FFA

Fight the Hunger – Fill the Trailer at the 2021 Fairfield County Fair!

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Dear 4-H Friends,

The Fairfield County Senior Fairboard is very excited to participate in the Farm Credit Mid-America “Fight the Hunger-Fill the Trailer”  canned food drive campaign beginning on Monday, October 11 after the Grand Opening of the 2021 Fairfield County Fair.  We are encouraging all Junior Fair Participants to join in this challenge to help those in our community who need assistance especially as we look to colder weather ahead.  We are partnering with the Fairfield County Junior Leaders in this effort and do appreciate their support in this HUGE undertaking during County Fair Week.

Each of the clubs, chapters or groups participating will be asked to bring your canned food donations to either the Ed Sands or the North Wing of the Dairy Barn by the Alpacas to our drop off sites.  Donations will be weighed daily and winning clubs will be kept an announced daily via the Fairfield County Fair Facebook page.  Our goal is 10,000 lbs of canned food!! We CAN DO THIS!!!

Since we know this upcoming week is a busy time for everyone, if you would like to drop off your donations at either the Ed Sands or Dairy Barn during Club Set Up on Friday, October 8 near the kitchen door/window  or Saturday, October 9 we will hold those donations for you until the official Contest beginning on Monday, October 11.   Please be sure you donations are clearly marked on the bag or box of donations, so your group can be credited for the donation.  Also, if you have friends or relatives coming to the fair to watch you exhibit your projects, please let them know they can participate too!!  We will have large drop box containers at every entrance gate to receive donations, just be sure your club name is attached to your families donation!!   The contest will end on Saturday, October 16 when we visit all the campers on the Fairgrounds with our Junior Leader helpers  to “clean the camper “  looking for canned food items!! Join the fun of this great community service project!!

The winning groups will receive a cash prize from the Fairfield County Senior Fairboard in the amount of $100.00 for your club, chapter or group.  There will be 5 winning prizes.  Please consider helping the Senior Fairboard with this worthwhile campaign.  Our goal is to win the $5,000 top prize in this contest and make the entry process easier for all of our Junior Fair groups!!    Also, please let us know if there is a particular food pantry or blessing box you wish for some of your donations to be directed to and let us know if you would like to be a part of the delivering your donation with the Fairfield County Junior Leaders after the Fair!

Swine Exhibitors: Paperwork required at weigh-in

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The following forms must be turned in at Swine Weigh-In:

DUNF Forms:

  • DUNF forms are required for market and MQP hogs (information to file these online before weigh-in can be found here).
  • DUNF forms should be completed as close to fair weigh-in as possible to ensure the information submitted is correct (between October 7th and before weigh-in on October 9th).
  • Exhibitors need to submit a DUNF for EACH animal.
  • DUNF forms must be completed online BEFORE weigh-in: http://go.osu.edu/fairfielddunf.
    • Exhibitors will receive an email receipt after submitting their online DUNF form.
    • Exhibitors will be asked to show a copy of this receipt (with exhibitor name and tag number) for each animal at weigh-in. This can be done by printing off the email receipt or showing the Show Committee the email receipt on a smartphone.
    • If an exhibitor submits an online DUNF in error (i.e. incorrect species, incorrect tag number), they must notify Leslie Cooksey (cooksey.25@osu.edu) and submit a new DUNF with the correct information.

Take Home Form: Must be turned in before the hog leaves the scale.

“No Ractopamine/Paylean” Affidavit: must be submitted ONLINE by fair weigh-in for ALL market hogs.

  • As a reminder, the Fairfield County Swine Show will be Ractopamine (i.e. Paylean) free. For more information, visit: u.osu.edu/nopaylean
  • All 4-H and FFA members and advisors need to take the time to review the information on the website listed above.
    • The OPEN class swine show is NOT a ractopamine-free show.
    • The JUNIOR show, IS ractopamine-free and Junior Fair Exhibitors will need to sign an affidavit indicating the pig was ractopamine-free at the time the Junior exhibitor acquired it. There will not be a form for breeders to sign.

