Dairy

Attention Livestock Exhibitors: Quality Assurance Requirements

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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 Steers, & Dairy Feeders; Goats (Dairy, Meat, Market & Pygmy); Poultry (Breeding & Market); Sheep (Breeding & Market); Swine; Rabbits (Breeding & Market), and Alpacas/Llamas.

Deadlines for 2025:

  • Youth planning to exhibit at the Ohio State Fair must have their Quality Assurance completed by June 1st, 2025.
  • Youth planning to exhibit at the Fairfield County Fair must have their Quality Assurance completed by June 30th, 2025.

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 2025:

  • 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. 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 Thursday, May 1st from 6:30-8:30 p.m. or Tuesday, May 20th from 6:30-8:30 p.m. at the Fairfield County Ag Center/Extension Office (831 College Ave. Lancaster). An RSVP is required. Please click here to register for a countywide QA makeup clinic.
  • 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 2025, this web-based course has been approved by ODA for 8-18 year olds.
    • Go to  https://yqcaprogram.org/ for the training and quiz.
    • Instructions for using the new website can be found at: 2022 YQCA Website Instructions
    • Exhibitors must complete by June 30, 2025 or they will not be able to show at the Fairfield County Fair.
    • You will need to select the web-based training ($12.00 per member, annually). The age of the course should be age as of January 1st of the current year.
    • When you are finished, please send a pdf/picture of your certificate which includes exhibitor name(s) and certificate number(s) to Leslie Cooksey at cooksey.25@osu.edu.

Scholarship Opportunity: Dairy Farmers of America – due 6/6/2025

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As part of Dairy Farmers of America’s Mideast Area Council’s commitment to developing the next generation of leaders in the dairy industry, five $1,000 at-large scholarships are available for Mideast Area college students.

These scholarships are offered yearly to farmer-owners, their children and on-farm employees. There are no age or course of study restrictions. Students cannot have also received another DFA-sponsored scholarship including one offered through their college or university for the 2025-2026 academic year. Proof of acceptance or current college registration is required to be included with a completed application.

Applications must be postmarked by June 6, 2025, and can be downloaded from the Mideast Area section of the DFA farmer-only website, www.dfamilk.com.

The Southeastern African American Farmers’ Organic Network (SAAFON) and the National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition (NSAC) have partnered together to create a scholarship in memory of Cynthia Hayes, co-founder and former director of SAAFON. Cynthia dedicated her life to serving African American organic farmers in the U.S. and the Caribbean.

Source: OSU ACEL Nutshell – April 2, 2025

Market Beef and Dairy Market Beef Tagging, Weighing, and DNA Sample Collection Procedure for 2025

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Weigh-in for all calves intended for the market beef show in 2025 is March 8th, 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 and continues to include exhibitors planning to participate in the ‘finished’ Dairy Beef Steer project that was created last year in Fairfield County.

Market beef weigh-in for traditional beef animals as well as dairy market beef is set for Saturday, March 8, 2025, at Fairfield Cattle Company located at 3443 Cincinnati-Zanesville Road (S.R. 22), Lancaster, from 8:30 a.m. until 12 p.m. In advance of March 8th 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 market beef projects are also required to reserve a weigh-in time for the 8th, and only those directly involved in transporting and weighing-in calves should plan to attend . . . please, no spectators! The goal remains to reduce congregation at weigh-in and minimize the transfer of paperwork. Specifically, the step-by-step process and requirements include . . . Continue reading Market Beef and Dairy Market Beef Tagging, Weighing, and DNA Sample Collection Procedure for 2025 →

Livestock Tagging/Weighing and MQP Dates for 2025

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Get the tagging and weigh-in dates on your calendar.

The good news is . . . participation in livestock projects remains strong while muscle quality and performance carcass-based project participation continues to grow in Fairfield County. The rest of the good news is, although there will be a few changes, plans continue to accommodate all the livestock project participation that is being experienced. That said, for the most part weigh-in/tagging dates, as well as harvest dates will remain similar in 2025 to what they were in 2024.

The changes being considered involve the Beef Performance & Carcass Quality (BPCQ), Swine MQP and Goat MQP programs.

