to see if Skillathon or 4-H Resource Books are available to study as many chapters do have these items as classroom resources. If not, 4-H Resource Books are available for purchase from the OSU Extension Office year round and can be used multiple years by all family members.

Project Record Books for 4-H and FFA should be for the CURRENT project year and as up to date as possible on Skillathon day. Project Books will be reviewed on Skillathon days. They will be returned to you at the fair during your specie’s show.

4-H Rabbit Exhibitors: With the revision of the 4-H Rabbit Project and Record book, there is now a required online component.  This component, or focus questions, is accessible at go.osu.edu/4hrabbitresources.  Each year will have its own unique topics of interest, medication label, and treatment record scenario.  Attached please find 2023 Rabbit Focus Questions.  Please use these when completing your Rabbit Project and Record Book.

Additionally, with limited resources in the 4-H Rabbit Resource Book regarding feed identification, we have prepared this document to help you study: Rabbit Feed Identification One Sheet These are all ingredients commonly found in rabbit feed even though may often feed a form of pellet to your rabbits.

Sheep Exhibitors – Read this to prepare for Skillathon!

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2023 Skillathons will include 4 stations – Project Interview, Breeds, Parts, and Feed Identification. All information on breeds, parts, and feeds is available in your 4-H Sheep Resource Book.

FFA Exhibitors are encouraged to check with their FFA Chapter to see if Skillathon or 4-H Resource Books are available to study as many chapters do have these items as classroom resources. If not, 4-H Resource Books are available for purchase from the OSU Extension Office year round and can be used multiple years by all family members.

Project Record Books for 4-H and FFA should be for the CURRENT project year and as up to date as possible on Skillathon day. Project Books will be reviewed on Skillathon days. They will be returned to you at the fair during your specie’s show.

We look forward to seeing your completed book at Skillathon.

Meat Doe/Market Goat Exhibitors – Read this to prepare for Skillathon!

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2023 Skillathons will include 4 stations – Project Interview, Breeds, Parts, and Feed Identification. All information on breeds, parts, and feeds is available in your 4-H Goat Resource Book.

FFA Exhibitors are encouraged to check with their FFA Chapter to see if Skillathon or 4-H Resource Books are available to study as many chapters do have these items as classroom resources. If not, 4-H Resource Books are available for purchase from the OSU Extension Office year round and can be used multiple years by all family members.

Project Record Books for 4-H and FFA should be for the CURRENT project year and as up to date as possible on Skillathon day. Project Books will be reviewed on Skillathon days. They will be returned to you at the fair during your specie’s show.

We look forward to seeing your completed book at Skillathon.

Swine Exhibitors – Read this to prepare for Skillathon!

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2023 Skillathons will include 4 stations – Project Interview, Breeds, Parts, and Feed Identification. All information on breeds, parts, and feeds is available in your 4-H Swine Resource Book.

FFA Exhibitors are encouraged to check with their FFA Chapter to see if Skillathon or 4-H Resource Books are available to study as many chapters do have these items as classroom resources. If not, 4-H Resource Books are available for purchase from the OSU Extension Office year round and can be used multiple years by all family members.

Project Record Books for 4-H and FFA should be for the CURRENT project year and as up to date as possible on Skillathon day. Project Books will be reviewed on Skillathon days. They will be returned to you at the fair during your specie’s show.

We look forward to seeing your completed book at Skillathon.

Beef Cattle Exhibitors: Read this to prepare for Skillathon!

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2023 Skillathons will include 4 stations – Project Interview, Breeds, Parts, and Feed Identification. All information on breeds, parts, and feeds is available in your 4-H Beef Resource Book.

FFA Exhibitors are encouraged to check with their FFA Chapter to see if Skillathon or 4-H Resource Books are available to study as many chapters do have these items as classroom resources. If not, 4-H Resource Books are available for purchase from the OSU Extension Office year round and can be used multiple years by all family members.

Project Record Books for 4-H and FFA should be for the CURRENT project year and as up to date as possible on Skillathon day. Project Books will be reviewed on Skillathon days. They will be returned to you at the fair during your specie’s show.

We look forward to seeing your completed book at Skillathon.

Dairy Cattle Exhibitors – Read this to prepare for Skillathon!

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2023 Skillathons will include 4 stations – Project Interview, Breeds, Parts, and Feed Identification. All information on breeds, parts, and feeds is available in your 4-H Dairy Resource Book. And for Dairy Beef Feeders, this also is available in the 4-H Beef Resource Book. Dairy Beef Feeder exhibitors will have the option to identify parts on the dairy or beef posters. Breeds will cover dairy cattle only.

FFA Exhibitors are encouraged to check with their FFA Chapter to see if Skillathon or 4-H Resource Books are available to study as many chapters do have these items as classroom resources. If not, 4-H Resource Books are available for purchase from the OSU Extension Office year round and can be used multiple years by all family members.

127 CA/127CO/127He – 4-H Dairy Calf/Cow/Heifer Exhibitors: With the revision of the 4-H Dairy Cattle Project and Record book, there is now a required online component.  This component, or focus questions, is accessible at go.osu.edu/4hdairyresources.  Each year will have its own unique topics of interest, medication label, and treatment record scenario.  Attached please find 2023 Dairy Cattle Focus Questions.  Please use these when completing your Dairy Project and Record Book.

Project Record Books for 4-H and FFA should be for the CURRENT project year and as up to date as possible on Skillathon day. Project Books will be reviewed on Skillathon days. They will be returned to you at the fair during your specie’s show.

