FFA

Ohio State Fair Skillathons – Open to **ALL** 4-H and FFA youth!

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Did you know any 4-H/FFA youth can participate in the State Fair skillathons? Skillathons are events for youth to show what they know about a species and to be recognized for their knowledge and skills. Youth do not have to be an exhibitor at the Ohio State Fair to participate or be enrolled in an animal project.

Want more information? Click here!

Ohio State Fair In-Person & Virtual Ohio Youth Skillathons

Open to any Ohio youth, age 8 and in the 3rd grade, or 9 years old and older regardless of grade level, to age 18, this is a separate virtual event to allow broader participation. You do not have to exhibit a particular species to participate in that species Skillathon. Virtual Skillathon participation does not qualify a youth participant for outstanding market exhibitor awards. Proctored Virtual Skillathon at the Ohio Expo Center will qualify for the Outstanding Breeding Exhibitor awards.

Youth Reserve Program Payouts

Livestock Exhibitors: Quality Assurance MUST be completed by June 30th to show at fair, no exceptions!

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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 2025:

  • Youth planning to exhibit at the Ohio State Fair must have their Quality Assurance completed by June 1st, 2025 (or 45 days prior to exhibition).
  • Youth planning to exhibit at the Fairfield County Fair must have their Quality Assurance completed by June 30, 2025.

Email reminders will be sent to advisors this last month for those who have yet to complete this requirement.

All Quality Assurance information has been shared with club/chapter advisors and has been posted on the blog since April 24th. Read all Quality Assurance options for 2025 here.

Reminder: No Leasing of Market Animals

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As a reminder to all Junior Fair exhibitors, there is no leasing of market or breeding animals for the Fairfield County Junior Fair. The animals must be owned by the exhibitor. Please review the Junior Fair Book for additional details and dates: go.osu.edu/fairfieldrulebook

The only exceptions include:

  • Dairy Goat (breeding)
  • Dairy Cattle (breeding)
  • Horses
  • Alpacas/Llamas

Attention 4-H/FFA Horse Exhibitors: Items due by June 1st

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Reminder, the following forms are due for Primary AND Back-up horses on June 1st to the Extension Office.

  • Horse ID Form with 1 Photo
    • Photo Requirement: It should be a side photo of the horse that must show youth, horse’s face and any leg markings
  • Negative Coggins Test from your Veterinarian
  • Horse Housing Form ( if not housed at your address)
  • Horse Lease (if applicable)
  • Pony Form (if applicable)

The following items are also due per exhibitor by June 1st:

If you have questions, please visit: https://fairfield.osu.edu/program-areas/4-h-youth-development/pas-horse-show-information or contact Aubry Fowler at email: fowler.443@osu.edu or phone: 740-653-5419.

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 2025:

  • Youth planning to exhibit at the Ohio State Fair must have their Quality Assurance completed by June 1st, 2025.
  • Youth planning to exhibit at the Fairfield County Fair must have their Quality Assurance completed by June 30th, 2025.

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 2025:

  • 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 1st from 6:30-8:30 p.m. or Tuesday, May 20th from 6:30-8:30 p.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 2025, 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, 2025 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.

ODA Animal Health – Fairs and Exhibitions Newsletter (Special Edition 2)

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Please review the following items as shared by the Ohio Department of Agriculture – Division of Animal Health as it relates to county/state fair participation. Items are current as of March 17, 2025 when this newsletter was shared.

Poultry Shows at County Fairs

There are currently no ODA restrictions for holding poultry shows for the 2025 County Fair Season. ODA will continue to monitor the Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza situation, both nationally and in Ohio. We recommend fair boards, 4H agents, and OSU Extension Educators continue to work with ODA and their official veterinarian on biosecurity protocols.

The ODA website has the most up-to-date information on detections in Ohio as well as biosecurity resources.

5 Frequently Asked Questions

Last bulletin, we covered 5 of the FAQ questions in the FAQ Document on the ODA AH Website. See below for 5 additional frequently asked questions

1) Am I allowed to use a cold towel on my sheep/animal in the makeup ring?

Per 901-19, the application of ice, ice packs, cold packs, or cold compresses prescribed to relieve heat stress or a medical condition diagnosed and prescribed by the official veterinarian at an exhibition are allowed. If the fair is taking place on an extremely hot day and cold water is necessary to cool down the animal per the official veterinarian, that is allowed. However, using ice, ice packs, cold packs, or cold compresses internally or externally for reasons other than what is listed above is an unacceptable practice.

2) Can our county fair drug test feeder calves?

There is growing support to expand drug testing to other classes of livestock exhibition, such as junior livestock exhibition non-terminal shows. Beginning in 2025, ODA will provide testing for the Grand and Reserve Champion market meat goats, market dairy goats, beef feeder calves, and dairy feeder calves (non-terminal) on a voluntary basis. If a fair or sponsor voluntarily wishes to have animals in these additional classes tested, the state will test in the same manner as other market classes. Regardless, all exhibition livestock must maintain the same status at the time of show, which is exhibition drug residue legal.

3) Can my child show an animal in showmanship with a drug in their system or when the animal is not “exhibition drug residue legal”?

