Deadlines

Beef Exhibitors: Ohio State Fair Crossbred Heifer DNA Requirements (DNA envelopes now available at OSUE)

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For those beef exhibitors planning to show at the Ohio State Fair, please know that there is a new DNA hair sample requirement for crossbred heifers. Please review all Ohio State Fair rules here.

Ohio State Fair Junior Beef Rules:

  • Crossbred breeding heifers MUST be owned by June 1, and be born on or after January 1, 2023.
  • To be eligible to exhibit a crossbred heifer at the Ohio State Fair, a DNA sample must be filed. Envelopes MUST be complete and returned by June 1, 2024 and returned to the Livestock Department.
  • All crossbred heifers must have a USDA RFID tag (all tags must begin with the numbers 840).
  • DNA Envelopes can be requested via email at cooksey.25@osu.edu and picked up at the OSU Extension Office in Fairfield County. This is a different envelope than the Market Beef. A Market Beef envelope will not be accepted for a crossbred heifer.
  • Any animal arriving at the Ohio State Fair with DNA not submitted will not be eligible to show. This does not constitute as an official entry, you still must enter online at ohiostatefair.com by June 21 at 1 p.m.

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 2024:

  • Youth planning to exhibit at the Ohio State Fair must have their Quality Assurance completed by June 1st, 2024.
  • Youth planning to exhibit at the Fairfield County Fair must have their Quality Assurance completed by June 30, 2024.

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 2024:

  • 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 2nd from 6:30-8:30 p.m. or Saturday, May 18th from 9:00-11:00 a.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 2024, 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, 2024 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 name(s) and certificate number(s) to Leslie Cooksey at cooksey.25@osu.edu.

Quality Assurance should be completed for Ohio State Fair exhibitors by June 1st

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Fairfield County 4-H and FFA youth planning to exhibit at the Ohio State Fair must have their Quality Assurance completed by June 1st, 2024 to meet the 45 days prior to the Ohio State Fair exhibition (as required by the Ohio Department of Agriculture). Youth who do not meet this requirement, will have any entries denied.

If youth still need to complete Quality Assurance to meet this requirement and your club/chapter is not planning to host their own QA Clinic by June 1st, we recommend you complete QA through the Youth for the Quality Care of Animals online modules or attend the countywide makeup QA Trainings on May 2nd or May 18th.

  • In-Person Countywide Make-Up Clinics: To be held on Thursday, May 2nd from 6:30-8:30 p.m. or Saturday, May 18th from 9:00-11:00 a.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.
  • Online: Youth for the Quality Care of Animals (YQCA). This is the ONLY approved ONLINE Quality Assurance Program for youth in Ohio. For 2024, 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, 2024 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 name(s) and certificate number(s) to Leslie Cooksey at cooksey.25@osu.edu.

Youth Opportunity: 4-H Creed Speaking Contest

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Speak out and get involved! Improve your public speaking skills and learn the 4-H Creed. The Fairfield County Creed Speaking Event will be Wednesday, July 17th starting at 10:00 a.m. at the Ag Center. Any 4-H member can participate.

Registration is due July 1st by calling the Extension Office at 740-653-5419. For questions, contact Leslie Cooksey at cooksey.25@osu.edu.

Cloverbud Opportunity: 4-H Pledge Speaking Event

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The Fairfield County Cloverbud Pledge Speaking Event will be Wednesday, July 17th starting at 10:00 a.m. at the Ag Center. Any 4-H Cloverbud member can participate. This is a great way to practice public speaking at an early age! We can’t wait to cheer our Cloverbuds on!

Registration is due July 1st by calling the Extension Office at 740-653-5419. For questions, contact Leslie Cooksey at cooksey.25@osu.edu.

Lamb MQP (carcass) Contest: NEW DEADLINE is April 15th

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Entries for the 2024 Fairfield County Jr. Fair Lamb MQP programs are now being accepted. All MQP entries will be accepted on-line and are due on or before April 15.

Please note that some of the important MQP dates have changed as follows:

  • Lambs for the MQP contest must be owned by June 29, 2024 and will be weighed at the Fairgrounds on that date. After 64 days on feed the MQP lambs will be brought back to the Fairgrounds for the conclusion of the contest on September 1, 2024.
  • Members must be enrolled in the Market Lamb Project in 4-HONline by April 15th to be eligible for the Lamb MQP Program.

