Learn more about the 2021 Fairfield County Junior Fair Livestock Sale updates by watching this video. Additional questions can be directed to Leslie Cooksey, Doug Shell, or Sean Malone.
Dairy Beef Feeders
Skillathons are Mandatory for Livestock/Horses/Dogs for the 2021 Fairfield County Junior Fair – Read more here!
Continuing from what was begun in 2020, the Fairfield County Junior Fair will require the completion of at least one Skillathon per 4-H/FFA exhibitor in order to show at 2021 Fairfield County Junior Fair for all beef, dairy, goat, poultry, rabbit (except Pet Rabbits), sheep, swine, dog, horse, and alpaca/llama projects. This requirement is included on page 14 of the 2021 4-H Member Handbook.
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 record keeping including your project book.
Project Books should be complete and up to date for the current year. Project Books for each project an exhibitor plans to bring to the fair should be brought to Skillathon.
- If competing for Premier Exhibitor, exhibitors must complete a Skillathon for each species they plan to compete in this year.
- If exhibitors completed the Ohio State Fair Virtual or In-Person Skillathons, or opt to take the written test, they must submit project books to the Extension Office by October 1st.
Here are options to meet this county requirement:
- Participate in the Fairfield County Skillathon event to be held September 11th and 12th at the Fairfield County Fairgrounds in the Ed Sands/Fairfield County Farm Bureau Building. Sign up by noon, Wednesday, September 8th using this link: go.osu.edu/21fcskillathon
- Fairfield County youth interested in competing for any Fairfield County Premier Exhibitor Award must complete the Skillathon in each respective 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 either September 11th or 12th.
- Participate in the Ohio State Fair Virtual Skillathon.
- Youth do not have to be exhibitors in the OSF to participate.
- Registration is due June 14th by visiting: www.go.osu.edu/skillathonregistration
- Youth do not have to be exhibitors at the OSF to participate.
- OSF Youth participating in the Outstanding Breeding Exhibitor must register and complete the OSF Virtual Skillathon to be eligible for this award.
- Exhibitors must have their own unique email address to create a log-in to access the online skillathon.
- Participate in the Ohio State Fair In-Person Skillathon.
- Registration takes place on the day event at the OSF.
- Youth do not have to be exhibitors at the OSF to participate.
- OSF Youth participating in the Outstanding Market Exhibitor Contest must attend the OSF In-Person Skillathon to be eligible for this award.
- In-Person OSF Skillathon Rules: https://ohio4h.org/sites/ohio4h/files/imce/animal_science/AS_State_Fair/2021%20Skillathon%20Rules.pdf
- None of these options work? Exhibitors can take a written test in the Ed Sands Building on the Fairfield County Fairgrounds on either Sunday, September 26 at 1 p.m. or Monday, September 27 at 6 p.m. To participate in this testing option, youth must first register with the Fairfield County Senior Fair Office by contacting them at 740-653-3041.
Details including dates for both virtual/in-person options on the two options from the Ohio State Fair can be found here: https://ohio4h.org/animalsciences/ohio-youth-skillathons
The 2021 In-Person County skillathons will consist of 4 stations:
- Parts of the animal
- Breeds of the species
- Quality Assurance
- Project Book Review and Interview
Dogs will complete their skillathon during Dog Check-in on Saturday, August 28th.
The following species will have skillathons on Saturday, September 11th from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Appointments must be made noon, Wednesday, September 8th through this link: go.osu.edu/21fcskillathon.
- Dairy
- Beef (Including Dairy Beef Feeders)
- Swine
- Rabbits
- Poultry
The following species will have skillathons on Sunday, September 12th, from noon to 6:00 pm. Appointments must be made by noon, Wednesday, September 8th through this link: go.osu.edu/21fcskillathon.
- Sheep
- Horses
- Dairy Goat
- Market Goat
- Pygmy Goat
- Alpacas and Llamas
Study materials would include your project books, resource books, skillathon kits, and online resources (for poultry).
Premier Exhibitor Contests – Program Updates Coming Soon!
Dairy Ambassador Application: Due 9/10/2021
The 2021 Dairy Ambassador Application is here. Applications are due to the Extension Office by September 10, 2021.
Congrats to Ohio State Fair Skillathon Winners and Participants!
Congrats to the following Fairfield County 4-H Members who participated in the 2021 Virtual and In-Person Ohio State Fair Skillathons! If individuals placed in the top 10 for their age group, those placings are listed below for each specie. Congrats again to all who participated!