ODA allows an animal to be shown in showmanship, even if they do not meet the “exhibition drug residue legal” definition and cannot show in their market or breeding class. That is because the showing of the animal in showmanship is a reflection on the individual showing the animal, not the animal itself. However, a county fair can have more strict rules than ODA and may not allow this animal to be shown.

4) Is an animal allowed to go through the sale ring when they are not exhibition drug residue legal? 

If a situation arises that necessitates that an animal receives a medication after the show and before the sale, a new DUNF must be filed with the local sponsor immediately. This must also be done under the advisement and approval of the official veterinarian. Once done so, the animal may then go through the sale ring. All appropriate withdrawal times must be kept and the buyer notified of withdrawal time, if there is one.

However, a county fair can have more strict rules than ODA and may not allow this animal to be sold until the withdrawal time has been met.

5) Can I give my animal water by mouth via a hand pump or syringe at the exhibition?

You cannot FORCIBLY give an animal water by mouth at an exhibition. This practice is referred to as drenching. “Drenching” means the act of using an instrument, including a bottle, placed in an animal’s mouth to orally administer a liquid, food, or any other substance. Drenching of livestock at an exhibition is prohibited, unless prescribed by the official veterinarian. Drenching is when you are forcing the animal to take in the liquid.

However, if you are holding a hand pump (in the example of swine) and the hog comes up and voluntarily takes a drink from the hand pump, that is acceptable.

Guidance Documents

Find the First Fairs and Exhibitions newsletter on our website.

Download a copy of the updated ODA FAQ, which includes additional questions not listed above.

Exhibition Guidance and Best Practice Checklist

To see the current rules:

– OAC 901-19

– OAC 901:1-18

– ORC 901.70-76

Cattle Warts

Cattle warts, also know as papillomatosis, are caused by several strains of bovine papilloma virus (BPV). Warts are typically found in the head, neck, and shoulder regions but may also be located on the teats, back, abdomen, or venereal region.  

Most wart appears as growths on the skin with a thickened, hard, and scaly surface that may resemble cauliflower. Some strains of BPV may produce a papulonodule, which extends deeper into the dermal layer with a similar hard and scaley surface. Diagnosis is typically made by observation. 

Transmission of cattle warts may occur due to direct contact with the warts or through indirect contact with fomites such as halters, tack, and medical instruments. There is also potential for spread through insect vectors. While cattle warts are contagious among cattle, they are not zoonotic as most papilloma viruses are species-specific.  

Prevention of cattle warts includes disinfection of shared tack, medical instruments, and other equipment. If papillomatosis is problem at the herd level, vaccination is possible through commercially available or autogenous vaccines. Cattle warts typically resolve on their own, though they may last a year or more. Surgical removal is recommended for warts that are large or numerous.  

Cattle with warts should refrain from exhibition or have the warts surgically removed before shows and fairs.  

Additional Questions?

If you are an educator, parent, exhibitor, or fair veterinarian and have additional questions, our Fairs/Exhibitions Administrative team is always available to answer questions. If you wish to speak to the team, please email animal@agri.ohio.gov.

 

Dr. Dennis Summers – State Veterinarian

Dr. Kristy Shaw – Assistant State Veterinarian

Jacquie Keller-Potvin – Program Administrator

Cindy Bodie – Program Administrator

Teen Opportunity: Ohio State Fair Junior Fair Board Applications due 3/12/2025

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Applications are open through March 12. The Ohio State Fair Junior Fair Board is made up of our great state’s best and brightest young leaders, hand-picked to contribute to the success of the Ohio State Fair each year. These students come together for two weeks of hard work and team building while fostering professional relationships along the way.

What are the requirements for my organization members?

In addition to being an outstanding leader, prospective members should meet the following general criteria:

  • 16-20 years old
  • Currently a member of 4-H, FFA, Girl Scouts, Boy Scouts, or Farm Bureau, or any other career technical organization
  • Highly involved members in their organization
  • Significant accomplishments within the organization (i.e. competition at the state and/or national level, leadership experiences, community service/volunteer experiences, etc.)
  • Leadership experience with the potential and desire to continue to grow as a leader
  • Very responsible, respectful, and professional
  • Members are only eligible to serve one two year term on the JFB representing one organization

What is the time commitment?

Junior Fair Board members commit approximately two weeks of time to the Ohio State Fair, arriving the Monday prior to the Fair’s Wednesday opening. First year Junior Fair Board members are paid a flat-rate stipend for their service; returning members will receive a higher stipend for their second year of service.

How do my organization members apply?

All interested applicants should submit the official Ohio State Fair Junior Fair Board application through the online application portal between February 1 and March 1. Interested students can also apply to serve as an at-large member if they represent one or more of these organizations.

Source: Ohio Expo Center & State Fair website

LAST CALL: Junior Fair Board Applications – due 1/10/2025 (online)

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2025 Junior Fair Board Application (online application) For 4-H and FFA youth interested in serving on the Fairfield County Junior Fair Board.  Membership is open to youth between the ages of 14 and 18 years old. New members must be 14 years old by October 1st of the current year to serve. Applications are due Friday, January 10th, 2025.