A third, optional, early harvest date for participants in the BPCQ is being added for those youth with early born calves who would like to conclude their carcass-based project in August. The youth participating in the August harvest will weigh/tag their BPCQ calves on February 1. The two later September beef harvest dates will also be maintained and calves being harvested then will be weighed/tagged along with the ‘live’ beef cattle on March 8. Youth had the opportunity to apply for BPCQ with an application deadline for the 2025 BPCQ contest of January 8, 2025 and on a first come, first served basis select their preferred harvest date.

Swine MQP will be considering two changes. First change being considered is pigs will be weighed/tagged in specifically for either the MQP or ‘live’ show. The pigs for each contest will be Continue reading Livestock Tagging/Weighing and MQP Dates for 2025 →

You’re invited – Jr. Fair Dairy Cattle Exhibitor Meeting: November 25th

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Sent on behalf of Fairfield County Junior Fair Dairy Cattle Superintendent:

Junior Fair Dairy Cattle Exhibitors and 4-H/FFA Advisors,

As a Fairfield County Junior Fair dairy cattle exhibitor family, the Junior Fair Dairy Cattle Superintendent is inviting you to come and talk about the 2024/2025 Dairy Shows on Monday, November 25th, 2024, beginning at 6:00 p.m. in the Fairfield County Ag Center/OSU Extension Office. We hope that you can join us at this open meeting!

Drug Use Notification Forms – due at NOON, Friday, October 4th for Market Beef/BEEF FEEDERS/DAIRY MARKET STEERS/Dairy Beef Feeders/Lactating Dairy Cows & Dairy Goats/Market Hogs/Market Goats/Market Lambs

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Animals must be drug free by weigh-in day of fair. Each member must complete a Drug Use Notification Form (DUNF) (http://go.osu.edu/fairfielddunf) form online for each animal they plan to exhibit prior to weigh-in at the fair. If the forms are not correctly completed, exhibitors will not be permitted to show. The link to the form will open on Monday, September 30th (as forms should be completed more than 5 days before fair weigh-in).

  • Animals requiring a DUNF indicating the animal is free from any/all drugs in its system on fair weigh-in/move-in day are:
    • Market Beef
    • NEW FOR 2024: BEEF FEEDER
    • NEW FOR 2024: DAIRY MARKET STEER
    • Dairy Beef Feeder
    • Dairy Cow (lactating)
    • MQP Hog
    • Market Barrow
    • Market Gilt
    • Market Goat
    • MQP Goat
    • Dairy Goat (lactating)
    • Market Chickens
    • Market Turkey
    • Market Duck
    • MQP Lamb
    • Market Lamb
    • Market Rabbit
  • Forms should be completed no sooner than 5 days prior to animal weigh-in to be sure that their animal is drug free during fair.
  • Forms submitted prior to that timeframe will be deleted and exhibitors will be asked to resubmit the DUNF form closer to their animal’s weigh-in. All animals being brought to the fair requiring DUNF forms will need to submit their forms by 12:00 p.m., Friday, October 4, 2024.
  • The only EXCEPTION to the Friday deadline will be Market Poultry and Market Rabbits who will complete DUNF Forms AFTER they receive tags/leg bands so they have identification information to enter into the DUNF Form. One form per pen of animals should be completed for Poultry and Rabbits. Deadline for poultry and rabbit exhibitors is MIDNIGHT on Saturday, October 5th.
  • Animals tagged with an EID 840 (15 digit tag) should include the last 6 digits in the identification field of the form.
  • Scrapie Tag numbers DO NOT need to be entered for market goats and market sheep – please use the last 6 digits of your EID 840 tag.
  • There should be ONE form submitted for each animal Exception: Each pen of rabbits and each pen of market chickens will need a form per pen.
  • Turkeys exhibitors will put N/A in the identification field.
  • Market Chicken exhibitors will put all 3 leg band numbers in the same identification field for their pen of chickens.
  • Market Rabbit exhibitors will put both tag numbers for their pair of rabbits in the identification field for their pen of rabbits.

