Goats

Volunteer Position Open: Junior Fair Dairy Goat Superintendent (Apply by January 5th)

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POSITION OPEN: FAIRFIELD COUNTY JUNIOR FAIR DAIRY GOAT SUPERINTENDENT(s)

This is a VOLUNTEER POSITION.

If you are interested in an opportunity to develop leadership and organizational skills and be an active participant in planning the Fairfield County Junior Fair, we would encourage you to apply for the position of Junior Fair Dairy Goat Superintendent. We are looking for individual interested in working with the Senior & Junior Fair Board and staff to provide the following duties:

  • Operate the Junior Fair Dairy Goat Show during the Fairfield County Fair.
  • In December, review the rules for the Junior Fair Dairy Goat Show and assist in updating rules to meet current industry standards.
  • Provide input to the Skillathon event as needed.
  • Develop a communication instrument with exhibitors through email through out the year on upcoming events related to the dairy goat show. Database will be provided.
  • Assign and schedule pen assignments for goat exhibitors.
  • Plan and conduct with your committee the dairy goat show at the fair.
  • Coordinate dairy goat showmanship.
  • Complete all required documents regarding dairy goat show results and champions.
  • Work with sponsors and their commitment to award sponsorship.
  • Seek with assistance new award sponsors for new award areas.
  • Work closely with Junior Fair Director(s), Fair Manager, and 4-H & FFA leadership.
  • Follow up in early September non-sponsored awards and assist in finding sponsors.

Skills required:

  • Excellent communication and organization skills.
  • Timely follow up on calls, emails, or problems.
  • Ability to work alongside volunteers, Junior Fair Board Members, parents, and exhibitors of all ages.
  • Computer skills utilizing spreadsheets and word processing skills.
  • An outgoing personality that will be the spokesperson for the Junior Fair Dairy Goat Goat Program.
  • Work in a cooperatively with the Senior Fair Board, Junior Fair Superintendents, OSU Extension Staff, and 4-H & FFA leadership.

Applicants should send a resume with cover letter to Leslie Cooksey at cooksey.25@osu.edu by Monday, January 5th, 2026.

All applications will be reviewed by a committee and selected applicants will be interviewed.

Volunteer Position Open: Junior Fair Meat/Market Goat Superintendent (Apply by January 5th)

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POSITION OPEN: FAIRFIELD COUNTY JUNIOR FAIR MEAT/MARKET GOAT SUPERINTENDENT(s)

This is a VOLUNTEER POSITION.

If you are interested in an opportunity to develop leadership and organizational skills and be an active participant in planning the Fairfield County Junior Fair, we would encourage you to apply for the position of Junior Fair Meat/Market Goat Superintendent. We are looking for individual interested in working with the Senior & Junior Fair Board and staff to provide the following duties:

  • Operate the Junior Fair Meat/Market Goat Show during the Fairfield County Fair.
  • In December, review the rules for the Junior Fair Meat/Market Goat Show and assist in updating rules to meet current industry standards.
  • In January, work with Junior Fair Director(s) to develop tagging/check-in plan.
  • Work with schedule and operation of the June Tag in/Check-in for goats.
  • Provide input to the Skillathon event as needed.
  • Develop a communication instrument with exhibitors through email through out the year on upcoming events related to the meat/market goat show. Database will be provided.
  • Assign and schedule pen assignments for goat exhibitors.
  • Plan and conduct with your committee the meat/market goat show at the fair.
  • Coordinate meat/market goat showmanship.
  • Complete all required documents regarding meat/market goat show results and champions.
  • Work with sponsors and their commitment to award sponsorship.
  • Seek with assistance new award sponsors for new award areas.
  • Work closely with Junior Fair Director(s), Fair Manager, and 4-H & FFA leadership.
  • Follow up in early September non-sponsored awards and assist in finding sponsors.

Skills required:

  • Excellent communication and organization skills.
  • Timely follow up on calls, emails, or problems.
  • Ability to work alongside volunteers, Junior Fair Board Members, parents, and exhibitors of all ages.
  • Computer skills utilizing spreadsheets and word processing skills.
  • An outgoing personality that will be the spokesperson for the Junior Fair Meat/Market Goat Program.
  • Work in a cooperatively with the Senior Fair Board, Junior Fair Superintendents, OSU Extension Staff, and 4-H & FFA leadership.

Applicants should send a resume with cover letter to Leslie Cooksey at cooksey.25@osu.edu by Monday, January 5th, 2026.

