Skillathons are Mandatory for Livestock/Horses/Dogs for the 2024 Fairfield County Junior Fair – Read more here!

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 2024 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. 2024 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 7^th and 22^nd 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 7^th, (swine) and 22^nd (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 7^th from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. includes Beef, Dairy Beef, Swine, Sheep, Meat Goats, Dairy Cattle.
  • Skillathon Species for Sunday, September 22^nd from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. includes Pygmy Goats, Dairy Goats, Horses, Alpacas/Llamas, Poultry, Rabbits, Dogs.
  • 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 27^th 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 1^st 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 23^rd, 2024 (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 20^th, 2024 so that project book judges can review them on the second Skillathon day (September 22^nd, 2024).