Junior Fair Commodity Ambassador/Representative Online Application Due September 15th

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New this year, all commodity ambassador/representative applications will be on ONE application. There will be one interview date to make selections for each commodity position. Please select and rank your interested commodity positions. Applications are due at 11:59 p.m. on Sunday, September 15th. Click here to access the application. Commodity Ambassador/Representatives we be selected for Alpaca/Llama, Beef, Canine, Caprine, Dairy, Equine, Lamb & Wool, Poultry, Rabbit, and Swine.

The purpose of the Junior Fair Commodity Ambassador/Ambassador Program is:

  • To inform others and promote 4-H/FFA programs while strengthening the species’ image.
  • To encourage specie projects in the 4-H/FFA programs.
  • To improve knowledge and presentation skills.
  • To build a portfolio of excellence for future reference.

Process:

  • Applications must be submitted to the OSU Extension Office by 11:59 p.m. on Sunday, September 15, 2024.
  • All applications will be reviewed by the selection committee(s), the top three individuals per specie will be selected for an interview by a panel of judges.
  • Interviews will be conducted in person on the evening of Monday, September 23rd (time TBD) at the Fairfield County Ag Center (OSU Extension Office).
  • The representative(s) will be selected from individuals interviewed and notified via phone following the completion of all interviews and will be publicly introduced at the Junior Fair Panorama during fair week (exception – Lamb and Wool Queen will be announced at the Guy’s and Gals Lead on Wednesday of fair).

Requirements:

  • Applicants must be an active 4-H/FFA member and at least 14 years old as of October 1st of the current year.
  • Applicants must have an active project in the relevant specie project for the current year and exhibit this project at the Fairfield County Junior Fair.
  • Representative will be required to attend the Panorama and speak about the specie represented.
  • Representative will assist with award presentations during the Junior Fair shows related to their specie. Representative should present awards in between showing their own animal(s).
  • Representative will assist with Junior Fair Livestock Sales on Thursday and Friday of fair week.
  • Representative must be available to make guest appearances at community functions on behalf of the specie and fair (i.e. parades, festivals, other fairs, and commodity events).
  • Representatives are strongly encouraged to participate in 4-H Day to promote 4-H project work for their specie (1st Saturday of March).
  • Female applicants can also run for Junior Fair Queen (if they meet those requirements). If selected for both, applicant will serve in commodity role on the day of that specie’s show.

 

Dairy Cattle Exhibitors – Read this to prepare for Skillathon!

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2024 Skillathons will include 4 stations – Project Interview, Breeds, Parts, and Feed Identification. All information on breeds, parts, and feeds is available in your 4-H Dairy Resource Book. And for Dairy Steers and Dairy Beef Feeders, this also is available in the 4-H Beef Resource Book. Dairy Steer and Dairy Beef Feeder exhibitors will have the option to identify parts on the dairy or beef posters. Breeds will cover dairy cattle only.

Please note that we have updated pictures used for Dairy Breeds for this year. Study them at this link: Dairy Cattle Breeds

FFA Exhibitors are encouraged to check with their FFA Chapter to see if Skillathon or 4-H Resource Books are available to study as many chapters do have these items as classroom resources. If not, 4-H Resource Books are available for purchase from the OSU Extension Office year round and can be used multiple years by all family members.

117DF/117M – 4-H Dairy Beef and Market Beef (Dairy Steer) Exhibitors: You should be completing the Beef Project Record Book. All dairy feeder and market beef records can be contained in the same book if you are taking both projects.

127 CA/127CO/127He – 4-H Dairy Calf/Cow/Heifer Exhibitors: With the revision of the 4-H Dairy Cattle Project and Record book, there is now a required online component.  This component, or focus questions, is accessible at go.osu.edu/4hdairyresources.  Each year will have its own unique topics of interest, medication label, and treatment record scenario.  Attached please find 2024 Dairy Cattle Focus Questions.  Please use these when completing your Dairy Project and Record Book.

Project Record Books for 4-H and FFA should be for the CURRENT project year and as up to date as possible on Skillathon day. Project Books will be reviewed on Skillathon days. They will be returned to you at the fair during your specie’s show.

We look forward to seeing your completed book at Skillathon.