All applications will be reviewed by a committee and selected applicants will be interviewed.

You’re invited – Jr. Fair Meat/Market Goat Exhibitor Meeting: November 25th

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Sent on behalf of Fairfield County Junior Fair Meat/Market Goat Superintendents:

Junior Fair Meat/Market Exhibitors and 4-H/FFA Advisors,

As a Fairfield County Junior Fair meat/market goat exhibitor family, the Junior Fair Meat/Market Goat Superintendents are inviting you to come and talk about the 2025/2026 Junior Fair Shows on Tuesday, November 25th, beginning at 6 p.m. at OSU Extension Office/Fairfield County Ag Center. We hope that you can join us at this open meeting!

Stay Connected at Fair – Junior Fair Department Social Media Pages

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Junior Fair Horses

  • Join Remind101 using code @jrhorse25 (NEW CODE FOR 2025)

Junior Fair Swine

Junior Fair Meat/Market Goats

Junior Fair Beef

Junior Fair Poultry

Junior Fair Rabbits

  • Facebook Group: Fairfield County Junior Fair Rabbit Show
  • Remind101 – Market Rabbits: join using code @bb67gg3 (NEW CODE FOR 2025)
  • Remind101 – Breeding Rabbits: join using code @2025bree (NEW CODE FOR 2025)

Junior Fair Pygmy Goats

Drug Use Notification Forms – due at NOON, Friday, October 3rd for Market Beef/BEEF FEEDERS/DAIRY MARKET STEERS/Dairy Beef Feeders/Lactating Dairy Cows & Dairy Goats/Market Hogs/Market Goats/Market Lambs

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Animals must be drug free by weigh-in day of fair. Each member must complete a Drug Use Notification Form (DUNF) (http://go.osu.edu/fairfielddunf) form online for each animal they plan to exhibit prior to weigh-in at the fair. If the forms are not correctly completed, exhibitors will not be permitted to show. The link to the form will open on Monday, September 29th (as forms should not be completed more than 5 days before fair weigh-in).

  • Animals requiring a DUNF indicating the animal is free from any/all drugs in its system on fair weigh-in/move-in day are:
    • Market Beef
    • Beef Feeder
    • Dairy Market Steer
    • Dairy Beef Feeder
    • Dairy Cow (lactating)
    • MQP Hog
    • Market Barrow
    • Market Gilt
    • Market Goat
    • MQP Goat
    • Dairy Goat (lactating)
    • Market Chickens (1 form per pen of 3 chickens)
    • Market Turkey
    • Market Duck
    • MQP Lamb
    • Market Lamb
    • Market Rabbit (1 form per pen of 2 rabbits)
  • Forms should be completed no sooner than 5 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. All animals being brought to the fair requiring DUNF forms will need to submit their forms by 12:00 p.m., Friday, October 3rd, 2025.
  • The only EXCEPTION to the Friday deadline will be Market Poultry and Market Rabbits who will complete DUNF Forms AFTER they receive tags/leg bands so they have identification information to enter into the DUNF Form. One form per pen of animals should be completed for Poultry and Rabbits. Deadline for poultry and rabbit exhibitors is MIDNIGHT on Saturday, October 4th.
  • Animals tagged with an EID 840 (15 digit tag) should include the last 6 digits in the identification field of the form.
  • Scrapie Tag numbers DO NOT need to be entered for market goats and market sheep – please use the last 6 digits of your EID 840 tag.
  • There should be ONE form submitted for each animal. Exception: Each pen of rabbits and each pen of market chickens will need a form per pen.
  • Turkeys exhibitors will put N/A in the identification field.
  • Market Chicken exhibitors will put all 3 leg band numbers in the same identification field for their pen of chickens.
  • Market Rabbit exhibitors will put both tag numbers for their pair of rabbits in the identification field for their pen of rabbits.

Pygmy Goat Exhibitors – Read this to prepare for Skillathon!

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It’s hard to believe, but the fair will be here before we know it- and that means Skillathon is right around the corner! If you haven’t done so already, please be sure to schedule an appointment for your Skillathon at this link: http://go.osu.edu/signup4skillathon.

This information was previously emailed to 4-H families enrolled in Pygmy Goat Projects. Here are some helpful study tips and directions to help you prepare.

A quick reminder:

All Junior Fair Exhibitors must complete both a Skillathon (county or state level) and a 4-H/FFA project record book in order to be eligible to show at the Fairfield County Fair. Project book rubrics are available on our county website for your reference.