We look forward to seeing your completed book at Skillathon.

Are you scheduled for Skillathons?

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4-H and FFA exhibitors should schedule an appointment time for all Skillathons they wish to complete. Click here to schedule for each Skillathon you wish to participate in: http://go.osu.edu/signup4skillathon

Please note that Skillathon times are APPROXIMATE so that we can keep kids flowing through the event and an even pace. Once a member STARTS through the Skillathon line, they should be able to complete it in about 20-30 minutes.

Exhibitors need to abide to their appointment times so that we do not have a bottleneck effect with the lines. If this happens, everyone will get behind and wait much longer than anticipated.

To confirm or change appointment times, please contact Stacy Hicks at hicks.686@osu.edu.

Thanks!

 

Skillathons are Mandatory for Livestock/Horses/Dogs for the 2023 Fairfield County Junior Fair – Read more here!

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Skillathons are events for youth to show what they know about a species and to be recognized for their knowledge and skills. The Fairfield County Junior Fair requires the completion of at least one Skillathon per 4-H/FFA exhibitor in order to show at 2023 Fairfield County Junior Fair for all beef, dairy, goat, poultry, rabbit (except pet rabbits), sheep, swine, dog, horse, and alpaca/llama projects. 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. 2023 Fairfield County Skillathons will include breeds, parts, feed identification, a completed project/record book and an interview. 

Here are options to meet this Junior Fair requirement:

1. Participate in a Fairfield County Skillathon event to be held September 9th and 24th at the Fairfield County Fairgrounds. 

  • Fairfield County youth interested in competing for any Fairfield County Premier Exhibitor Award must complete the COUNTY Skillathon in eachrespective 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 September 9th, (swine) and 24th (poultry).
    • For more information about Premier Exhibitor Contests, see the next page.
  • Youth will be asked to complete a tiebreaker question at Skillathon – this will be used to break ties for Premier Exhibitor and/or Skillathon if needed.
  • Skillathon Species for Saturday, September 9th from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. includes Beef, Dairy Beef, Swine, Sheep, Meat Goats, Dairy Cattle.
  • Skillathon Species for Sunday, September 24th from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. includes Pygmy Goats, Dairy Goats, Horses, Alpacas/Llamas, Poultry, Rabbits.
  • Dog Exhibitors will complete Skillathon at Dog Check-In Day on Saturday, August 26th from 10 a.m. – 12 p.m.
  • Fairfield County Skillathons will take place in the Ed Sands Building at the Fairfield County Fairgrounds.
  • Scheduling for Skillathon will open in August.
  • Click here to schedule for each Skillathon you wish to participate in: http://go.osu.edu/signup4skillathon.
  • Top 20% Junior and Senior Skillathon Awards will be awarded at the fair.

2. Participate in the Ohio State Fair Virtual Skillathon.

  • Ohio State Fair Virtual Skillathons are open May 30th through September 1
  • To complete an Ohio State Fair Virtual Skillathon, visit: http://go.osu.edu/osfskillathon.
  • Youth do not have to be exhibitors at the Ohio State Fair to participate.
  • Fairfield County youth must complete Ohio State Fair Virtual Skillathon by September 1st if they choose this option to meet the county Skillathon requirement.

3. Participate in the Ohio State Fair In-Person Skillathon.

  • Registration takes place on the day event at the Ohio State Fair.
  • Youth do not have to be exhibitors at the Ohio State Fair to participate.
  • For in-person Ohio State Fair Skillathon information, dates and times, visit: http://go.osu.edu/osfskillathon.

4. Makeup Skillathon

  • The makeup Skillathon will take place on Monday, September 25th (by appointment) from 4-8 p.m. at the OSU Extension Office.
  • Exhibitors can schedule to take a makeup Skillathon by calling the OSU Extension Office at 740-653-5419.
  • Youth completing the makeup Skillathon will not be eligible for the Premier Exhibitor Contest in that specie.
  • If youth need to complete the makeup Skillathon option, they will need to have all 4-H/FFA record books turned into the OSU Extension Office by 4:00 p.m. on Friday, September 22nd so that project book judges can review them on the second Skillathon day (September 24th).

This is printed on pages 21-22 of the 2023 Junior Fair Book.

LAST CALL – Ohio State Fair VIRTUAL Skillathon Option must be completed by 11:59 p.m. on September 1st

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As previously shared, participation in the Ohio State Fair Virtual Skillathons will be meet the 2023 Fairfield County Junior Fair Skillathon requirement. Please note that if a member chooses either of these options, project record books will need to be completed and turned into the OSU Extension Office by Friday, September 22nd so that they can be reviewed. If participating in the Ohio State Fair VIRTUAL Skillathon, members must have completed this by 11:59 p.m. on Friday, September 1st.

Individuals completing the virtual OSF Skillathons will receive their score/certificate at the completion of their Skillathon. Please screenshot/print this certificate for your records.

Here is a link to the virtual Skillathon option:

Species available for Virtual Skillathon include beef, cavy, dairy, dog, goat, horse, llama/alpaca, poultry, rabbit, sheep, and swine.

Virtual Skillathons can be completed even if you plan to attend the in-person Skillathon on September 9th and/or September 24th. They are great for practicing!!!

If an exhibitor chooses the virtual or in-person Ohio State Fair Skillathons OR county makeup Skillathon on September 25th, they will not be eligible for Premier Exhibitor.