Gardening & Conservation

Attention youth gardeners – enter your produce in the Open Class Division of 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.

Gardening Project Members (and even those who garden outside of 4-H project work!) – Would you like to exhibit your vegetables at the fair this year.  Why not enter them in the Open Class!  Youth can enter a display of 3 different vegetables, see Book 36, Class 115.  This class is only for youth 18 and under.

Another opportunity for youth in the Horticultural Department is the best decorated apple. (Decorate any apple of your desire, to be judged on appearance.) See Book 39, Class 30.

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

Submit your Open Class Entries online: 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.

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.

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).

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!

Save the Dates: 2024 Summer Judging will be July 15 & 16

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NEW for 2024, we will be having summer project judging on TWO days. The judging schedule will be as follows and project judging will take place at the Ed Sands Building at the Fairgrounds.

Monday, July 15, 2024

  • Food and Nutrition Projects
  • Creative Arts Projects
  • Family & Consumer Sciences Miscellaneous Projects
  • ALL Self-Determined Projects
  • Clothing/Sewing Projects
    • Details are still being worked out for the Style Revue.

Tuesday, July 16, 2024

  • Leadership
  • Communications
  • Engineering
  • Environmental Sciences

CANCELLED: 4-H Projects in the Parks Day (May 18th, 2024)

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UPDATED AS OF 2/22/2024 – THIS EVENT HAS BEEN CANCELLED FOR 2024.

Please hold the date of May 18, 2024, for the 4-H Project Day in the Park at Deer Creek State Park, in Mount Sterling Ohio. Please watch for future information (marketing flyers) about this event for you to share with your families.

What is it? A partnership program between 4-H and ODNR to promote our State Parks and Careers in Natural Resources.

What will 4-H members get to do? 4-H members will have the opportunity to sign up for one or both 4-H project sessions. They will work with professionals in those fields and complete at least two activities in their 4-H Project books that day!

Cost? As of right now the event is free!

Time? Tentative schedule right now is from 9:45 am – 3:00 pm (See tentative schedule below, families can stay for two sessions or just come for one.)

Sponsor: Ohio Department of Natural Resources.

Contact: Jordan Conner jordan.conner@dnr.ohio.gov

4-H MEMBERS BRING (Backpack Recommended)

  • Project book for selected workshop (NOTE: Forgot book? They can fill out responses at home)
  • Pencil(s)
  • Closed-toe shoes or boots.
  • Hat, sunglasses, sunscreen (If raining, raincoat)
  • Water bottle
  • Packed lunch
  • Items needed for specific workshops will be communicated in advanced.
  • NOTE: 4-H members and their parents will be informed that parental supervision is required.

ODNR PROVIDES

  • Workshop instruction
  • Workshop material and equipment, if applicable
  • Extra pencils
  • Snacks for participants who forget a packed lunch (Goldfish, fruit snacks)
  • Extra bottled water
  • First aid

 

4-H Summer Judging for Natural Resources and Shooting Sports: Wednesday, July 12

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Hello 4-H Members enrolled in Natural Resources and Shooting Sports Projects!

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 Natural Resources and Shooting Sports Projects will be judged on Wednesday, July 12, 2023 from 12:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. (by appointment, see scheduling info below).
    • If you cannot attend this judging day, you can:
      1. Attend Late Judging on Tuesday, July 25th 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.
      3. There will be no early judging.
  • Scheduling is now open for summer judging!
    • We ask that you schedule an appointment that works best for you by using this link: go.osu.edu/fcsummerjudging
    • Scheduling will be open through Friday, July 7th. 
    • If you have more than one project judged on this day, please be sure to schedule an appointment for EACH PROJECT. Also, please allow time between appointments to complete each interview.
  • Please review the 2023 4-H Member Handbook and Project Guidelines 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 gardening 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.

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

4-H Summer Judging – Please schedule a judging appointment!

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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:
    • Tuesday, July 11, 2023, 12:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. (by appointment).
      • Food & Nutrition
      • Genealogy
      • Home/Money
      • Creative Arts
      • Collecting
      • ALL Self-Determined Projects
    • Wednesday, July 12, 2023, 12:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. (by appointment).
      • Animal Science
      • Robotics
      • Communications/Leadership/Citizenship
      • STEM
      • Nature/Gardening
      • Woodworking
    • Thursday, July 13, 2023, 11:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. (by appointment).
      • Clothing

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

  1. Attend Late Judging on Tuesday, July 25th 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 and gardening 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.

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 13, 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 Wednesday, July 12, 2023, at 10:00 a.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, Sunday, July 9th. 
    • 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!