Entomology / Insects

Youth Beekeepers – enter your honey into OPEN CLASS at the Fairfield County Fair!

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SENT ON BEHALF OF MARK SHARP, SENIOR FAIR BOARD MEMBER AND DIRECTOR OF OPEN CLASS FARM PRODUCTS ENTRIES.

Bee Project Members (and even those youth who explore bees/honey production outside of 4-H project work): – Do you want more opportunities to enter at the fair this year?  Why not enter the OPEN CLASS youth display for ages 18 and under.  Your display needs to contain at least 2 pounds of honey from the exhibitor or from a local beekeeper. Posters & signage for educational information to be judged on educational value and presentation. Display to fit in an area 14” deep x 40” long. See Book 38 Class 17 for complete details.

Check out these and other entries for youth and adults in the open class farm products department. Go to the fair website or stop by the Senior Fair Office to make your OPEN CLASS entries by September 25.

For more information, contact Mark Sharp, Director in Charge of the Farm Products 740-503-5918.

Open Class Book: https://fairfieldcountyfair.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/2025-Open-Class-Book-Final.pdf

Open Class Entries: https://fairfieldcountyfair.org/senior-fair/

Congrats to 2025 Ohio State Fair Project Winners (non-livestock)

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The non-livestock results from the 2025 Ohio State Fair are posted online. Click here to see a complete list by day. Congrats to all youth who participated in the Ohio State Fair. Outstanding of the Day rosettes are awarded to the top 20% of projects in each class. The overall winner in each class receives the Clock Trophy. We are so proud of you!

Health Day: July 23, 2025

  • Andrew Jones, First Aid in Action (Jr), Outstanding of the Day
  • Scarlett Sims, Relationships 101 (Jr), Outstanding of the Day at Clock Trophy Winner
  • Kendall Wild, Relationships 101 (Sr), Outstanding of the Day

Creative Arts Day: July 24, 2025

  • Eliana Riley, Scrapbooking (Sr), Outstanding of the Day
  • Maebri Kim, Self-Determined Creative Arts, Outstanding of the Day

Companion Animal Day: July 25, 2025

  • Evelyn Miller, Pet Rabbits (Ages 8-10), Outstanding of the Day
  • Gracie Weber, Pet Rabbits (Ages 11-13), Outstanding of the Day and Clock Trophy Winner
  • Penelope Twehues, Cavies (Ages 8-13), Outstanding of the Day
  • Jackson White, All About Dogs (Ages 8-10), Outstanding of the Day

Vet Science Day: July 25, 2025

  • Gracie Weber, All Systems Go! (Vet Science 2), Outstanding of the Day

STEM Day: July 26, 2025

  • Lee Davis, ATV Safety, Outstanding of the Day
  • Beatrice Mosley, Bicycling for Fun, Level 1, Outstanding of the Day
  • Elijah Hess, Investigating Electricity, Outstanding of the Day and Clock Trophy Winner
  • Braeden Neff, Not Just Knots (Sr), Outstanding of the Day
  • Alexander Broecker, Science Fun with Dairy Foods, Outstanding of the Day and Clock Trophy Winner
  • Kristen Wild, Science Fun with Kitchen Chemistry, Outstanding of the Day
  • Kendall Wild, Young Engineers in Solar Energy, Outstanding of the Day

Photography Day: July 26, 2025

  • Brennan Linard, Next Level Photography (Book 2), Outstanding of the Day

Leadership Day: July 27, 2025

  • Cora Bell, Leadership Self-Determined, Outstanding of the Day
  • Kendall Wild, Diversity: Source of Our Strength, Outstanding of the Day

Natural Resources Day: July 28, 2025

  • Kinsley Taylor, Beekeeping (Jr), Outstanding of the Day
  • Josiah Edwards, Insect Adventures, Level 3, Outstanding of the Day and Clock Trophy Winner
  • Andrew Broecker, Exploring Ponds, Outstanding of the Day
  • Isaac Davis, Ohio Birds, 2nd Year, Outstanding of the Day
  • Amelia Walters, Grow Your Own Vegetables (Jr), Outstanding of the Day
  • Kristen Wild, Be a Sustainability Hero, Outstanding of the Day and Clock Trophy Winner
  • Makenna Lybarger, Farm to Table to Career, Outstanding of the Day and Clock Trophy Winner

