Deadlines

Apply Now to be a Camp Counselor!

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2025 Camp Counselor Application is now posted as an online application for youth interested in serving as a new or returning Camp Counselor (must be 14 & older to be a counselor by June 1st). Please review the Training Schedule 2025 before applying as there are important changes to be aware of this year!

As you complete the online application, you will be asked to upload the following completed forms:

    1. Standards of Behavior form
    2. Ohio 4-H Camp Cell Phone Policy and Tar Hollow Electronics Policy/Camp Counselor Code of Conduct form
    3. Counselor Permission to Participate.

If you are not able to scan and upload these documents, please submit them to the Fairfield County Extension Office by mail or you can put them in the drop box located on the east side of the building. Our address is 831 College Avenue, Suite D, Lancaster, OH 43130. All documents need to be turned in by 4:00 p.m. on Friday, January 10, 2025.

Remember that 2025 camp dates are as follows:

  • Day Camp- June 3-5, 2025; Staff ‘move in’ June 2, 2025- Alley Park
  • Cloverbud Camp- June 7, 2025; Staff ‘move in’ June 6, 2025- Alley Park
  • Junior Camp- June 29-July 2, 2025; Staff ‘move in’ June 28, 2025- Tar Hollow State Park
  • Senior Camp- July 6-9, 2025; Staff ‘move in’ July 5, 2025- Tar Hollow State Park

Selection Day Information:

If you are a 1st or 2nd year counselor, selection day details will be sent to you. Save the date: Saturday, January 18, 2025, from 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.

    1. If you are a 3rd year and up counselor, you will receive details about a returner interview and helping with selection day.
    2. If you are unsure if you need to attend selection day, please reach out to Aubry (Fowler.443@osu.edu)

If you have any questions, please contact Aubry (Fowler.443@osu.edu)!

4-H Teen Opportunities, Award Forms, and Recognition (youth ages 13-18 as of 1/1/2025)

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Attention Teens! Do you want to be a camp counselor? Junior Fair Board Member? Junior Leader? Outstanding 4-Her? Scholarship or Trip Award winner? Do you find yourself asking “How do I get to do that?” We suspect that as you have gotten older you have started to look for new and exciting things where you can be involved. Read on… 4-H has special opportunities for teens only where YOU can play a part!

There are many exciting opportunities that await you as a teenager in the Fairfield County 4-H Program. Soon, 4-H members who will be ages 13-18 as of 1/1/2025 will receive a survey link emailed to them. This survey is an invitation for you to let us know what you are interested in learning more about. Read all about these opportunities, mark which ones you are interested in and we will follow up with making sure you have the correct forms, applications, and information to proceed to the next steps!

The opportunities in awards, trips, scholarships and more available to teens in the 4-H program are incredible. Don’t miss out on learning more and getting involved! Most of these opportunities are open to 4-H members ages 14 and up as of January 1st. There are also a few opportunities for youth ages 13 as of January 1st. Some of these activities require completion of special forms while others just involve asking for more information. Regardless of what you are interested in, be sure to give us a call if you need more information or would like some help with the necessary forms.

If members and parents would like a little extra assistance in preparing their records, feel free to call or email Leslie (740-277-4625) at cooksey.25@osu.edu or Aubry (740-277-4626) at fowler.443@osu.edu.

We encourage you all to broaden your 4-H experience and try something new. We think you’ll find many new friends and much more fun ahead!

Additionally, we invite youth who will be ages 13-18 as of 1/1/2025 to attend the Achievement Form Workshop on Tuesday, December 3rd from 7:00 – 9:00 p.m. at the Extension Office / Ag Center.

Beef Exhibitors: Showing at the 2025 Ohio State Fair – DNA/EID Tag Info

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The Ohio State Fair requires all market beef entered in the 2025 Ohio State Fair to have individual DNA samples taken from each animal that may potentially be entered. These DNA samples must be in the possession of the Ohio State Fair by January 15.  Attached is a document containing sample collection instructions: DNA Sample Collection Instructions 2025. Please read the attached instructions that will be a part of each sample collection kit, and contact the Ohio State Fair, if you have any questions (Andi Hershey, A.Hershey@expo.ohio.gov ).

Continuing in 2025: Ohio State Fair will NOT be providing EID tags for market beef entries.

Exhibitors must get their own 840 tags for their entries. The EID 840 tag number MUST be listed on the envelope with the DNA sample.

DNA sample collection kits will be available at the Fairfield County Extension Office (first come first serve as we will have a limited supply) and can be picked up by the individual directly from the OSF fairgrounds. Prior to submission, the nomination envelope for each sample kit remitted must be signed by either the 4-H professional or FFA advisor, depending in which organization the youth is taking the market animal(s).

Also note that youth showing at any of the BEST sanctioned shows must have EID tags in their calves prior to the first show in which they exhibit. BEST shows occurring prior to the January 15 deadline to submit samples to OSF include: Mardi Gras Masquerade (November 22-24, Circleville), AGR Holiday Classic (December 6-8, Columbus), Northern Lights BEST Show (December 13-15, Wauseon), Saddle & Sirloin Spectacular (December 27-29, Circleville), and Scarlet & Gray Midwest Showdown (January 3-5, Columbus). DNA kits will be available at these BEST shows, but exhibitors are responsible for submitting the kits directly to OSF.

Please remember:

  • Beef DNA/EID kits will be due to state fair by the normal January 15th date.  Kits will be mailed back to State Fair.

Drug Use Notification Forms – Market Poultry and Market Rabbit Exhibitors (due at midnight on weigh-in day)

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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.

Market Turkeys/Ducks/Chickens and Market Rabbits must complete a Drug Use Notification Form. One form per pen of chickens and one form for each pen of rabbits. 

