Calendar Changes

Attention Livestock Exhibitors: Quality Assurance Updates

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Quality Assurance is an annual requirement of the Ohio Department of Agriculture for youth taking livestock projects to county and state fair. In Fairfield County, Quality Assurance Training is required for all members who will be exhibiting a livestock project at the Fairfield County Fair or Junior Exhibitor at the Ohio State Fair. Beef (Breeding & Market); Dairy Breeding & Dairy Feeders; Goats (Dairy, Meat, Market & Pygmy); Poultry (Breeding & Market); Sheep (Breeding & Market); Swine; Rabbits (Breeding & Market), and Alpacas/Llamas.

Deadlines for 2021:

  • Youth planning to exhibit at the Ohio State Fair must have their Quality Assurance completed by June 1st, 2021.
  • Youth planning to exhibit at the Fairfield County Fair must have their Quality Assurance completed by August 15th, 2021.

At this time, Quality Assurance CANNOT be taught by club/chapter advisors to Fairfield County 4-H/FFA youth virtually (i.e. Zoom, Google Hangouts, Google Classrooms, Facebook Live, etc.).

Here are the acceptable options to complete Quality Assurance in 2021:

  • In-Person 4-H Club/FFA Chapter Clinic taught by a 4-H/FFA Advisor who has completed the Quality Assurance Assistant Instructor Training this year (which took place on April 7th and April 26th). Advisors who attended this training will notify their members of their club/chapter QA Clinic date and will be responsible for getting all QA paperwork submitted to the Extension Office by the appropriate deadlines.
  • In-Person Countywide Make-Up Clinics: To be held on Saturday, May 8th at 9:30 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. and Sunday, May 23rd at 2:00 p.m.- 3:30 p.m. at the Ed Sands Building at the Fairgrounds. Attendance is limited and an RSVP is required. Please register online at this link for either countywide in-person QA Clinic: https://osu.az1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_0P19iWcND165rpQ
  • In-Person Beef Quality Assurance: Members who complete an in-person BQA taught by a certified BQA instructor must submit documentation to Leslie Cooksey at cooksey.25@osu.edu.
  • In-Person Pork Quality Assurance: Members who complete an in-person PQA taught by a certified PQA advisor must submit documentation to Leslie Cooksey at cooksey.25@osu.edu. Youth MUST be age 14 or older (current age) to complete in-person PQA. Youth will receive a PQA certification number from the National Pork Board upon completion.
  • Online: Youth for the Quality Care of Animals (YQCA). This is the ONLY approved ONLINE Quality Assurance Program for youth in Ohio. For 2021, this web-based course has been approved by ODA for 8-18 year olds.
    • Go to: https://yqca.learngrow.io/Account/Login
      • Fairfield County 4-H Members should select “sign in with 4-HOnline”. It will prompt you to select a state and then enter your 4-HOnline account information. After successfully logging in, you will be given a list of active family members. Select the family member and start the account creation process.
      • Fairfield County FFA Members (who are not in 4-H) should select FFA & Independent Sign-In.
    • You will need to select the web-based training ($12.00 per member, annually).
    • For a complete list of directions visit: Getting Your YQCA Online Certification
    • When you are finished, please send name(s) and certificate number(s) to Leslie Cooksey at cooksey.25@osu.edu.

Attention STATE FAIR livestock exhibitors – PLEASE READ!

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Those who plan to exhibit at the 2021 Ohio State Fair will need to complete their Quality Assurance by June 1st, 2021. Members must also be enrolled at the county level by May 1st in the project(s) they intend to exhibit at the Ohio State Fair. Our office will be asked to verify both QA  completion and that members are enrolled in the correct projects (breeding projects, for example) on all Ohio State Fair junior livestock entries.

Information about the Ohio State Fair is expected to be released in early May – including a schedule. The Ohio State Fair will not be open to the public in 2021. State Fair dates are July 19 – August 8, 2021. Additionally, we expect entries to be due by June 20th (online) like past years. Here is the link to the Ohio State Fair livestock website.