This year’s Pygmy Goat Skillathon will include four stations:

  1. Interview & Project Book Review- A brief conversation about your project and a check of your completed book.
  2. Colors- Match color names to their correct images (similar to previous years).
  3. Diseases- New this year! Exhibitors will identify diseases based on written or visual descriptions.
  4. Feeds- Identify various feedstuffs displayed in plastic containers, just like in the past two years.

Skillathon study materials can be found in your Goat Resource Handbook (GRH) and are also outlined below:

    • Colors- GRH Page 144, see attached Pygmy Goat Color PDF
    • Diseases- GRH Page 88-93
    • Feeds- GRH Page 56, 75-78

If you don’t have your species Resource Handbook, a limited number are available for purchase at the Extension Office. Your 4-H/FFA advisor may also have one you can reference.

If you have any questions or need help preparing for Skillathon, please don’t hesitate to reach out! And if you’ve decided to not take your livestock project this year, please let me know as soon as possible.

We are looking forward to seeing all of your hard work and studying pay off!

Dairy Goat Exhibitors – Read this to prepare for Skillathon!

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It’s hard to believe, but the fair will be here before we know it- and that means Skillathon is right around the corner! If you haven’t done so already, please be sure to schedule an appointment for your Skillathon at this link: http://go.osu.edu/signup4skillathon.

This information was previously emailed to 4-H families enrolled in Breeding Meat Doe/Market Goat (Wether) Projects. Here are some helpful study tips and directions to help you prepare.

A quick reminder:

All Junior Fair Exhibitors must complete both a Skillathon (county or state level) and a 4-H/FFA project record book in order to be eligible to show at the Fairfield County Fair. Project book rubrics are available on our county website for your reference.

This year’s Meat/Market Goat Skillathon will include four stations:

  1. Interview & Project Book Review- A brief conversation about your project and a check of your completed book.
  2. Breeds- Match breed names to their correct images (similar to previous years).
  3. Diseases- New this year! Exhibitors will identify diseases based on written or visual descriptions.
  4. Feeds- Identify various feedstuffs displayed in plastic containers, just like in the past two years.

Skillathon study materials can be found in your Dairy & Market Goat Resource Handbook (GRH) and are also outlined below:

If you don’t have your species Resource Handbook, a limited number are available for purchase at the Extension Office. Your 4-H/FFA advisor may also have one you can reference.

If you have any questions or need help preparing for Skillathon, please don’t hesitate to reach out! And if you’ve decided to not take your livestock project this year, please let me know as soon as possible.

We are looking forward to seeing all of your hard work and studying pay off!

An exhibitor must complete an in-person Skillathon for each specie they plan to compete for Premier Exhibitor

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An exhibitor must complete an in-person Skillathon for each specie they plan to compete for Premier Exhibitor. If an exhibitor does not participate in the Fairfield County Skillathon for that specie, they will be ineligible for Premier Exhibitor in that specie.

The objective of the Premier Exhibitor Contest is to encourage youth exhibitors to explore multiple aspects of the livestock specie project they are enrolled in, and to reward those youth that participate at the highest level. While some exhibitors may choose to only participate in a single aspect of an animal project, the reality is that all the various opportunities available for any given project are interrelated and participation can enhance the knowledge, skills, and enjoyment gained from the project.

  • Exhibitors will learn that market animals originate from breeding stock.
  • Performance is vital to the profitability of livestock production.
  • Efficient record keeping allows the owner to determine if the project was profitable.
  • Livestock evaluation is the foundation for selecting both breeding and market livestock.
  • Knowing breeds, body parts and muscle names and locations complements one’s ability to evaluate livestock.

It’s all interrelated and encouraging youth to expand their knowledge of their project by participating in a variety of opportunities while also in a competitive environment will enhance the learning experience.

