Author: Leslie Cooksey

Current HS Seniors – please complete the Ohio 4-H Pathways to the Future Survey by October 31st

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A reminder email will be sent to families with current 4-H members who are seniors in high school later today encouraging participation. The survey closes on October 31, and your input is vital to helping us support their post-secondary goals and strengthen our collaboration with the Ohio State CFAES Admissions Team.

Survey Link: https://go.osu.edu/postsecondaryplans

Thank you again for your continued support in helping our 4-H youth prepare for their futures!

Extension Publishing- ATV Safety, Ready, Set, Mow!, and Ohio 4-H Stickers

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Fall is here. Before your youth ride their ATVs under the changing leaves, remind them that safety is a priority. And yes, there’s a 4-H project for that!  

ATV Safety (555) is appropriate for all age levels. For more information about ATV Safety and the Ready, Set, Mow! project, this National 4-H Meet the Author webinar is always available at go.osu.edu/ATVmta. 

And, as the new 4-H year begins, be sure to pick up some sets of 4-H stickers to award to your favorite members and volunteers! ATV Safety, Ready Set Mow, and 4-H stickers are available from extensionpubs.osu.edu. 

Junior Fair Board presents – Cleanest Pen Award!

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The Junior Fair Board would like to remind all exhibitors to keep their animals fed and watered during fair week AND to clean up pens/cages throughout each day! To recognize those who have the cleanest pen, one winner per barn, per day will be selected! Winners will be announced and posted on the door of the Junior Fair Office daily. Prizes can be picked up in the Junior Fair Awards.

Thank You Note Station at Fair

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Thank You Note Station: Be sure to visit the Thank You Note Station housed in the 4-H Display Barn during the week of the Fairfield County Fair. Blank Thank You notes will available each day at the station, and all finished notes that are dropped off will be mailed.

Thank You Notes: We need to make sure our sponsors receive thanks and appreciation for supporting Fairfield County’s youth! This includes all youth receiving awards at Summerfest, as well as Junior Fair Exhibitors who will be receiving awards at fair. Please make sure thank you notes are sent to the award sponsors – even if it’s just a rosette or ribbon. Each rosette and trophy will have the sponsor’s name and address attached. Unfortunately, we have had sponsors stop donating for fair awards because they did not receive a thank you note. If a member is not sure of their sponsor for an award received at Summerfest or at the fair, check out the Awards Portion of the Junior Fair Book as it gives the name of the sponsor. If you are not able to find an address, please contact the OSU Extension Office and we can help you find it! Also encourage youth to include information about their project, award received, etc. as the sponsors enjoy reading this information. Sponsors also love pictures if members have any of their project they would like to share.

Thanks to 4-H Endowment Fund (OSU interest proceeds) for covering the cost of postage for the Thank You Note Station!

Teen Opportunity: Applications are now open for Ohio 4-H Delegates to the 2026 National 4-H Conference!

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Any 4-H member in Ohio ages *14-18 is able to apply by completing the Qualtrics survey linked below in this email.

Basic Information:

  • National 4-H Conference is specifically focused on civic engagement, civic education, and personal development. Delegates arrive ready to connect, learn, engage, lead, and impact their communities, their nation, and their world. In 2026, National 4-H Conference takes place in Washington, D.C., April 9-15, 2026 (Ohio delegates arrive a day early on April 9. Conference begins April 10).
  • Interested Ohio 4-H members must complete an application via Qualtrics (linked at bottom) by December 1 at 11:59 p.m. *Applicants must be 15-18 as of January 1, 2026, and currently enrolled as an Ohio 4-H member in 2026.
  • After an application is received, the State 4-H Office will request a referral from county 4-H professional for the respective candidate.
  • A selection board of advisors, 4-H educators, and past attendees will review applications and conduct interviews, as needed.
  • Those selected will be expected to fully engage in all pre-conference and conference activities and adhere to all National 4-H guidelines, complete all required work as a result of conference participation, and share knowledge gained with Ohio 4-H upon their return.
  • More information about the opportunity can be found on the website: https://go.osu.edu/N4HC

See the attached document for the example application (2026 National 4-H Conference Delegate Application), and then be sure to have interested members submit an application via Qualtrics: https://go.osu.edu/n4hcapp

9 Finalists Named for 2025 Fairfield County Fair Queen

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Nine Fairfield County teens are competing for the title of 2025 Fairfield County Junior Fair Queen for the fair which runs Oct. 5-11.

The young women, all of whom participate in Fairfield County FFA Chapters and/or 4-H Clubs, were interviewed on Sept. 17, by a panel of three community leaders who evaluated the candidates on a variety of factors including: 4 H/FFA activities, school and community activities and poise.

