Dogs

Mandatory Dog Check-In Day is TOMORROW, Saturday, August 28th!

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Mandatory Dog Check-In Reminder: This is a reminder to those youth enrolled in 201D You and Your Dog for the upcoming Mandatory Dog Check-In Day. Please plan on joining us on Saturday, August 28th starting at 10 am in the Feeder Creek Veterinary Show Arena on the Fairfield County Fair Grounds.

What do I need to bring?

Please bring your completed (as complete as it can be on that date) project book, your dog, your 2021 Fairfield County Dog Project Identification form and Vaccination Certificate, a water bowl for your dog, a crate for your dog and a chair for you.

Mandatory Dog Check-In Day includes: (Saturday, August 28, 10:00 a.m.)

  • Health Check
  • You & Your Dog Interview Judging
  • PetPALS Interview Judging
  • Canine Ambassador Interview – Youth meeting the age requirements were sent information 8/17/21.
  • Skillathon – required for 2021!
  • Rally Show n’ Go – $5/run optional
  • AKC Canine Good Citizen Testing (optional)

We look forward to seeing you on the 28th!

The Fairfield County 4-H Team and Dog Superintendent

Skillathons are Mandatory for Livestock/Horses/Dogs for the 2021 Fairfield County Junior Fair – Read more here!

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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:

  1. 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.
  1. 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.
  1. Participate in the Ohio State Fair In-Person Skillathon.
  1. 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:

  1. Parts of the animal
  2. Breeds of the species
  3. Quality Assurance
  4. 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).

Return to the Junior Fair Rule Book index page

Congrats to Ohio State Fair Skillathon Winners and Participants!

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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

Important Junior Fair Dog Project Information

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Attention Dog Project Members:  Know this date! August 28, 2021, 10am–12 pm

Mandatory Dog Check-In Day: Saturday August 28, at the Feeder Creek Vet Show Arena – Starting at 10:00 a.m.  Mandatory Dog Check-In Day is where members will complete their skillathon and interview judging in:

  • You and Your Dog*
  • 4-H PetPALS (for dogs)*

*Only these dog projects will be judged for grade and placement.

To be eligible to show at the Fairfield County Junior Fair, all exhibitors are required to bring to Mandatory Dog Check-In Day:

  • 4-H and FFA Members MUST bring their dog to interview judging at Mandatory Dog Check-in Day.
  • 2021 Fairfield County Dog Project Identification Form & Vaccination Certificate, signed by a licensed veterinarian (this is the ONLY certificate accepted)
  • New for 2021 –  the Fairfield County Junior Fair Dog Show Entry Form must be turned into the Senior Fair Office with your Junior Fair Entries!

For those who cannot attend Mandatory Dog Check-In Day:

  • Youth must submit the Dog Check-In Day Waiver Form to the OSU Extension Office by Friday, August 27, at 4:00 p.m.
  • Waiver Form can be found on the Fairfield County 4-H website: http://go.osu.edu/fairfield4h1

NOTE: By turning in the Dog Check-In Day Waiver Form, you will be considered for grade only (no placement award) for the You & Your Dog (201D) and/or PetPALS (230) project(s) and you will complete interview judging at the Dog Show at the Fairfield County Fair. If Dog Check-In Day Waiver is received by August 27, you will be eligible to show in all the other Obedience, Showmanship, Working, and Agility Classes at the Fairfield County Fair.

4-H /FFA Dogs; Department 118, Book 1

ENTRIES: Must enter dog exhibitors in Class 1 (You and Your Dog) and/or Class 2 (PetPALS) when making Junior Fair entries:

Dog Classes                Premiums:          A            B            C

  1. You & Your Dog**                       $2.50    $1.75    $1.00
  2. PetPALS**                                   $4.50    $3.50    $2.50

 **Premiums are awarded for You & Your Dog and PetPALS grades ONLY

Exhibitors: Exhibitors must complete and turn in the 2021 Dog Show Entry Form for their individual classes by the Fair Entry Deadline to the Senior Fair Office. The Fairfield County Junior Fair Dog Show Entry Form can be obtained at the OSU Extension Office or found on the Fairfield County 4-H website: http://go.osu.edu/fairfield4h1.

HOUSING: Dogs are not housed at the Fair. Project dogs must be brought to Mandatory Dog Check-In Day, on Saturday, August 28, and to the Fairfield County Fair Dog Show, on Sunday, October 10, of the Fair.

CLASS DESCRIPTIONS AND RULES: Will follow the Ohio State Fair Junior Dog Show Rules & Regulations, which can be found at: http://go.osu.edu/OSFdogrules

Mandatory Dog Check-In Day includes: (Saturday, August 28, 10:00 a.m.)

  • Health Check
  • You & Your Dog Interview Judging
  • PetPALS Interview Judging
  • Canine Ambassador Interview
  • Skillathon – required for 2021!
  • Rally Show n’ Go – $5/run optional
  • AKC Canine Good Citizen Testing

Fairfield County Fair Show includes: (Sunday, October 10, 8:00 a.m.)

