Events

Bottle Cap Project – FINAL RESULTS

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Congratulations to the top 3 clubs in the Bottle Cap Project Club Contest!

1st Place: Champions

2nd Place: Thurston Future Farmers

3rd Place: Sewing Shefs

As a reminder the top 3 clubs will receive a ‘cash’ prize for winning. Aubry will be reaching out to advisors after the August Junior Leader Meeting on how they would like to receive their prize.

Thank you to those clubs who have been collecting caps for the Fairfield County Junior Leaders Bottle Cap Project! We were able to collect 6,714 lbs of plastic bottle caps!!

We are excited to be able to offer outdoor furniture for sale to our community, and work with sponsors for new items at the Fairfield County Fairgrounds!

Curious how how much your club collected? Check out how many pounds your club turned in below:

Club Name Total
Champions 1421
Thurston Future Farmers 1391
Sewing Shefs 1314
Banner Chasing Bunch 530
Kountry Kidz 459
Amanda Work & Win 433
Barn & Beyond 286
Lithopolis Livestock 196
4 Legged Friends 101
Clearcreek Showmen 101
Cloverleaf Livestock 87
US Kids 75
Baltimore Blue Ribbons 74
Camelids Unlimited 67
Everything Under the Sun 61
Wild About Animals 37
Rough Riders 34
4 Creation 4-Hers 32
General Donation 8
KKEZ 3
Shooting Stars 3
Falcon 4-Hers 1

Scheduling for 4-H Summer Judging is OPEN!

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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 15, 2024, 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. (by appointment).
      • Food & Nutrition NEW FOR 2024-NO FOOD IS BROUGHT TO JUDGING
      • Genealogy
      • Home/Money
      • Creative/Fine Arts (including Cake Decorating)
      • Healthy Living
      • Collecting
      • ALL Self-Determined Projects
      • Clothing
    • Tuesday, July 16, 2024, 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. (by appointment).
      • Animal Science
      • Robotics
      • Communications/Leadership/Citizenship
      • STEM
      • Nature/Gardening
      • Woodworking

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

  1. Attend Late Judging on Monday, 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 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 projects 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. All Pies, Candies and Pastries are judged at fair only.
  • NEW FOR 2024! Youth enrolled in Gardening and Crop projects must complete summer judging. Project books should be up to date and as complete as possible regardless of timing of harvest.
  • 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: Food Project Insert packet.
  • 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 15, 2024, 7:00 p.m. This is a required part of judging to be eligible for county awards and State Fair participation.  A practice session will be available on Monday, July 15, 2024, at 6:30-7:00 p.m. at Liberty Union High School.
  • Scheduling is now open!
    • We ask that you schedule an appointment that works best for you by using this link: http://go.osu.edu/fcsummerjudging
    • Scheduling will be open through MIDNIGHT, Thursday, July 11th. 
    • If you have more than one project, please be sure to schedule an appointment for EACH PROJECT and allow time between appointments to complete each interview.

Please contact the Extension Office if you have additional questions about project judging! We can’t wait to see you!

FINAL Bottle Cap Weigh In – Tomorrow, Sat. June 22

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Join the Fairfield County Junior Leaders for the Bottle Cap Project 2024! We need your help collecting plastic caps to turn into benches. Work within your club to collect clean plastic bottle caps and lids. Please bring all clean plastic bottle caps in a trash bag and/or box! All caps should be loose inside the trash bag or box – this means not little bags inside bags please.

The FINAL Weigh In will be Saturday, June 22nd from 10am-Noon, Fairfield County Fairgrounds #4 Beef Barn! You can drive through the barn, drop your caps off to the Junior Leaders at the scale, and be on your way! If you have questions, please contact our office at 740-653-5419.

See below for items that are allowed and NOT allowed – There have been changes to the collection program this year! More information about this program can be found here: CAP Program Collection Information.

The club who collects the most caps by weight will receive a cash prize for your club to use for end of the year activities.

There still time to donate auction items to the Legacy Dinner Auction!

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The 4-H Endowment Board is still actively taking auction donations for the upcoming Legacy Dinner. Let us know what you or your organization/business will be donating today!

Please review this document for more information: 2024 4-H Legacy Dinner Sponsorship Donation Opportunities

Please return the above form by May 31, 2024 to lcornett11@aol.com and/or stephanie.mathias@vcnbfamily.bank or mail to 4-H Endowment Board, Attn: Auction Item, P.O. Box 564, Lancaster, Ohio 43130.

ONE WEEK to get your Legacy Dinner reservations in! New this year, get your tickets ONLINE!

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The 2024 edition of the Fairfield County 4-H Endowment’s Legacy Dinner and Auction is about three weeks away and, if you’ve yet to get your tickets, the time is now!