2024 Fairfield County Junior Fair Premier Exhibitor Contest Information

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This information is also posted in the 2024 Junior Fair Book under Optional Activities for Species: http://go.osu.edu/fcjrbook

Premier Exhibitor Contests

The objective of the Premier Exhibitor Contest is to encourage youth exhibitors to explore multiple aspects of the livestock
specie project they are enrolled in, and to reward those youth that participate at the highest level. While some exhibitors may
choose to only participate in a single aspect of an animal project, the reality is that all the various opportunities available for any
given project are interrelated and participation can enhance the knowledge, skills, and enjoyment gained from the project.

  • Exhibitors will learn that market animals originate from breeding stock.
  • Performance is vital to the profitability of livestock production.
  • Efficient record keeping allows the owner to determine if the project was profitable.
  • Livestock evaluation is the foundation for selecting both breeding and market livestock.
  • Knowing breeds, body parts and muscle names and locations complements one’s ability to evaluate livestock.

It’s all interrelated and encouraging youth to expand the knowledge of their project by participating in a variety of opportunities
while also in a competitive environment will enhance the learning experience.

Requirements

  • Exhibitors must be enrolled in a 4-H/FFA project in that species in their respective 4-H Club/FFA Chapter.
  • FairEntry is made in the respective species by August FairEntry deadline.
  • The exhibitor must complete the Fairfield County Skillathon for the specie they plan to compete in Premier Exhibitor. Those exhibitors who participate in the alternative Skillathon options will not be eligible for Premier Exhibitor (i.e., Ohio
    State Fair VIRTUAL Skillathon, Ohio State Fair IN-PERSON Skillathon, and/or Fairfield County Make-Up Skillathon).
    Project books will be reviewed as part of the county Skillathon event.
  • An exhibitor must complete a Skillathon for each specie they plan to compete for Premier Exhibitor. If an exhibitor does not
    participate in the Fairfield County Skillathon for that specie, they will be ineligible for Premier Exhibitor in that specie.
  • Exhibitors must show their own animal(s).

Eligible Species
Dairy Cattle
Beef
Swine
Sheep
Dairy Goats
Meat/Market Goats
Pygmy Goats
Poultry
Rabbits
Dogs
Alpacas/Llamas
Horses

Scoring

The Premier Exhibitor for each species will be the exhibitor with the highest point total from the activities listed for each specie
(dropping the scores as mentioned below).

The goal is to encourage exhibitors to explore various opportunities available to them within their species and allow for lowest
scores to be dropped when sufficient experiences are able to be offered (for example, Beef Exhibitors have far more project
opportunities available to them than Pygmy Goats). The objective would be to encourage exhibitors to earn points for exhibiting
animals in at least two ways at the Fairfield County Fair in addition to participating in Skillathon, showmanship, rate of gain (if
applicable), and judging contests (if applicable). If exhibiting more than one animal in an activity, the highest placing animal will
be used for the Premier Exhibitor scoring.

