Author: Leslie Cooksey

Junior Market Beef Weigh-in is set for Saturday, March 3, 2018

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It’s that time of year again when local youth officially begin the first livestock project that’s destined for the County Fair!

4-H and FFA youth who plan to exhibit a finished market beef animal in the 2018 Fairfield County Junior Market Beef Show must have their animals weighed in, tagged, and nose printed on Saturday, March 3rd at the Fairfield Cattle Company beginning at 8:30 a.m. The Fairfield Cattle Company is in Canal Winchester located on Bowen Road approximately ½ mile north of S.R. 33. Weigh-in will conclude at 11 a.m. that day, or whenever the animals in line at that time have been processed.

Exhibitors are also reminded that both steers and heifers are eligible to be exhibited as finished market beef animals. If five or more market heifers arrive and weigh-in at the Fair in October, a separate class for those heifers will be created. If less than five heifers are entered, they will be exhibited within their appropriate weight class along with market steers.

Again this year, to be eligible for the County Bred, Born and Raised (B,B & R) market beef class, the breeder and owner who sold the calf to the exhibitor must be a Fairfield County Cattlemen’s Association (FCCA) member. If the exhibitor has bred and raised their own calf, the exhibitor or their family must be FCCA members to be eligible. The exhibitor must present a signed B,B & R form at weigh-in on March 3. Find details on becoming an FCCA member linked here.

Following are a few additional reminders regarding beef projects:

  • Any youth exhibiting a beef animal must complete Quality Assurance (QA) by the June 30, 2018 deadline for Fairfield County, unless they have met the testing out requirements (contact OSU Extension at 740-652-7260 for details on testing out). There are 3 different ways to accomplish the required QA training. Those ways include attending a QA session hosted by a local 4-H club or FFA Chapter, attending one of the local county-wide QA trainings (May 6 and May 19 at the Fairgrounds), or by attending an approved QA training held in another county or location such as a BEST show or Ohio Beef Expo. If attending an out of county QA event the youth must receive pre-approval from the Fairfield County 4-H Educator, and “proof of attendance” provided by that event sponsor must be presented to the Fairfield County Extension office by the June 30 deadline.
  • A ‘Housing Form’ must be completed by any exhibitor that houses their project animal(s) on property other than where they reside. This form is due at weigh-in for market animals and must be turned in at that time, and is due to the Sr Fair office by July 1 for breeding beef, and by August 15 for feeder calves, also to the Sr. Fair office.
  • Commercial or ‘non-registered’ breeding beef projects must have nose prints submitted to the Senior Fair office on the Fairgrounds by July 15, 2018.
  • Exhibitors wishing to have a duplicate copy of the weigh-in form for their own records should bring two copies of the original with them on March 4 since there is not a copy machine available at the weigh-in site that day.
  • All animals must be free of any/all drugs on Fair weigh-in day in October.

Again this year the Jr Beef Show will be on Tuesday of the Fair, October 9, beginning at 10 a.m.

For additional information regarding the Jr Beef Show at the 2018 Fairfield County Fair, the new Junior Fair Beef rule book is linked here. Also, beef exhibitors should review the General Rules when they become available and posted on-line later, or they will also be found in the hard copy of the Junior Fair Rule Book when it is published.

Delta Theta Sigma Scholarship Program

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The alumni and active members of Delta Theta Sigma fraternity on the Columbus campus of The Ohio State University are proud to offer scholarships for incoming male freshmen students fall semester regardless of major. Over $10,000 will be offered in this program. Delta Theta Sigma is a professional agricultural fraternity. For more information and to fill out an application go to http://dtsalpha.com. Deadline is March 20, 2018.

Ohio FFA Foundation Scholarships – Application due 3/13/2018

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This year the Ohio FFA Foundation is awarding more than $27,000 in scholarships to current FFA members through three different scholarship funds. One application for three scholarship opportunities!

  • Ohio State Fair Scholarship: Participation in the Ohio State Fair during the summer is required. This includes livestock showing and/or judging, sanctioned 4-H/FFA project judging, and participating in the livestock skillathon. Be prepared to list in detail how you have participated at the Ohio State Fair including areas of participation and year.
  • Growing America’s Farmer Scholarship: Recipient must be going into production agriculture. Planning to “go farm”.
  • HBPA Scholarship: This year, $25,000 in scholarships will be awarded through the Ohio FFA HBPA Scholarship program. Twenty-five (25) $1,000 scholarships will be awarded.

The application includes three essay questions (500 word maximum for each). Please have your essay responses prepared in another document to copy into the application as you cannot save your work and return later.

Applications are due March 13, 2018 and winners will be notified by April 20, 2018.

Click here to apply and to see the questions and other eligibility requirements.

Remember only one application is needed per student. When completing the application, you can select which scholarships you would like to apply for.

Questions can be directed to the Ohio FFA Foundation office at kmann@ohioffa.org.

Ohio 4-H Youth Welding Workshops

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A youth welding workshop will be held at The Ohio State University in Columbus on April 14th, 2018 from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. An informational flyer and registration form is available here: Youth Welding Workshop 2018

Cost to attend is $90.00 and registration is limited to the first 20 participants for each type of welding, oxy, and arc. Registration is due by March 30, 2018.