DUNF: Drug Use Notification Forms – MUST be completed before WEIGH-IN (do not submit until after Oct. 7th)!

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DUNF Forms – These will be completed online this year. I would suggest that exhibitors should not fill them out until as close to weigh-in/move-in day as possible to ensure the information is correct and their market/lactating animal is drug free moving into fair. The link to the online DUNF Form is in the specie rules of the Junior Fair Book (under Health Papers).

A direct link to the DUNF is: http://go.osu.edu/fairfielddunf. If someone submits a form with errors, please have them contact Leslie Cooksey at cooksey.25@osu.edu so we can delete that record and they will be asked to submit a new form.

Online DUNF Instructions – Fairfield

Market Poultry exhibitors will not have identification until fair weigh-in for their birds. Please put TBD in the identification field and we will update your form after weigh-in.

As a reminder:

Valid and current Drug Use Notification Forms (DUNF) must be submitted on-line immediately prior to the Fairfield County Fair  for each market or lactating animal that is exhibited by a youth participating in Junior Fair. Animals requiring a DUNF indicating the animal is free from any/all drugs in it’s system on fair weigh-in/move-in day are:

  • Market Beef (Steer or Heifer)
  • Dairy Beef Feeder
  • Dairy Cow (Lactating)
  • MQP Barrow
  • Market Barrow
  • Market Gilt
  • Market Goat
  • Dairy Goat (Lactating)
  • Market Chicken
  • Market Turkey
  • Market Duck
  • MQP Lamb
  • Market Lamb

A separate form must be completed for each animal being brought to the Fair. If the information on the form regarding drug use changes or if a drug is subsequently administered at any time after the drug use notification form is filed, an updated drug use notification form shall immediately be filed with the records official (contact Leslie Cooksey information if a second form must be submitted).

Forms should be completed no sooner than 3 days prior to animal weigh-in to be sure that their animal is drug free during fair. Forms submitted prior to that timeframe will be deleted and exhibitors will be asked to resubmit the DUNF form closer to their animal’s weigh-in.

  • MQP Barrows will weigh-in on Sunday, September 26th. (submit your form between the 24th and 26th)
  • MQP Lambs will weigh-in on Sunday, October 3rd. (submit your form between the 1st and 3rd)
  • All other animals being brought to the fair requiring DUNF forms will need to submit their forms after October 7th and by Saturday, October 9th.

To submit your form for each animal, begin by going to this link.

Take Home Forms – Market Livestock

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Take Home Forms: Market Hogs, Market Beef, Market Lambs, Market Goats, Dairy Feeders, and Market Rabbits will have the option to take home animals. Forms must be completed and 2 copies per specie turned in at that specie’s weigh-in (see form for details). There is no reversal on the decision to take home once the forms are turned in.

Please read the info below (also available at u.osu.edu/livestocksale) regarding Take Homes and the 2021 Livestock Sale:

During their regular monthly meeting on March 16, 2021, the Fairfield County Sr. Fair Board passed a motion declaring the 2021 Jr. Fair Livestock Sale will be “partial terminal.” Specifically, that motion reads:

The 2021 Fairfield County Fair Junior Fair will have a partial terminal sale/show for all species. The only exception to this is the 8 champions that must be slaughtered and inspected at a designated packer according to ODA (grand/reserve market beef, grand/reserve market hog, grand/reserve market lamb, grand/reserve market goat). Take homes will be allowed for all species with the exception of those 8 declared grand/reserve champions. Take homes must be declared before the animal leaves the scale during check-in (no exceptions). Take home animals will lose their sale slot and will not be eligible for a premium and packer bid. Exhibitors who do not take home must qualify for their sale slot (as individual or group) at the discretion of the species show committee.