The 2025 Queen will be crowned along with two attendants by the 2024 Fairfield County Jr. Fair Queen Sophia Preston at 7 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 5 during the Fairfield County Junior Fair Panorama.

The finalists are:

  • Raelyn Bader, 17, daughter of Jeff Bader and Julia Dymek. She attends Liberty Union High School and is a member of the Cloverleaf Livestock 4-H Club and Liberty Union FFA.
  • Isabella Busey, 16, daughter of Jocelyn Busey. She attends Canal Winchester High School and is a member of the Lithopolis Livestock 4-H Club.
  • Addie Dennis, 16, daughter of Brad and Michelle “Shelly” Dennis. She attends Northern Local Schools and Mid-East CTC. She is a member of Amanda Work and Win 4-H Club and Sheridan High School FFA.
  • Ashley Orth, 16, daughter of Allan and Troi Orth. She attends Bloom-Carroll High School and is a member of Everything Under the Sun 4-H Club and the Bloom-Carroll FFA Chapter.
  • Robyn Rex, 18, daughter of Dia Fleming-Rex and Jeremy Rex. She is a graduate of Pickerington High School and Eastland Career Center and will attend the Ohio State University. She is a member of the Awesome Animals 4-H Club.
  • Alexia Scarberry, 16, daughter of Stephanie and Scott Scarberry. She attends Fairfield Career Center and is a member of the Fairfield Career Center FFA Chapter.
  • Brooklyn Starner, 18, daughter of John and Valerie Starner. She is a graduate of Ohdela Online Schools and will attend Ohio University. She is a member of the Carroll Country 4-H Club.
  • Kaitlyn Stonerock, 16, daughter of Eileen and John Stonerock. She attends Bloom-Carroll High School and is a member of Carroll Country 4-H Club, Lithopolis Livestock 4-H Club and Bloom-Carroll FFA.
  • Reagan Thomas, 18, daughter of Andrew and Rachel Thomas. She is a graduate of Liberty Union High School and attends Ohio University. She is a member of Camelids Unlimited 4-H Club and Liberty Union FFA.

Fairfield Co. Junior Fair Dairy Cattle Judging Contest – Preregister NOW by Sunday at NOON

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The Dairy Cattle Judging Contest will be held on Monday, October 6th with registration beginning at 6:00 p.m. and the contest will begin at 6:30 p.m. in Round Cattle Barn Show Arena. We will be having youth sign-up online using the QR code below prior to the contest so that we can help prep judging cards in advance. Additionally, youth may sign up at: http://go.osu.edu/fcdairyjudging. Dairy Judging raw scores will be used for Premier Exhibitor scoring. All Junior Fair exhibitors are welcome to participate!

Stay Connected at Fair – Junior Fair Department Social Media Pages

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Junior Fair Horses

  • Join Remind101 using code @jrhorse25 (NEW CODE FOR 2025)

Junior Fair Swine

Junior Fair Meat/Market Goats

Junior Fair Beef

Junior Fair Poultry

Junior Fair Rabbits

  • Facebook Group: Fairfield County Junior Fair Rabbit Show
  • Remind101 – Market Rabbits: join using code @bb67gg3 (NEW CODE FOR 2025)
  • Remind101 – Breeding Rabbits: join using code @2025bree (NEW CODE FOR 2025)

Junior Fair Pygmy Goats

Livestock Exhibitors: Back Tag Pickup Info

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Exhibitor back tags will be available for pickup starting on Saturday, October 4, 2025, from your respective Junior Fair Show Committees during check-ins/weigh-ins. No back tags will be distributed in the Junior Fair Office this year. If you show multiple species, the same exhibitor number will be used for each specie.

Panorama Invitations – Check Your Email!!

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Hello 4-H & FFA Members,

Panorama invitations were emailed Friday, September 26th. The following members will be recognized during the 2025 Junior Fair Panorama:

  • Junior Fair Queen Finalists
  • Junior Fair Commodity Ambassadors/Representatives
  • 2025 Outstanding 4-Hers
  • 2025 FFA American Degree Recipients
  • 2025 FFA State Degree Recipients
  • State Top 4 FFA Proficiency Award winners from each chapter

We look forward to having you be a special part of the 2025 Junior Fair Panorama on Saturday, October 4th. The show begins at 7:00 p.m. in the Feeder Creek Show Arena, north of the racetrack. Please find your official invitation with further details. If you have any questions or did not receive the invitation, please reach out to Stacy Hicks at 740-653-5419..