Home Decorating Day: July 29, 2025

  • Kristin Wild, It’s My Home, Outstanding of the Day

Clothing Day: July 29, 2025

  • Halle Eastep, Dress Up Formalwear, Outstanding of the Day

Food and Nutrition Day: July 29, 2025

  • Lydia Jones, Yeast Breads on the Rise, Outstanding of the Day

Clothing Day: July 30, 2025

  • Jenna Carroll, Sew for Others (Senior), Outstanding of the Day
  • Kaylee Smith, Sew Fun (Junior), Outstanding of the Day
  • Kendall Wild, Look Great for Less (Senior), Outstanding of the Day
  • Julia Luallen, Overall Award Winner – State Harbage Clothing Award

Food and Nutrition Day: July 30, 2025

  • Teagan Ross, Racing the Clock to Awesome Meals (Senior), Outstanding of the Day
  • Emma Spillers, Star Spangled Foods (Senior), Outstanding of the Day
  • Dominic Messerly, Sports Nutrition Ready Set Go! (Junior), Outstanding of the Day

Workforce Prep Day: July 30, 2025

  • Rachel Sponseller, You’re Hired!, Outstanding of the Day and Clock Trophy Winner
  • Gracie Weber, Mock Job Interview (Intermediate), Outstanding of the Day and Cash Prize Winner
  • Brin Leigh Hoisington, Mock Job Interview (Senior), Outstanding of the Day and Cash Prize Winner
  • Rachel Sponseller, Mock Job Interview (Senior), Outstanding of the Day

Clothing Day: July 31, 2025

  • Peyton Patridge, em-bel-lish, Outstanding of the Day and Clock Trophy Winner
  • Scarlett Sims, Ready, Set, Sew Active, Outstanding of the Day

Food and Nutrition Day: July 31, 2025

  • Madeline Sheridan, Take a Break for Breakfast (Junior), Outstanding of the Day

Shooting Sports Day: August 1, 2025

  • Jonathan Robberts, Rifle (Junior), Outstanding of the Day
  • Walter Mosley, Archery (Junior), Outstanding of the Day
  • Madison Menke, Archery (Senior), Outstanding of the Day and Clock Trophy Winner
  • Gracie Weber, Living History, Outstanding of the Day and Clock Trophy Winner

 

Self-Determined Day: August 3, 2025

  • Alice Berger, Self-Determined (Junior), Outstanding of the Day
  • Makenna Lybarger, Self-Determined (Senior), Outstanding of the Day

Summer Judging Results – Available Online!

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All results from this past week are/will be posted online. Click here for all results.

Congrats to all 4-H members who completed their projects and participated in judging this week! You all did a great job… keep up the great work!

All award winners will be invited to attend Summerfest to receive their awards. Summerfest will be held on Sunday, August 17th at 6:00 p.m. at the Old General Sherman Building. Emailed invitations will be sent to county award winners in a few weeks.

Community Service Opportunity: Lithopolis Honeyfest

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If you may know of 4-H members in need of community service hours, we have a few areas during the Honeyfest in need of volunteers! Recommended ages for these positions are ~15 and older teens. If younger and unable to work independently, the volunteer must be accompanied by a parent at all times to assist.

Sign-ups are directly via our Sign-Up Genius webpage. Once signed up, the volunteer will receive a confirmation e-mail with event details.

A few areas of potential interest:

  • Busy Beehive – help young kids with craft projects
  • Bee Train – assist young kids on/off the train
  • Welcome Center – greet visitors and pass out event program booklets
  • Honey Sitter/Contest Support – this is indoors – good for someone who needs to remain seated most of the time or cannot be in the heat/weather (we are rain or shine)

Sign-Up:  https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0D4DACA72DA7FDCF8-54446649-lithopolis#/

Please note that I will be away from 7/11 through 7/23. E-mail is welcome, however I won’t be able to respond until after my return.

Thank you for sharing with the clubs!