As a result, points for exhibitors of market animals to consider include:

  1. Since there is no packer bid available, all market turkeys, market chickens and market ducks will go back home at the conclusion of the Fair as in past years. No Exhibitor Intent to Take Market Animal Home affidavit is required for those poultry animals. Buyers of the Grand and Reserve Champion turkeys, chickens and ducks have the privilege of ‘keeping’ their purchases. Similar to 2016 and prior, beyond the champions it will be the responsibility of the exhibitor to decide whether to process their birds and give them to their sale buyer or market them privately.
  2. Exhibitors of all other market animals that have an opportunity to earn a sale slot must declare before they leave the scales during weigh-in at the beginning of the Fair if they will choose to take home a market animal by submitting the Exhibitor Intent to Take Market Animal Home affidavit.
  3. Per Ohio Department of Agriculture rules, the ‘live’ Champion and Reserve Champion market beef, market hogs, market lambs and market goats must go to slaughter and may not go home with the exhibitor regardless their choice during weigh-in prior to fair.
  4. Unless named Grand Champion or Reserve Grand Champion market beef, market hog, market lamb, market goat, market duck, market turkey, market chicken or dairy feeder calf during their respective Junior market show, animals designated by their exhibitor to go home after the fair will forfeit the opportunity to accept buyer add-on dollars or earn a livestock sale slot with that animal.
  5. Animals not designated by the exhibitor during weigh-in to go home will compete for an individual or group livestock sale slot as they have in the past.
  6. Buyers will once again have the opportunity to ‘keep’ animals they purchase in 2021.

To further clarify the details of implementing a partial-terminal livestock sale in 2021, review the answers to the FAQs linked here.

The Exhibitor Intent to Take Market Animal Home affidavit linked here is to be used to designate a youth is choosing to take home a market animal.

South Central Power – Fair Recognition

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South Central Power continues to support the Fairfield County 4-H and Junior Fair Programs each year. With the upcoming Fairfield County Junior Fair Livestock Sales, they asked us to share their Fair Recognition Form – South Central Power. If any 4-H/FFA exhibitors are interested and their families are members of South Central Power Cooperative, please complete this form and return to communitydevelopment@southcentralpower.com.

Pygmy Goat Clinic: Sunday, September 19th at 4:30 p.m.

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All Fairfield County 4-H and FFA youth planning to exhibit Pygmy Goats at the 2021 Fairfield County Junior Fair are invited to attend the Pygmy Goat Clinic on Saturday, September 19th, 2021 at 4:30 p.m. at the Round Cattle Barn at the Fairfield County Fairgrounds. This event is hosted by the Pygmy Goat Show Committee.

Junior Fair Entries are due TODAY, August 27th by 4:00 p.m.

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The NEW Junior Fair Entry Forms are now available. Please review the Junior Fair Book to be sure you are turning in the correct entry forms for each fair project you plan to exhibit. Advisors may turn club forms into the Senior Fair Office (SFO), Monday – Friday, August 23-27, between the hours of 8:30 am and 4:00 pm. This is the second and final week to drop off Junior Fair Entries.

Youth and their parents must complete the their ENTRY FORMS using the  2021 Junior Fair Book for department, book, and class numbers, and turn their forms into their advisor.  The advisor is to check the form over, and then will submit all member forms for their club to the Junior Fair Office.  Don’t forget to sign your forms – Member, Parent and Advisor!

Please enter all animals (including backup animals) for each member, as we know many of you aren’t sure which market animal you will be bringing to the fair yet.

Youth entering dogs, companion animals, crops and gardening projects, or cakes, pies and candies will also need to complete an entry form.

Dogs and Horses will need to complete their separate show entry forms as well and submit with fair entries to the Senior Fair Office by Friday, August 27th at 4:00 p.m.

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

Premier Exhibitor Contests – Program Updates Coming Soon!

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A committee has been working the past few months to update the Premier Exhibitor Contests across all species. A few details are being finalized and the updates to the program will be shared BEFORE September 1st. Stay tuned!