Due to market poultry and market rabbits not having identification until weigh-in day, you will be able to submit your DUNF form AFTER weigh-in. It must be completed by MIDNIGHT on Saturday, October 5th.

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.

Livestock Sale Updates for Fair (Sale Etiquette, Commissions, Add-On’s, Take Homes, Buyer Info)

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Livestock Sale Etiquette – Due to some concerns expressed from buyers and families, please make sure you review the Livestock Sale Etiquette fact sheet to learn the Do’s and Don’ts of Buyer communication.

Livestock Sale Update: Sale Commissions – Continuing for 2024: All dollars handled by the Livestock Sale Committee are subject to commission, not to exceed 4%. This includes direct to packer animals and all add-ons.

Livestock Sale Update: Add-Ons – Continuing for 2024: In order for an exhibitor to receive an add-on, the exhibitor must qualify for a sale slot as either an individual or in a group. Take Home animals are not able to receive add-ons. Parents and exhibitors should not be completing Add-On Forms on behalf of a buyer – it is the Buyer’s responsibility. Parents and exhibitors should not be including Add-On Forms in their buyer letters. Buyers can request an Add-On Form by contacting the Sale Clerk or picking up a paper copy on sale days. New for 2024: Add-On’s must be received by the Sale Clerk by 5:00 p.m. the last Saturday of fair week (Saturday, October 12th at 5:00 p.m.)

Livestock Sale Updates: Take Home Animals – The 2024 Fairfield County Fair Junior Fair will have a partial terminal sale/show for all species. This will allow for a Take Home option this year.

  • The exception to this is the 10 champions that must be slaughtered and inspected at a designated packer according to ODA (grand/reserve market beef, grand/reserve market dairy steer, grand/reserve market hog, grand/reserve market lamb, grand/reserve market goat).
  • Additionally, grand/reserve dairy beef feeders, grand/reserve market rabbits, grand/reserve market turkeys, grand/reserve market ducks, and grand/reserve market chickens will forfeit any take home option and must sell in the respective sale slots.
    • In the event that the buyer chooses to NOT KEEP any of the top non-terminal species (grand/reserve dairy beef feeders, grand/reserve market rabbits, grand/reserve market turkeys, grand/reserve market ducks, and grand/reserve market chickens), then the exhibitor may take their animal home if they completed a Take Home Form at weigh-in.
    • Any animal that does not have a packer bid (i.e. poultry) will be offered to the buyer, if turned, the owner is responsible for that animal.
  • Take homes will be allowed for all species with the exception of those all grand/reserve champions listed above.
  • Take homes must be declared before the animal leaves the scale during check-in (no exceptions). Exhibitors must express their intent to take home their animal by submitting the Take Home Form at weigh-in. Take Home Forms will be available from your Show Superintendent at weigh-in.
  • Take home animals will lose their sale slot and will not be eligible for a premium, packer bid, or add-on’s.
  • Exhibitors who do not take home must qualify for their sale slot (as individual or group) at the discretion of the species show committee.
  • Take Home animals will be released by the specie’s Superintendent. See Specie Department Rules and Junior Fair Schedule for details: https://go.osu.edu/fcjrbook.

Buyer Information

  • If exhibitors are aware of buyers who often choose to “KEEP” and wish to have animals processed for meat, it is important for the buyer to have arrangements made prior to fair with the harvest facility of their choice. This is due to limited availability for custom livestock harvest and processing capacity.
  • Please send buyers to the https://u.osu.edu/livestocksale/ website to review this information.

Did you complete an Ohio State Fair Virtual or In-Person Skillathon, be sure to turn in your 4-H/FFA Project Record Book by Sept. 20th

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Skillathons are required to exhibit at the Fairfield County Fair for exhibitors showing dogs, horses, dairy cattle, beef cattle, swine, sheep, goats, poultry, rabbits (no Pet Rabbit), and llamas/alpacas.

  • All 4-H/FFA Record Books will be checked during Skillathon dates for ALL projects (even if you completed the Ohio State Fair Virtual or In-Person Skillathons to meet the county Skillathon requirement).
  • If a participated in OSF Skillathon – books still need to completed and turned into the Extension Office by Friday, September 20th so that they can be reviewed by our Project Book judges on the second Skillathon date of Sunday, September 22nd.

Project Books

  • 4-H and FFA Record Books are required to be COMPLETED for each project.
  • 4-H Members should have a NEW 4-H Record Book each year they take the project.
  • 4-H and FFA Records Books will be reviewed at Skillathon.
    • For those who forget or don’t bring book – will need be completed and turned into the Extension Office by Friday, September 20th.
    • Exhibitors will who do not properly complete a record book for each of their fair projects WILL NOT be allowed to exhibit at the fair. NO EXCEPTIONS.
    • No books will be reviewed after September 22nd.

Final County Skillathon Date: Sunday, September 22nd

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The Fairfield County Junior Fair will require the completion of at least one Skillathon per 4-H/FFA exhibitor in order to show at 2024 Fairfield County Junior Fair for all beef, dairy, goat, poultry, rabbit (except Pet Rabbits), sheep, swine, dog, horse, alpaca/llama projects. The final county Skillathon date will be Sunday, September 22nd for DOGS, dairy/pygmy goats, horses, alpacas/llamas, poultry, and rabbits.

For a complete list of 2024 Skillathon details, please read the Required Activities for Species sections of the 2024 Junior Fair Book (see page 25-26).

Junior Fair Queen Applications Available: Due 9/6/2024

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The 2024 Fairfield County Junior Fair Queen Cover Letter and Application can be found here.

Signed Junior Fair Queen Applications (with photo) are due to the Extension Office by 4:00 pm on September 6, 2024. Don’t forget to sign the application and include a picture!

The top 10 candidates will be invited to interview on Tuesday, September 17th.