  • Showmanship Classes
  • Obedience Classes
  • Agility, ON or OFF Leash
  • You & Your Dog Late Judging (for grade and premium ONLY, no placings).

To access the 2021 Junior Fair Book, visit go.osu.edu/jrfairbook

 

2021 Junior Fair Rule Book is now available!

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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 →

Community Service Opportunity: Pet Heaven Cemetery in Reynoldsburg/Etna

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Read on if your 4-H Club is looking for a community service opportunity!

From Joe Downs, Cemetery Director at Pet Heaven Cemetery:

A brief explanation of who we are; Pet Heaven was purchased by The Basement Doctor in 2018, and is now one of their many sister companies. In the years prior to the purchase of the cemetery, it has been pretty neglected and overgrown. Since purchasing the cemetery in 2018, the employees at The Basement Doctor have been volunteering their time to mow, meet with families, dig graves, and even set monuments. Finally this year, they realized the cemetery has too much business to keep running on volunteer capacity, so they hired me. I am a former dog groomer and humane agent, as well as a current funeral director and crematory operator. I am now THE only person responsible for everything related to the cemetery.

Over the past few months I have contracted with casket suppliers, monument artists, and a lawncare team.

My final big task before re-opening the cemetery and accepting new burials; is landscaping!

Pet Heaven dates back to the 1950’s, and is home to hundreds of companions final resting places. Being that we have headstones from the 50’s and up, many families don’t make it out to care for the graves anymore, and I really want the grounds to be clean and welcoming before reopening.

Some of the biggest tasks I have include:

  • Washing off headstones with soap and water
  • Pulling weeds around headstones – we do not use a weed-eater around the headstones because the string contains metal reinforcement, and can damage the stone ☹
  • Leveling stones – Many of the headstones have settled into the ground over the years and shifted. Since our headstones are sized for pets, they are fairly small and lightweight. Most of the stones just need to be re-centered on their slabs, so the rows are in nice straight lines.
  • Gardening and landscaping – I have been reaching out to local nurseries and garden centers for donations of mulch and stone. Right now, the cemetery is just lawn and trees. I want to have a nice eye-catching entrance with bright flowers and dark mulch. We also have a large empty area in the center of the cemetery where I would like to add a “Pick-your-own flower garden” – growing a variety of flowers and greenery, offering a unique experience for visitors to pick their own arrangement of flowers to place on their loved ones grave.

I am reaching out to see if your 4H community would be interested in helping us complete any of these tasks. We are eager to open our doors again and start accepting burials for at-need families!

Everything necessary will be provided for our volunteers; gloves, sunscreen, glasses, brushes and cleaners etc…

I will also be installing a community board with local veterinary office info, coupons for pet supplies etc, and would be more than happy to add a big banner thanking the Ohio 4-H volunteers for making our cemetery beautiful!

***Pet Heaven as well as all of our sister companies have been completely covid free during the entire pandemic. While our employees are getting vaccinated, we are still enforcing a strict mask policy in our offices, vehicles, and common areas. Outdoor activities are mask optional as long as a 6-foot distance is still enforced, or members are from the same household.

Thank you so much for taking the time to read this email, and I look forward to hearing back from you! 😊

JOE DOWNS 

CEMETERY DIRECTOR

PET HEAVEN CEMETERY

ADDRESS: 13701 NATIONAL RD. SW, ETNA OH, 43068

SITES: www.PetHeavenOhio.com / Facebook/PetHeavenCemetery

PHONE: 740.927.3582

~ JDowns@PetHeavenOhio.com ~

Skillathon Requirement Info for 4-H/FFA Junior Fair Exhibitors (Alpacas/Llamas, Beef, Dairy Cattle, Dogs, Goats, Horses, Poultry, Rabbits, Sheep, Swine)

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Continuing from 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, 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 recordkeeping.

Here are options to meet this county requirement:

1. Participate in the Fairfield County Skillathon event to be held September 11th and 12th at the Fairfield County Fairgrounds. Details will be forthcoming…but save the dates now.
  • 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.
2. 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.
3. Participate in the Ohio State Fair In-Person Skillathon.
4. None of these options work? Exhibitors can schedule to take a written test with the Fairfield County Senior Fair Office.
 
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
please let Leslie Cooksey (cooksey.25@osu.edu) know if you have additional questions.

Ohio Youth Skillathons (Virtual and In-Person Sessions)

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Ohio Youth Skillathon information for VIRTUAL and IN-PERSON sessions is now online at: https://ohio4h.org/animalsciences/ohio-youth-skillathons

VIRTUAL Skillathon Registration is due by JUNE 14th, 2021!

A few important notes:

  • Those exhibiting at OSF and want to be eligible for Outstanding Market Exhibitor (OME) awards MUST participate at the IN-PERSON skillathons at the state fair
  • Those exhibiting at OSF and want to be eligible for Outstanding Breeding Exhibitor (OBE) awards MUST participate in the VIRTUAL skillathons online