Livestock Opportunity: Virtual Livestock Evaluation – Beef 101 is February 19th

The Ohio 4-H Animal Science Design Team Livestock Evaluation webinar series is underway! These series are being recorded so that if someone is not able to attend, they can review it later at: https://ohio4h.org/node/3429.

Each month we will be focusing on a new topic/species in helping youth across the state prepare for various contests available to them. Here’s the lineup:

  • January 24 – Let’s Start a Team
  • February 19 – Beef 101
  • March 18 – Swine 101
  • April 15 – Sheep 101
  • May 20 – Goats 101
  • June 17 – EPDs & Scenarios
  • July 8 – Reasons, Part 1
  • July 10 – Reasons, Part 2

February Topic: Beef 101

DATE: Monthly TBD

TIME: 7:00–8:00 p.m.

LOCATION: ZOOM – go.osu.edu/livestockevaluation

Youth Opportunity: Livestock Judging Webinar Series starts January 24th

The  Ohio 4-H Animal Science Design Team Livestock Evaluation committee has been working with OSU livestock judging coaches, Matthew Chaney and Seth Ebert to host a series of livestock judging webinars. Each month we will focusing on a new topic/species in helping youth across the state prepare for various contests available to them. Please share with parents, coaches, and any youth who might have an interest in livestock evaluation.

DATE: Monthly TBD

TIME: 7:00–8:00 p.m.

LOCATION: ZOOM –  go.osu.edu/livestockevaluation

  • January 24 – Let’s Start a Team
  • February – Beef 101
  • March – Swine 101
  • April – Sheep 101
  • May – Goats 101
  • June – EPDs & Scenarios
  • July – Reasons, Part 1
  • July – Reasons, Part 2

Join the 4-H Meat Judging Team! First Practice – Thursday, February 8th

Youth interested in livestock are strongly encouraged to join the 2024 4-H Meat Judging Team! Practices start February 8th and continue through April. The State 4-H Meat Judging Contest will take place Saturday, April 27th at the Animal Science Building on the OSU Campus in Columbus. Reach out to Meat Judging Coach, Sarah Doner, if questions!

‘Finished’ Dairy Beef Steer project is approved for 2024

‘Finished’ Dairy Beef Steer project, new for 2024!

Fairfield County 4-H and FFA youth now have an additional opportunity to raise and market a meat animal project for the 2024 Fair in the form of the ‘finished’ Dairy Beef Steer project. Dairy Beef Steers must be owned and in the possession of the youth by weigh-in on March 9, 2024, and weigh a minimum of 1100 pounds at weigh-in at the Fair on Saturday, October 5. Each youth entering and showing an eligible finished Dairy Beef Steer will earn one sale slot in the 2024 Junior Fair Livestock Sale. Details for this project include Continue reading

Market Beef and Dairy Beef Steer Tagging, Weighing, and DNA Sample Collection Procedure for 2024

Weigh-in for all calves intended for the market beef show in 2024 is March 9th, by appointment!

It’s time once again to prepare for Jr. Market Beef tagging and weigh-in. This year it is being conducted in a fashion like recent years but in addition will include exhibitors planning to participate in the recently created ‘finished’ Dairy Beef Steer project in Fairfield County.

Market beef weigh-in for traditional beef animals as well as dairy beef steers is set for Saturday, March 9, 2024, at Fairfield Cattle Company located at 3443 Cincinnati-Zanesville Road (S.R. 22), Lancaster, from 8:30 a.m. until 12:30 p.m. In advance of March 9th exhibitors will be required to tag their own market beef animals with an 840 EID tag (unless the calf already has an EID tag). Visual numbered tags are encouraged but will not be provided or required this year. As in the recent past, participants will submit a hair follicle DNA sample at the weigh-in for each calf.

Again this year families with market beef and dairy beef steer projects are also required to reserve a weigh-in time for the 9th, and only those directly involved in transporting and weighing-in calves should plan to attend . . . please, no spectators! The goal remains to Continue reading

Livestock Exhibitor Opportunity: Ohio 4-H Animal Science Virtual Judging Contest

Announcing the 3rd annual Ohio 4-H Animal Science Virtual Judging Contest brought to you by JudgingPro.com.
  • The contest will begin on January 25th and will last for 6 weeks.
  • Classes will be posted every Thursday and will close on Sunday at 11:59 pm.
  • The link to participate will be posted each week.
  • Please complete the survey to submit your response.
  • Results will be uploaded on Monday at: https://go.osu.edu/judgingprocontest
  • It is open to anyone and FREE to participate.
Age divisions are as follows:
  • Novice: 3-7
  • Junior: 8-11
  • Intermediate: 12-14
  • Senior: 15-18
  • Advanced: 19+
Participate each week for the chance to be named the Ohio 4-H Animal Science Virtual Judging Contest Champion. Please reach out to 4hanimalscience@osu.edu with any questions. More resources and study materials are located at JudgingPro.com.
Don’t forget to include this in your 4-H and FFA record books as a learning opportunity/experience for this year!
May be an image of text that says '3RD ANNUAL OHIO 4-H ANIMAL SCIENCE VIRTUAL JUDGING CONTEST CONTEST BEGINS JANUARY 25TH P COURTESY OF JUDGING PRO -NOVICE (3- (3-7] -JUNIOR (8- 1] -INTERMEDIATE [12- 14] -SENIOR (15- 18) -ADVANCED (19+) THE .H OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY ENVIROMENTAL Ohio 4-H Animal Sciences 2029 Animal Science Building'

Scholarship Opportunity: Fairfield County Cattlemen’s Scholarship – due 1/15/2024

Once again in 2024 the Fairfield County Cattlemen will be awarding scholarships to high school seniors and undergrads who have experience raising and exhibiting beef cattle. Since the FCCA college scholarship program was begun in 1999 more than $35,000 in scholarships have been awarded to local youth. Scholarships are funded by the FCCA and, in part, through a donation from the Sally Grimm Community Fund in memory of past FCCA President Greg DeWitt.

Youth can find more scholarship details and apply on-line at: go.osu.edu/FCCAscholar.

Beef Performance and Carcass Quality Contest Rules Released, Application Portal Open

Apply to participate by January 12th

As it was announced in early November, in 2024 the Junior Fair Beef Performance and Carcass Quality contest entries – also known as BPCQ or the ‘carcass contest’ – will be harvested and evaluated hanging on the rail. Much like the other local county carcass-based program participants, youth in the BPCQ contest will now have the opportunity go into the meat cooler prior to Fair and see first hand the quality grade of their animal and learn how yield grade was evaluated.

In an effort to update the contest and base it on current day profitability factors, the details for scoring will also change in 2024. While still evaluating a combination of growth, performance and carcass characteristics, the final BPCQ contest rankings will be based on Continue reading

Scholarship Opportunity: Fairfield Co. Cattlemen’s – due 1/15/2024

Once again in 2024 the Fairfield County Cattlemen will be awarding scholarships to high school seniors and undergrads who have experience raising and exhibiting beef cattle. Since the FCCA college scholarship program was begun in 1999 more than $35,000 in scholarships have been awarded to local youth. Scholarships are funded by the FCCA and, in part, through a donation from the Sally Grimm Community Fund in memory of past FCCA President Greg DeWitt.

Youth can find more scholarship details and apply on-line at: go.osu.edu/FCCAscholar.