Applications for any of these contests must be received on-line by April 15, 2024. Find more details about MQP and links to each of the application portals here: https://go.osu.edu/mqp

Swine MQP (carcass) Contest: NEW DEADLINE is April 15th / Also NEW this year, Swine MQP includes Gilts AND Barrows!

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Entries for the 2024 Fairfield County Jr. Fair Swine MQP programs are now being accepted. All MQP entries will be accepted on-line and are due on or before April 15.

Please note that some of the important MQP dates have changed as follows:

  • Barrows or – new for this year – gilts for MQP must be owned by June 29, 2024 and will be weighed this year at the Fairgrounds on that date. After 71 days on feed the barrows will return to the Fairgrounds for the contest conclusion on September 8, 2024.
  • Members must be enrolled in the Market Hog Project in 4-HONline by April 15th to be eligible for the Swine MQP Program.

Applications for any of these contests must be received on-line by April 15, 2024. Find more details about MQP and links to each of the application portals here: https://go.osu.edu/mqp

Goat MQP (carcass) Contest – NEW DEADLINE is April 15th

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Entries for the 2024 Fairfield County Jr. Fair Goat MQP programs are now being accepted. All MQP entries will be accepted on-line and are due on or before April 15.

Please note that some of the important MQP dates have changed as follows:

  • Goats for the MQP contest must be owned by May 18, 2024 and will be weighed-in on that date at the Fairgrounds. After 99 days on feed the Goat MQP contest will conclude at the Fairgrounds on Sunday, August 25, 2024.
  • Members must be enrolled in the Market Goat Project in 4-HOnline by April 15th to be eligible for the Goat MQP Program.

Applications for any of these contests must be received on-line by April 15, 2024. Find more details about MQP and links to each of the application portals here: https://go.osu.edu/mqp

Homegrown Market Wether Intent Forms: Due May 1st

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It’s time to submit those Homegrown Market Wether Intent Forms (due May 1st). Find it here: http://go.osu.edu/homegrownwether

2024 Home Grown Market Wether Intent FormBy completing this form, I plan to raise my own market wether and exhibit it in the Home Grown Market Wether Goat Class at the Fairfield County Fair. I certify that my market wether will be conceived by my doe, born after January 1st and raised at my family residence or an adjoining family residence (i.e. grandparents, aunt/uncle) in Fairfield County.

This form must be submitted by May 1st of the current year, showing the exhibitor’s intent of competing in the Home Grown Market Wether Goat class. It is not a binding contract, as extenuating circumstances (i.e. goat may die, may sell, etc.) may occur. The goat selected to be shown in the Home Grown Market Wether class will be included in the general market classes.

I understand that the wether must be born after January 1st of the current year for the Home Grown Market Wether Goat class. All entries must agree to a Market Goat Committee member entering their barn/housing unit for visual inspection of animals. Failure to do so will lead to immediate disqualification. NOTE: The Goat Committee Members do not have to provide you advance notice of their visit.

Homegrown Market Rabbit Intent Forms: Due May 1st

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It’s time to submit those Homegrown Market Rabbit Intent Forms (due May 1st). Find it here: http://go.osu.edu/homegrownrabbit

By completing this form, I plan to raise my own litter of rabbits and exhibit their offspring in the Home Grown Market Rabbit class at the Fairfield County Fair. I certify that my market rabbits will be conceived by my buck(s) and doe(s) and will be born and raised at my home.
This form must be submitted by May 1 of the current year, showing the exhibitor’s intent of competing in the Home Grown Market Rabbit class. It is not a binding contract, as extenuating circumstances (i.e., rabbits may die, may not breed, etc.) may occur. If your doe does not kindle, then you will be able to enter the regular market class and purchase your rabbits.

Identification of potential bucks and does must be listed on this form for it to be accepted. Do not leave these fields blank. Please include all potential doe/buck identifications if you are unsure of which animals will be bred at the time of submitting this form.
I understand the litter must be born after June 20th for the Homegrown Roaster and after July 20th for the Homegrown Fryers. I give a member of the Rabbit Committee or Senior Fair Board permission to inspect the litter after August 10th if they wish to verify that my animals are on my property. NOTE: The Rabbit Committee or Fair Board Members may not give you advance notice of their visit.