June Queen

Lithopolis Honeyfest Volunteer Coordinator

junemqueen@aol.com

Tick Safety Video from OSU Extension

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This Tick Safety video was recorded with OSU Extension and American Electric Power’s Safety Division and is hosted on YouTube.  It is not as long as a full webinar and focuses the most on keeping our families and our animals tick safe.  As we go into Camp Season, it would be a good thing to review and to share to your families as the heaviest spikes of Lyme Disease are from June to August and the number one and number two most diagnosed Lyme disease cases in Ohio are our children aged 5-9 and 10-14.  Please share this out via social media and consider showing this to your camp counselors so we can increase tick safety in our kiddos.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Az-1VK9mlGs

4-H Summer Judging – Scheduling will open the week of June 16th

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Hello 4-H Members! We hope that you are busy working on your 4-H projects this summer. Here are a few important updates to be aware of:

  • All Summer Judged Projects will be judged on the following days: Monday, July 14th and Tuesday, July 15th. Scheduling for these dates will open the week of June 16th (watch email/blog posts for the scheduling link). Please be aware that certain projects will be judged on certain days – please review the 2025 4-H Member Handbook to determine your project judging day(s). Writing Projects have been moved to Monday, July 14th.

If you cannot attend judging during this week, you can:

  1. Attend Late Judging on Tuesday, July 29th from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. by calling 740-653-5419 to schedule an appointment. Participation in Late Judging receives a grade only and is not eligible for county awards or state fair consideration.
  2. Advisor Completion – Talk to your club advisor as they can work with you to review your project for completion only. No grades or awards will be given with this option.

Please review the 2025 4-H Member Handbook as you complete your project(s) and prepare for judging.

Youth enrolled in the Tractor Maintenance Club or Shooting Sports Club do not need to complete summer judging if they met all completion requirements at the club level for Small Engine/Tractor Projects and or 700 level Shooting Sports disciplines (Shotgun, Rifle, Archery). However, if they wish to qualify for the Ohio State Fair for any of these projects, they must attend summer judging for each project.

Youth enrolled in Cake Decorating have the option for summer judging completion or county fair completion. If youth wish to qualify for the Ohio State Fair, they must complete summer judging.

Food and Nutrition Project Members should also review their project book inserts. These were tucked inside your project book if books were purchased at the Fairfield County Extension Office. If needed, you can download these here: Menu Planning Worksheet and Food Project Insert packet. Members WILL NOT bring food to judging.

Clothing Project Members should also review their project book inserts. These were tucked inside your project book if books were purchased at the Fairfield County Extension Office. If needed, you can download these here: Style Revue Card and Clothing Project Insert packet.

  • Clothing Project Members plan to attend the Style Revue at Liberty Union High School, July 14th, 7:00 p.m. This is a required part of judging to be eligible for county awards and State Fair participation.

Tick Webinar and Tick Testing Site

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Join Ohio State tick experts on Wednesday, May 7, at 4 p.m. to learn more about the growing public health concern caused by the exploding tick population in the Buckeye State.

Meet the experts:

  • Risa Pesapane, PhD
    Associate professor, College of Veterinary Medicine and College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences
  • Tim McDermott, DVM
    Assistant professor, Ohio State Extension, College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences

The webinar will highlight:
• Tick species
• Tick pathogens
• Tick-borne diseases
• Tick bite prevention
• Proper tick removal
• Buckeye Tick Test, Ohio State’s new tick-borne pathogen testing service

Register now!

The Ohio State University College of Veterinary Medicine and the Infectious Diseases Institute are partnering to host this webinar to highlight this important public health issue.

 

Buckeye Tick Test flyer with QR Code_We Grow Scientists

2024 Summer Judging Results

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Wow! 403 project judged in two days at 4-H Summer Judging! This includes 273 of our 4-H project members! We are so proud of all members who worked so hard on these projects (additional photos coming soon!).
In the meantime, RESULTS ARE POSTED! go.osu.edu/fcsummerjudgingresults
(sort by division or search by name).
If selected as an Ohio State Fair Participant – please confirm your participation by picking up your OSF packet as soon as possible at the Extension Office (831 College Ave, Suite D). If you can not attend OSF, please notify the office so that we can reach out to the alternate! We need to finalize OSF participation by Monday, July 22nd.
Award winners will receive information later this month about 4-H Summerfest (scheduled for Sunday, August 18th at 6:00 p.m. at the Liberty Center).