Beef – Virtual
- 2nd Place, Age 18 – Abigail Tooill
- 2nd Place, Age 16 – Andrew Huffman
- Participant: Age 13 – Ashton Huffman
Beef – In Person
- 6th Place, Age 10 – Ellanor Tarbert
- 9th Place, Age 14 – Maddox Cupp
- 10th Place, Age 14 – Morgan Love
- 3rd Place, Age 16 – Mason Love
Cavy – Virtual
- 4th Place, Age 13 – Carter Bergados
- 2nd Place, Age 14, 4th Place Intermediate, 7th OVERALL Cavy Skillathon – Alexandria Schmelzer
Dairy – In Person
- 7th Place, Age 12 – Silas Kohler
- 10th Place, AGe 14 – Nathan Canale
Dog – Virtual
- 8th Place, Age 13 – Nolan Shaffer
- 3rd Place, Age 11, 7th Place Junior – Kirra Wiseman
Goat – Virtual
- 7th Place, Age 12 – Delaney Amick
- 4th Place, Age 15 – Taylor Amick
- 1st Place, Age 18 – Ellyaris Bullock
- 9th Place, Age 17 – Elizabeth Kitsmiller
- 8th Place, Age 17 – Kendal Wilson
- 8th Place, Age 14 – Skylar Wilson
Goat – In Person
- 5th Place, Age 8/9 – Evan Walters
- 7th Place, Age 11 – Austin Smith
- 8th Place, Age 11 – Abigail Walters
- 2nd Place, Age 12 – Julia Cowdrey
- 4th Place, Age 15 – Morgan Cowdrey
Horse – Virtual
- 7th Place, Age 17 – Sofia Gugliemotto
- 8th Place, Age 11 – Ashlyn Carder
- Participants: Cora Cain, Brianna Downey, Shay Ruff, Katelyn Wynkoop
Horse – In Person
- 1st Place, Age 10 – Lydia Hertlein
- 5th Place, Age 11 – Annesley Leith
- 7th Place, Age 11 – Julia Hertlein
- 7th Place, Age 12 – Riley Cain
- 5th Place, Age 14 – Kayla Hedges
- 7th Place, Age 15 – Cora Cain
- 6th Place, Age 16 – Jadin Triplett
- 3rd Place, Age 17 – Ashley Love
Alpaca/Llama – Virtual
- 2nd Place, Age 13 – Nolan Shaffer
Poultry – Virtual
- 8th Place, Age 12 – Troy Bullock
- 4th Place, Age 18 – Jaymeson Sahr
- 8th Place, Age 14 – Alexandria Schmelzer
- Participant: Jed Sahr
Poultry – In Person
- 2nd Place, Age 8/9 – Garrett Basnett
- 1st Place, Age 10 – Hunter Basnett
- 9th Place, Age 11 – Parker Reese
- 5th Place, Age 13 – Campbell Reese
- 7th Place, Age 13 – Logan Basnett
Sheep – Virtual
- 9th Place, Age 13 – Luke Clark
- 5th Place, Age 18 – Cort Kleinline
- 6th Place, Age 8/9 – Chase Myers
- Participant: Addie Dennis
Sheep – In Person
- 6th Place, Age 11 – Peyton Courtright
- Participant: Campbell Reese
Swine – Virtual
- 9th Place, Age 11 – Hayden Barber
- 6th Place, Age 13 – Maci Barber
- 10th Place, Age 13 – Raegan Needs
- 3rd Place, Age 13 – Emma Raver
- Participants: Reagan Boucher, Christian Galloway, Karson Kistler, Zoey Moon Matz, Evan Raver