4-H and FFA members must make OSF entries online at https://ohiostatefair.com/livestock/

No late OSF entries will be accepted. Additionally, you may review the link above to confirm rules and possession dates for the Ohio State Fair.

Attention Ohio State Fair Swine Exhibitors:

  • 4-H youth who wish to take a GILT in the Junior Swine Show MUST be enrolled in the Breeding Swine Project. There is no Market Gilt Show at the Ohio State Fair. This project must be submitted by your May 1st enrollment deadline via 4-HOnline.
  • New for 2021: Youth who are taking hogs to the Ohio State Fair must have a parent/guardian certified in Pork Quality Assurance (PQA) by June 20th. One parent can complete this certification for all children in the family (household). The certification is good for 3 years and is required by the packer at the state fair. The certification number is required when making swine entries on June 20th (you will be asked to enter that information). For more information on how to complete this requirement, please contact Leslie Cooksey at cooksey.25@osu.edu.
  • Additionally, the Ohio State Fair is Ractopamine (i.e. Paylean) free for market hogs. You will have to select that you understand this when making your Ohio State Fair entry and you will have to provide a signed affidavit at weigh-in at state fair.

Save the Date: Fairfield County 4-H Achievement Awards Ceremony

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Ohio 4-H Achievement Form and Junior Achievement Form Families: Please save the evening of Thursday, April 8th for our Drive-Thru Achievement Awards Ceremony. 

This will be a scheduled event, with the scheduling information to come out soon.  We are hoping families can join us in a drive-thru at the Fairgrounds and celebrate!  There will be a quick photo opportunity for youth and their families as well as awards presented.

Application Deadlines extended to April 1st for Tar Hollow 4-H Camp Staff and Food Service Staff!

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Interested in sharing the 2021 camp experience with youth and volunteers from Athens, Fairfield, Pickaway, and Ross counties? Good news – the application deadlines for summer program staff and kitchen staff has been extended to April 1st, 2021!

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

Camp Staff:

The 2021 Ross Hocking Extension Camp Association Staff Application is now due April 1st, 2021. 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.

Kitchen Staff:

The application for 2021 food service staff for the 2021 Tar Hollow 4-H Camp season is now available and will now be due April 1st, 2021. Food Service Staff positions available for Camp Food Service Manager and Staff. Please click here to view and download the application: 2021 Food Service Staff Application Ross Hocking Extension Camp Association.

Fairfield County 4-H Calendar (through February) is Available!

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Click here to access the 2021 Fairfield County 4-H pdf and Google calendar.

Events and programs will be added as they are scheduled. Please note, this calendar is subject to change at anytime. Please continue to check back for the most current updates.

Additional dates to put on the calendar:

  • Cloverbud Camp: June 5th, 2021
  • 4-H Endowment Legacy Dinner: June 10th, 2021
  • Intermediate Camp: June 14th-17th, 2021
  • Junior Camp: June 29th-July 2nd, 2021
  • Summer Judging Week: July 12th-15th, 2021
  • Fairfield County Fair: October 10th-16th, 2021

Facebook Lives for Junior Fair Updates: Recordings for the week of October 4th

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Daily 4-H and Junior Fair updates from 4-H Educators, Leslie Cooksey and Aubry Fowler as we approach the fair for the week of October 4th. The videos from last week can be reviewed by clicking on this link.

October 4th update includes:

  • MQP Lambs
  • Poultry Barn Setup
  • Swine Showmanship Time Change

October 5th update includes:

  • Poultry and Other Livestock Sale Clarifications

October 6th (first video) update includes:

  • Hog Pet Setup in the L barn

October 6th (second video) update includes:

  • School Letters
  • Outstanding 4-Her Recognition

October 7th (first video) update includes:

  • Super Showmanship Contest
  • Livestock Judging Contest
  • No Premier Exhibitor for Meat/Market Goats

October 7th (second video) update includes:

  • Round Cattle Barn Setup for the Alpaca and Dairy Cattle Show Committees

October 8th (first video) update includes:

  • 4-H crops and gardening drop off on Saturday
  • FFA still project judging
  • Cakes/Pies/Candies Judging

October 8th (second video) update includes:

  • Health and Safety Guidelines

October 10th update includes:

  • Agenda for Sunday – note that the correct location for the dairy feeder weigh-in is the Round Cattle Barn (not the AAA Building as Leslie accidentally stated in the video)!