  • Dairy Cattle: The Dairy Cattle Premier Exhibitor will be the highest point total from up to 6 of the 7 following Fairfield
    County Junior Fair activities: Dairy Skillathon*, Showmanship, Fairfield County Dairy Judging Contest, and
    Breeding Class, Market Class, Feeder Class, and Rate of Gain.
  • Beef: The Beef Premier Exhibitor will be the highest point total from up to 5 of the 8 Fairfield County Junior Fair activities:
    Beef Skillathon*, Showmanship, Fairfield County Beef Judging Contest, Breeding Class, Feeder Class, Market Class,
    Carcass Class, and Rate of Gain.
  • Swine: The Swine Premier Exhibitor will be the highest point total from up to 4 of the 5 Fairfield County Junior Fair activities:
    Swine Skillathon*, Showmanship, Fairfield County Swine Judging Contest, Market/MQP Class 1, and Market/MQP Class 2.
  • Sheep: The Sheep Premier Exhibitor will be the highest point total from 5 of the 6 Fairfield County Junior Fair activities: Sheep
    Skillathon*, Showmanship, Fairfield County Sheep Judging Contest, Breeding Class, Market/MQP Class 1, and Market/MQP Class 2.
  • Dairy Goats: The Dairy Goat Premier Exhibitor will be the highest point total from all 4 Fairfield County Junior Fair activities:
    Dairy Goat Skillathon*, Showmanship, Breeding (Kid/Yearling Class), and Breeding (Doe Class).
  • Meat/Market Goats: The Meat/Market Goat Premier Exhibitor will be the highest point total from 5 of the 6 Fairfield County
    Junior Fair activities: Meat/Market Goat Skillathon*, Showmanship, Fairfield County Meat Goat Judging Contest, Breeding
    (Meat Doe) Class, Market/MQP Class 1, and Market/MQP Class 2.
  • Pygmy Goats: The Pygmy Goat Premier Exhibitor will be the highest point total from all 4 Fairfield County Junior Fair
    activities: Pygmy Goat Skillathon*, Showmanship, Wether Class, and Doe Class.
  • Poultry: The Poultry Premier Exhibitor will be the highest point total from 4 of the 5 Fairfield County Junior Fair activities:
    Poultry Skillathon*, Showmanship, Breeding Class, Layers Class, and Market Class.
  • Rabbits: The Rabbit Premier Exhibitor will be the highest point total from all 4 of the 6 Fairfield County Junior Fair activities: Rabbit Skillathon*, Showmanship, Breeding Class 1, Breeding Class 2, Market Class 1, Market Class 2.
  • Dogs: The Dog Premier Exhibitor will be the highest point total from up to 4 of the 5 Fairfield County Junior Fair activities: Dog Skillathon*, You & Your Dog Interview, Showmanship, Obedience Class, and Agility.
  • Alpacas/Llamas: The Alpaca & Llama Premier Exhibitor will be the highest point total from up to 4 of the 5 following Fairfield County Junior Fair activities: Alpaca/Llama Skillathon*, Showmanship, Public Relations Class, Costume Class, and Obstacle/Agility Class
  • Horses: The Horse Premier Exhibitor will be the highest point total from up to 4 of the 5 following Fairfield County Junior Fair activities: Horse Skillathon*, Showmanship, Pleasure Class, Pattern Class, and Contesting Class.

The *Fairfield County Skillathon will be a mandatory activity for participation in the respective species’ Premier Exhibitor Contest. A Skillathon is an activity to test knowledge of specific subject matter in a hands-on experiential learning model. Skillathons will take place on the assigned day and times in September, and this will be the only opportunity for participants to complete the Skillathon for their respective species and be eligible to participate in the respective Premier Exhibitor Contest. Exhibitors will earn corresponding Premier Exhibitor points based off of their raw score (out of 100 points). Skillathons will be comprised of four stations. A completed project book is required at Skillathon.

The Fairfield County Livestock Judging Contest will take place on Sunday of the Fairfield County Fair for swine, beef, sheep, and goats. Exhibitors will earn corresponding Livestock Judging Contest points based off of their raw score. Total points possible will be determined on the day of the contest. The Fairfield County Dairy Judging Contest will take place on Monday of the Fairfield County Fair for dairy cattle.

Rate of Gain will be available to all market beef, dairy steer, and dairy feeder exhibitors.

Breeding/Market/Showmanship/Rate of Gain class/heat points will be assigned according to class rankings (placing 1st through 5th, followed by participation points).

Livestock Sale: If the Premier Exhibitor has a market animal in that respective species, they will sell third in the market sale for that species following the Overall Grand and Reserve Grand Champion Market Animals. If an exhibitor chooses to take home and earns Premier Exhibitor, they will lose their sale slot. (In that case second place Premier Exhibitor will not move into that sale slot).

Ties: Exhibitors will complete a tiebreaker station at Skillathon for their respective specie. Scoring from the tiebreaker station will only be used to help break ties for the overall rankings of each specie’s Premier Exhibitor.

Awards will be given for 1st place winner of each age group (Age 8/9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18), from which, overall 1st through 3rd place winners will be chosen for the Premier Exhibitor Program for each specie.

  • 1st Place Awards for each age group (Age 8/9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18) will receive a rosette and coupon to be used at the fair for a free sandwich at the Fairfield County Cattlemen’s Food Booth.
  • 1st Place Award Overall for each specie will receive a vinyl banner and $100 cash award.
  • 2nd Place Award Overall for each specie will receive a vinyl banner and $75 cash award.
  • 3rd Place Award Overall for each specie will receive a vinyl banner and $50 cash award.