Swine – In Person
- 6th Place, Age 11 – Brinleigh Hoisington
- 2nd Place, Age 14 – Henry Hoisington
- Participant: Reid Strickler
Rabbit – Virtual
- 6th Place, Age 13 – Carter Bergados
- 1st Place, Age 18, 6th Place Senior – Lillian Hyme
- 5th Place, Age 8/9, 10th Place Junior – Julianna Phillips
- 9th Place, Age 11 – Taylor Phillips
- 1st Place, Age 8/9, 2nd Place Junior, 8th OVERALL – Eryn Raver
- 2nd Place, Age 8/9, 3rd Place Junior, 7th OVERALL – Evan Raver
- 9th Place, Age 12 – Jed Sahr
- 10th Place – Age 14 – Alexandria Schmelzer
- 3rd Place, Age 11 – Mollie Smithberger
- 4th Place, Age 11 – Jason Stelzer
- 5th Place, Age 13 – Kaylee Stelzer
- 5th Place, Age 10 – Morgan Stelzer
- 9th Place, Age 15 – Cece Woods
- Participants: Dominic Woods, Kaitlyn Stonerock
Rabbit – In Person
- 4th Place, Age 8/9 – Hannah Jones
- 1st Place, Age 11 – Rachel Sponseller
- 2nd Place, Age 11 – Lydia Jones
- 8th Place, Age 11 – Brooke Hampton
- 8th Place, Age 12 – Lauren Wilson
- 2nd Place, Age 13 – Charlie Sponseller
- 5th Place, Age 13 – Amber Hampton
- 9th Place, Age 13 – Aubrey Duke-Ward
- 3rd Place, Age 15 – Logan Hampton
- 4th Place, Age 15 – Alison Sponseller
- 5th Place, Age 15 – Katelynn Lykins
- Participants: Jacob Duke-Ward
2021 Junior Fair Rule Book is now available!
Please find a link to the 2021 Junior Fair Rule Book below. Since there will not be a print version this year, the on-line version you see is what we will be working from this year, and likely into the future. As you review it, please note the following:
- Near the top of the index page that will open from the link below, you’ll find links to the NEW Junior Fair Entry Forms. Links to these forms are also included within each Department link you find in the index. Carefully read and follow the protocol for completing and submitting entry forms that you find on the Entry Forms page.
- In addition to each specie, in the index also find links to the General Rules, DUNF, Premier Exhibitor, Skillathon and Project Book Review, Showmanship, the Livestock Judging Contest and the Livestock Auction. Carefully review these pages for further instruction.
- Rules for ‘take home’ animals and the livestock auction have changed. Carefully review these changes found under the Exhibitor Info ’21 link on the 78th Fairfield County Fair 4-H & FFA Livestock Auction page.
- We know there may still be some mistakes in this new on-line version of the Junior Fair Rule Book. Newly adopted rules plus over 60 pages from the old rule book have been converted from PDFs and Publisher into a web format. We know some things didn’t convert perfectly . . . if you find them, please share with us and they can be quickly fixed.
- IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS please email them to us. We will be hosting a live ZOOM August 11th at 6:00 pm and will address all your questions then, and share additional information about how best to utilize this new on-line Rule Book and Entry forms. Register here for the zoom meeting.
- Entries will be accepted at the Sr. Fair Office on the Fairgrounds from Advisors on weekdays between 8:30 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. from August 16 thru August 27, 2021.
Use this link to access the 2021 Fairfield county Junior Fair Rule Book: https://go.osu.edu/jrfairbook
Please review the entire book before you start asking questions. There are now pages with the Entry Forms, Showmanship Information in one place, DUNF information, Skillathon and Project Book Review, Livestock Judging Contest, and Super Showmanship. We are still working with a committee to finalize Premier Exhibitor information and hope to have that posted by Sept. 1. Continue reading
Ohio State Fair Skillathons – Open to **ALL** 4-H and FFA youth!
Did you know any 4-H/FFA youth can participate in the State Fair skillathons? Skillathons are events for youth to show what they know about a species and to be recognized for their knowledge and skills. All Skillathons are open to any Ohio 4-H member, age 8 and in the 3rd grade, or 9 years old and older regardless of grade level, to age 18 as of January 1, 2021, and FFA members. Youth do not have to be an exhibitor at the Ohio State Fair to participate or be enrolled in an animal project. Want more information? Click here!
Dates for Ohio State Fair In-Person Skillathons are listed below. You do not need to register in advance…just show up!