Last Call: Registration for youth to attend Horse Bowl/Judging Clinic is DUE!

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For all horse members who are interested in participating in the State 4-H Horse Bowl, Horse Judging Team, or Hippology Team, please plan to attend the Horse Bowl/Judging Clinic on Saturday, February 24, 2018 in Columbus.  lease text Janna Gugliemotto 614-783-9959 or email jannagugs@att.net by WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 7th if you plan to attend the clinic. There is a $10.00 fee per person which is used to cover pizza that is provided for lunch.

See link for clinic details: https://ohio4h.org/events/state-4-h-horse-hippologyjudginghorse-bowl-clinic

Late registration of $15.00 will be accepted after February 10th for an extra fee. No registration will be accepted after February 15th.

Tar Hollow Summer Camp Staff Applications – NOW AVAILABLE and due SOON!

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Interested in sharing the 2018 camp experience with youth and volunteers from Athens, Fairfield, Pickaway, and Ross counties?

Consider joining our camp staff! Application links with deadlines are posted here:

2018 Tar Hollow Camp Staff Application due February 12th, 2018. Staff positions available for Camp Manager, Assistant Camp Manager, Canteen Director/Activity Assistant, Recreation Director, Waterfront Director/Canteen Helper, Lifeguards/Canteen Helpers, Craft Director/Canteen Helper, Naturalist/Canteen Helper.

All positions are subject to changes and modifications after interviews. All positions will be responsible for helping with other camp duties as directed by the Camp Manager/Camp Director and may include basic health checks and cleaning duties.

2018 Tar Hollow Food Service Staff Application due March 1st, 2018. Food Service Staff positions available for Camp Food Service Manager and Staff.

Support 4-H Youth with a 4-H Paper Clover or Make a Card on Saturday, Feb. 3rd!

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JOANNhearts4H – FAIRFIELD COUNTY 4-H – give a Clover

4-H Members and families – Please share these events with your friends and family!

We are pleased to announce the Paper Clover campaign is coming to JOANN stores!

During the month of February, millions of JOANN customers, 4-H members and supporters will have a chance to share their hearts and show their love by equipping local Clubs with resources to reach more kids in need.

Here’s how:

  • Support the 4-H Paper Clover Campaign by visiting your local store between February 1 and 28, 2018. Donate $1 or $4 at purchase, and you’ll receive a clover featuring a special Valentine’s Day craft from FamilyFun. With each $4 donation, you’ll get $4 off your next purchase.  The Fairfield County 4-H Program and JOANN Fabrics stores want to see more Fairfield County kids learning by doing, creating and making.  Thousands of local 4-H members, staff, volunteers and supporters will join with JOANN customers to ensure more kids get that chance through a new Paper Clover campaign to bring more hands-on 4-H programs to Fairfield County. Proceeds from the Paper Clover campaign will directly support Fairfield County 4-H programs.

 

  • Craft with 4-H at your local JOANN’s store! On Saturday,  February 3rd from 11 a.m. until 2:00 p.m. local 4-H’ers will also partner with their local JOANN stores in Lancaster (1216 N Memorial Drive) and Reynoldsburg (2891 Taylor Rd) to hand-make and deliver custom Valentine’s Day cards on to Fairfield Medical Center Pallative Care Unit and  Nationwide Children’s Hospital .  Make plans to  stop by check out the Valentine card creations by our local 4-H youth!! Please invite your friends and family to come out and make a card! Additionally, we are looking for youth and adults to attend the full event at both the Lancaster and Reynoldsburg stores to help interact with customers sharing information about 4-H and making cards. If you can help, please reply to cooksey.25@osu.edu with the location you plan to attend (and who will be joining you)!

 

  • Save 15% with JOANN 4-H Rewards! Current and lifetime members, parents of members, volunteers, and 4-H staff can save 15% off total in-store and online purchases every day with 4-H Rewards. JOANN will give a minimum of 2.5% of every eligible transaction to support 4-H programming.

 

  • 4-H Fashion Contest – Enter to win a tour the JOANN Fabric and Crafts Stores headquarters and attend Kent State Fashion Show April 27-29!  To enter, upload up to five (5) photos online with an explanation of the outfit you made, construction methods, the purpose of the outfit and what items worn or displayed in the photo are purchased, if any. Entrants must be ages 14-19 and currently enrolled in a 4‑H program. Sponsors will select up to five finalists, whose photos will be posted on the JOANN Fabric and Crafts Stores Instagram site from March 2-13, 2018, for public voting. For additional information, please see the official contest rules. Come back from February 3 – 23 to submit your entry!

Don’t miss out show your love for 4-H Today.

To learn more about the national partnership, visit www.4-h.org/JOANN or contact Fairfield County 4-H at 740-652-7260.

Attend Plowboy Prom at OSU after Ohio 4-H Conference!