This year’s event is Thursday, June 13th and will take place at Cheers Chalet in Lancaster (1211 Coonpath Rd NW).

Schedule for the evening:

  • 5:00 p.m. Registration, Social Hour, and Silent Auction
  • 6:00 p.m. Dinner
  • 6:45 p.m. Silent Auction Closes
  • 7:00 p.m. Program and Live Auction

The entire evening is dedicated to the benefit of the Fairfield County 4-H Endowment all while enjoying great food, fellowship with other supporters of our County’s 4-H program, and perhaps most importantly, lots of fun!

New this year – tickets can be purchased ONLINE!

Get yours at go.osu.edu/legacy

Or scan this QR code:

Find ticket information linked here. Don’t delay . . . if mailing in your reservation, please have it postmarked by Friday, May 31!

Summer Judging Workshop – June 10th – Registration OPEN!

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Are you a new 4-H’er who wants to see what Summer Judging is all about? Are you a returning 4-H’er who still has questions? Join the Fairfield County Fashion & Nutrition Board and Fairfield County Junior Leadership Club to learn more. General tips for judging will be covered as well as project tips for specific areas such as: clothing, communication, creative arts, healthy living, leadership, nutrition, STEM, and natural resources.
Please register at https://go.osu.edu/summerjudgingworkshop by June 6, 2024.

Bottle Cap Weigh In – Friday, May 31

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Join the Fairfield County Junior Leaders for the Bottle Cap Project 2024! We need your help collecting plastic caps to turn into benches. Work within your club to collect clean plastic bottle caps and lids. Please bring all clean plastic bottle caps in a trash bag and/or box! All caps should be loose inside the trash bag or box – this means not little bags inside bags please.

If you have questions, please contact Aubry (Fowler.443@osu.edu). All plastic lids are accepted including cleaned out k-cups, no plastic with metal parts or paper linings please! See below for items that are allowed and NOT allowed – There have been changes to the collection program this year! More information about this program can be found here: CAP Program Collection Information.

The club who collects the most caps by weight will receive a cash prize for your club to use for end of the year activities.

The 1st Weigh In will be Friday, May 31st from 5pm-7pm, Fairfield County Fairgrounds #4 Beef Barn! You can drive through the barn, drop your caps off to the Junior Leaders at the scale, and be on your way! If you have questions, please contact our office at 740-653-5419.

 

Fairfield County 4-H Achievement Awards

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4-H members who completed the Ohio 4-H Achievement or Junior Achievement Forms were recognized on April 11th at the Fairfield County 4-H Achievement Awards Program. Scholarship winners were also announced and recognized. A sincere thank you to Fairfield Federal for their continued sponsorship of this awards program. A big thank you to the Fairfield County Commissioners, Senator Tim Shaffer, and Representative Kevin Miller for providing certificates to our members. And a special thank you Commissioner Fix, Commissioner Levacy, Commissioner Fix, Senator Shaffer, and Representative Miller for attending this event!

Thank you to our scholarship donors: Fairfield County 4-H Advisory Committee, Basil Garden Club, Fenstermaker Family, Park National Bank, Kiwanis Club of Lancaster, and Feeder Creek Veterinary Services.

Additionally, we would like to thank our trip sponsors: Sewing Shefs 4-H Club, KKEZ 4-H Club, OK and Judy Schurtz, Justin Marteney Memorial Shooting Sports Education Camp Fund, OSU Endowment Interest Fund, 4-H Advisory Committee and the Bertha Wilson Trust.

For photos from the event, click here. Congrats to all and keep up the great work!

For a complete listing of 2024 awards: 2024 Achievement Banquet Program and 2024 Scholarship Awards

Attention STATE FAIR livestock exhibitors – PLEASE READ!

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Those who plan to exhibit at the 2024 Ohio State Fair will need to complete their Quality Assurance by June 1st, 2024 (this is a recommended deadline set by the Fairfield County Senior and Junior Fair Boards to meet ODA requirements). Members must also be enrolled at the county level by April 15th in the project(s) they intend to exhibit at the Ohio State Fair. Our office will be asked to verify both QA  completion and that members are enrolled in the correct projects (breeding projects, for example) on all Ohio State Fair junior livestock entries.

Ohio State Fair dates are July 24 – August 4, 2024. Entries will be due by 12:59 p.m. June 21st (online).

4-H and FFA members must make OSF entries online at https://www.ohiostatefair.com/p/get-involved/livestock/livestock-competitions

No late OSF entries will be accepted. Additionally, please review the link above to confirm rules and possession dates for the Ohio State Fair.

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 a pdf/picture of your certificate which includes exhibitor name(s) and certificate number(s) to Leslie Cooksey at cooksey.25@osu.edu.