- Horse: Wednesday, July 22, 10:00am – 3:00pm, Voinovich Livestock Center Mezzanine (2nd floor)
- Rabbit: Friday, July 30, 10:00am – 2:00pm, Rabbit/Poultry Pavilion
- Dairy Cattle: Monday, August 2, 12:00 – 4:00pm, Voinovich Livestock Center Mezzanine (2nd floor)
- Poultry: Wednesday, August 4, 4:00pm – 8:00 pm, Rabbit/Poultry Pavilion
- Swine: Thursday, August 5, 9:00am – 1:00pm, Voinovich Livestock Center Mezzanine (2nd floor)
- Sheep: Thursday, August 5, 3:00pm – 7:00pm, Brown Arena Wool Room
- Goat: Friday, August 6, 9:00am – 12:00pm, Voinovich Livestock Center Mezzanine (2nd floor)
- Beef: Friday, August 6, 1:00 – 5:00 pm, Voinovich Livestock Center Mezzanine (2nd floor)
By participating in an Ohio State Fair Skillathon, this will meet the Skillathon requirement for 4-H and FFA youth to exhibit at the 2021 Fairfield County Junior Fair. As a reminder, Skillathons will continue in 2021 as a required portion of project completion for livestock projects. Fairfield County Skillathons will be offered for all beef, dairy, goat, poultry, rabbit (except Pet Rabbits), sheep, swine, dog, horse, alpaca/llama projects. 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. Skillathons are required for those who wish to exhibit at the 2021 Fairfield County Junior Fair. Youth must complete at least one Skillathon. Youth can participate in more than one species if they intend to participate in the Premier Exhibitor for that respective species. For more information: Refer to Junior Fair Book. Fairfield County Skillathons will be held on September 11th and 12th at the Fairfield County Fairgrounds.
Dairy Feeder, Lamb, Goat and Swine Projects to be Tagged
Tag-in for dairy feeder calves, market lambs and market goats being exhibited in the 2021 Fairfield County Junior Fair will be held at the Fairgrounds on Saturday, July 10 from 8 a.m. until 10:30 a.m. 4-H and FFA Advisors will be working directly with market swine exhibitors to get their animals tagged between July 19 and July 30, 2021.
Market lambs will be tagged and MQP lambs weighed in the Junior Swine Barn (Building #48). Lamb exhibitors must report the scrapie tag numbers of the lambs they plan to have tagged, and choose an arrival time for tagging by visiting http://go.osu.edu/taglambs by July 2.
Market goats will be tagged and weighed in the Feeder Creek Show Arena (Building #52) beginning at 8 a.m.
Dairy Feeders will be tagged and also have DNA hair samples collected in the Junior Beef Barn (Building #4), also beginning at 8 a.m.
This year swine tag-in dates are July 19 to July 30. Advisors may pick up tags at the Senior Fair Office on Monday through Friday 8:30 a.m. to 12:00 Noon each day beginning the 19th. All swine tagging paperwork must be turned into the Senior Fair Office by 12:00 Noon on July 30th.
Questions regarding the tagging and weighing of dairy feeder, market lamb, market goat or market swine projects for the 2021 Fairfield County Junior Fair may be directed to the Show Superintendents, or Chuck Miller at keywest100@att.net
“Partial Terminal” Sale approved for Junior Fair Market Animals
During their regular monthly meeting on March 16, 2021, the Fairfield County Sr. Fair Board passed a motion declaring the 2021 Jr. Fair Livestock Sale will be “partial terminal.” Specifically, that motion reads:
The 2021 Fairfield County Fair Junior Fair will have a partial terminal sale/show for all species. The only exception to this is the 8 champions that must be slaughtered and inspected at a designated packer according to ODA (grand/reserve market beef, grand/reserve market hog, grand/reserve market lamb, grand/reserve market goat). Take homes will be allowed for all species with the exception of those 8 declared grand/reserve champions. Take homes must be declared before the animal leaves the scale during check-in (no exceptions). Take home animals will lose their sale slot and will not be eligible for a premium and packer bid. Exhibitors who do not take home must qualify for their sale slot (as individual or group) at the discretion of the species show committee.
As a result, points for exhibitors of market animals to consider include:
- Since there is no packer bid available, all market turkeys, market chickens and market ducks will go back home at the conclusion of the Fair as in past years. Similar to 2016 and prior, it will be the responsibility of the exhibitor to decide whether to process their birds and give them to their sale buyer or market them privately.
- Exhibitors of all other market animals that have an opportunity to earn a sale slot must declare before they leave the scales during weigh-in at the beginning of the Fair if they will choose to take home a market animal.
- Per Ohio Department of Agriculture rules, the ‘live’ Champion and Reserve Champion market beef, market hogs, market lambs and market goats must go to slaughter and may not go home with the exhibitor regardless their choice during weigh-in prior to fair.
- Unless named Champion or Reserve Champion market beef, market hog, market lamb or market goat during their respective Junior market show, animals designated by their exhibitor to go home after the fair will forfeit the opportunity to earn a livestock sale slot with that animal.
- Animals not designated by the exhibitor during weigh-in to go home will compete for an individual or group livestock sale slot as they have in the past.
- Buyers will once again have the opportunity to ‘keep’ animals they purchase.
An affidavit will be developed and made available for youth to use when designating they choose to take home a market animal.