2020 Junior Fair Updates (by specie) are posted!

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2020 Junior Fair Updates by specie have been organized and posted by specie on the OSU Extension/4-H website. Please note that this information is current as of 10/8/2020 and is subject to change. Updated documents will be reposted to this site with the updated date noted next to the specie should that need to happen. http://go.osu.edu/2020fairinfo

Items that have been updated since they were originally posted on 9/23/2020:

  • Map of parking area
  • Modified Junior Fair Schedule (updated 10/6/2020)
  • Beef Cattle (updated 9/25/2020)
  • Rabbits (updated 10/7/2020)

Please take the time to read all updates as it pertains to your family and Junior Fair participation this year. Please review the 2020 General Rules and Modified Junior Fair Schedule listed at the top of this page. Additionally, since no updated rule book was printed for 2020, it is important to read the 2019 Junior Fair Book rules as well for your respective specie. All of this information is listed on this page of the website.

Please reach out if you have any questions at all!

Here is a screenshot of our OSU Extension/4-H website where the updates are posted. Below the 2020 updates, you will find links to the 2019 Junior Fair Rule Book.

Missing the Junior Fair Livestock Contests at the 2020 County Fair? Find all the details to watch the shows online here!

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All of the details regarding the live streaming of the Fairfield County Junior Fair Livestock shows is here. There will be 2 live streams: One from the Ed Sands/Farm Bureau Show Arena and one from the Feeder Creek Show Arena. Please note: all shows in the Round Dairy Barn and the Horse arena will be recorded in their entirety and be ready for viewing following the completion of the live stream in the Feeder Creek Show Arena. Thumb drives will be available for purchase for each of the daily show activities. Contact the Senior Fair Board office to pre-order at 740-653-3041.

No ‘Fun Flippin’ Pancake Breakfast at County Fair this Year…

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Following directives from Governor DeWine’s Order, the State and Local Health Department and the Fairfield County Senior Fairboard recommendations, the Fairfield County 4-H Endowment Committee’s Pancake Breakfast at the 2020 Fairfield County Fair was cancelled.  This event has always been used as an fun awareness event for the Endowment Committee to welcome visitors to our County Fair.

With so many events being cancelled in 2020, the 4-H Endowment Committee was also forced to cancel their  major fund-raising event in June  “The Legacy Dinner.”     Thanks to the generosity of the local donors we were able to raise enough money to pay the $5.00 County Wide dues for over 940 youth involved in 4-H work in 2020. While this year has been anything but normal for all of us, one thing remains constant…Leaving a Legacy for Fairfield County youth to benefit from lessons learned in 4-H Clubs, Committees and Competitions is important to the success of today’s young people who chose to involved in 4-H project work!!   We sincerely thank you for your support!

For additional 4-H Endowment Updates, click here.

2020 Junior Fair Updates (by specie) as of 9/23/2020 are posted!

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2020 Junior Fair Updates by specie have been organized and posted by specie on the OSU Extension/4-H website. Please note that this information is current as of 9/23/2020 and is subject to change. Updated documents will be reposted to this site with the updated date noted next to the specie should that need to happen. http://go.osu.edu/2020fairinfo

Please take the time to read all updates as it pertains to your family and Junior Fair participation this year. Please review the 2020 General Rules and Modified Junior Fair Schedule listed at the top of this page. Additionally, since no updated rule book was printed for 2020, it is important to read the 2019 Junior Fair Book rules as well for your respective specie. All of this information is listed on this page of the website.

Please reach out if you have any questions at all!

Here is a screenshot of our OSU Extension/4-H website where the updates are posted. Below the 2020 updates, you will find links to the 2019 Junior Fair Rule Book.