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Are you ready to rock around the clock?! It’s a flashback to the Fabulous Fifties with the 2018 Plowboy Prom hosted by College 4-H at The Ohio State University. Join us on Saturday, March 10 (after the 4-H Conference) from 6-10 p.m. at the Nationwide & Ohio Farm Bureau 4-H Center for an evening of dancing, games and prizes. All ages are welcome; admission is $5 each or $3 with a BuckID. Grab your saddle shoes and be there!

2018 Youth Conservationist Program Announcement

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Youth interested in applying for the 2018 Youth Conservationist Program must be between 9 and 18 years old and submit an application postmarked by April 1, 2018 that includes:

  • An essay which introduces you and your experience with animals. Your essay should explain your interest in sheep and
    answer the question: “Why I would like to help preserve a heritage breed of sheep.” If for any reason the animal will not
    be kept at your own home, please explain in detail where it will reside and what exactly your responsibilities will be.
  • The applicant should indicate if they wish to be considered for a particular breed or for any of the breeds available.
  • Each applicant must include a letter of recommendation from their 4‐H advisor, FFA advisor, veterinarian, teacher or
    clergy.
  • The total application/essay should be no more than 2 pages in length.
  • The application must include address, phone and if available, email address. Interested young people should contact
    Elaine for an updated list of breeds available, then submit their letter of application/essay to: Elaine Ashcraft, 46118 CR
    58 Coshocton, OH 43812.
  • ALL ESSAYS MUST BE MAILED. EMAILED ESSAYS WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED!

Requirements if selected:

  • Must be present to receive the ewe at the Maryland Sheep & Wool Festival on Sunday, May 6, 2018.
  • Must exhibit the ewe at least twice in 2018 at: 1) a county fair or local sheep show and 2) the State Fair in the state
    where the recipient lives.
  • Must breed the ewe to a registered ram (of her breed) in the fall of 2018, should consult the donor breeder for their
    recommendations.
  • Must either use the ewe’s fleece to personally make a wool item or sell the fleece to a spinner, felter or weaver.
  • Must submit an article, the following Feb/Mar to their local newspaper covering their year and including information
    concerning the next year’s YCP program.
  • Must submit a scrapbook to the Donor Breeder by April 30, 2018 and provide a scrapbook to be used at the Maryland
    Festival which is then given back to the youth.

Any questions please contact Elaine Ashcraft 46118 CR 58 Coshocton, Ohio 43812 by phone at (740) 622‐1573 or by email at tankewe_cr58@yahoo.com (please note the underscore between “tankewe” and “cr58”). Donors select the recipients from the essays submitted by the youth.

Beef 510

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Beef 510 is a one-day program designed for those who have participated in Beef 509, but is open to all cattlemen.  The program will continue the traditional beef sensory sessions and BQA presentations, but will also present information designed to help producers better prepare their operations and their cattle to meet challenges of the future. All who attend will be certified in Beef Quality Assurance (BQA) at the end of the course.  Beef 510 is a joint program coordinated by the Ohio Beef Council, the Department of Animal Sciences – OSU, and OSU Extension.

List of speakers include:

Justin Nelson, Director of Animal Procurement specializing in cattle for Tyson Foods, Inc. and located at the corporate office in Dakota Dunes, South Dakota. He will discuss today’s marketing environment and Tyson’s approach to market access programs. The presentation will also discuss the decision from Wendy’s restaurants to purchase cattle beginning in 2019 only from those suppliers who can verify the producers providing the cattle are beef quality assurance certified.

Mandy Carr Johnson, Sr. Executive Director for the Science, Culinary and Outreach team at National Cattlemen’s Beef Association ((NCBA) oversees programs focusing on human nutrition research. In addition, she has oversights on influencer outreach, product quality, sustainability, and beef safety research, as well as the Beef: It’s What’s for Dinner Culinary Center She will discuss how the beef checkoff program is working to assure consumers that beef is a sustainable and nutritious food so consumers don’t feel pressured to explore other products perceived to be more sustainable or healthier. The presentation will also include a sneak peak into the checkoff’s new raising beef responsibly campaign and touch on the “Rethink the Ranch” consumer campaign focused on sharing stories of the people behind the product.

Glen Arnold, is an Associate Professor with Ohio State University Extension and Field Specialist in the area of Manure Nutrient Management Application. His on-farm research focuses on the use of livestock manure as a spring top-dress fertilizer on wheat and as a side dress fertilizer for corn. His research goal is to move livestock producers toward applying manure during the crop growing season instead of late fall application window. With the growing number of those who want to place the blame on livestock producers for Ohio’s water quality challenges. You will not want to miss this session.

Additional presenters include professors from the Department of Animal Sciences at The Ohio State University: Steve Boyles, OSU Extension Beef Specialist; Lyda Garcia, Assistant Professor of Meat Science/Meat Extension Specialist; and Eric England, Assistant Professor of Meat Science. The Ohio Beef Council and OCA will also provide program updates.

The Beef 510 program will begin at 8:30 a.m. and will conclude by 5:00 p.m. on Saturday, March 3. Lunch will be provided by the 2018 OSU Meats Judging Team. Registration deadline will be February 16, 2018. Register early, as the program will fill up and space is limited. Find the registration form here.

 

Source: Ohio Beef Council’s Ohio Beef Producer Post for January 2018