Requirements

  • Exhibitors must be enrolled in a 4-H/FFA project in that species in their respective 4-H Club/FFA Chapter.
  • FairEntry is made in the respective species by August FairEntry deadline.
  • The exhibitor must complete the Fairfield County Skillathon for the species they plan to compete in Premier Exhibitor. Those exhibitors who participate in the alternative Skillathon options will not be eligible for Premier Exhibitor (i.e., Ohio State Fair VIRTUAL Skillathon, Ohio State Fair IN-PERSON Skillathon, and/or Fairfield County Make-Up Skillathon). Project books will be reviewed as part of the county Skillathon event.
  • The exhibitor must complete and turn in their project record book at the species’ scheduled Fairfield County Skillathon to participate in Premier Exhibitor for each respective species. Books will not be accepted on any other date for Premier Exhibitor participants.
  • An exhibitor must complete a Skillathon for each specie they plan to compete for Premier Exhibitor. If an exhibitor does not participate in the Fairfield County Skillathon for that specie, they will be ineligible for Premier Exhibitor in that species.
  • Exhibitors must show their own animal(s).

Eligible Species

  • Dairy Cattle
  • Beef
  • Swine
  • Sheep
  • Dairy Goats
  • Meat/Market Goats
  • Pygmy Goats
  • Poultry
  • Rabbits
  • Dogs
  • Alpacas/Llamas
  • Horses

Scoring

The Premier Exhibitor for each species will be the exhibitor with the highest point total from the activities listed for each specie (dropping the scores as mentioned below).

The goal is to encourage exhibitors to explore various opportunities available to them within their species and allow for lowest scores to be dropped when sufficient experiences can be offered (for example, Beef Exhibitors have far more project opportunities available to them than Pygmy Goats). The objective would be to encourage exhibitors to earn points for exhibiting animals in at least two ways at the Fairfield County Fair in addition to participating in Skillathon, showmanship, rate of gain (if applicable), and judging contests (if applicable). If exhibiting more than one animal in an activity, the highest placing animal will be used for the Premier Exhibitor scoring.

  • Dairy Cattle: The Dairy Cattle Premier Exhibitor will be the highest point total from up to 6 of the 7 following Fairfield County Junior Fair activities: Dairy Skillathon*, Showmanship, Fairfield County Dairy Judging Contest, and Breeding Class, Market Class, Feeder Class, and Rate of Gain.
  • Beef: The Beef Premier Exhibitor will be the highest point total from up to 5 of the 8 Fairfield County Junior Fair activities: Beef Skillathon*, Showmanship, Fairfield County Beef Judging Contest, Breeding Class, Feeder Class, Market Class, Carcass Class, and Rate of Gain.
  • Swine: The Swine Premier Exhibitor will be the highest point total from up to 4 of the 5 Fairfield County Junior Fair activities: Swine Skillathon*, Showmanship, Fairfield County Swine Judging Contest, Market/MQP Class 1, and Market/MQP Class 2.
  • Sheep: The Sheep Premier Exhibitor will be the highest point total from 5 of the 6 Fairfield County Junior Fair activities: Sheep Skillathon*, Showmanship, Fairfield County Sheep Judging Contest, Breeding Class, Market/MQP Class 1, and Market/MQP Class 2.
  • Dairy Goats: The Dairy Goat Premier Exhibitor will be the highest point total from all 4 Fairfield County Junior Fair activities: Dairy Goat Skillathon*, Showmanship, Breeding Animal 1, and Breeding Animal 2.
  • Meat/Market Goats: The Meat/Market Goat Premier Exhibitor will be the highest point total from 5 of the 6Fairfield County Junior Fair activities: Meat/Market Goat Skillathon*, Showmanship, Fairfield County Meat Goat Judging Contest, Breeding (Meat Doe) Class, Market/MQP Class 1, and Market/MQP Class 2.
  • Pygmy Goats: The Pygmy Goat Premier Exhibitor will be the highest point total from all 4 Fairfield County Junior Fair activities: Pygmy Goat Skillathon*, Showmanship, Wether Class, and Doe Class.
  • Poultry: The Poultry Premier Exhibitor will be the highest point total from 4 of the 5 Fairfield County Junior Fair activities: Poultry Skillathon*, Showmanship, Breeding Class, Layers Class, and Market Class.
  • Rabbits: The Rabbit Premier Exhibitor will be the highest point total from all 4 of the 6 Fairfield County Junior Fair activities: Rabbit Skillathon*, Showmanship, Breeding Class 1, Breeding Class 2, Market Class 1, Market Class 2.
  • Dogs: The Dog Premier Exhibitor will be the highest point total from up to 4 of the 5 Fairfield County Junior Fair activities: Dog Skillathon*, You & Your Dog Interview, Showmanship, Obedience Class, and Agility.
  • Alpacas/Llamas: The Alpaca & Llama Premier Exhibitor will be the highest point total from up to 4 of the 5 following Fairfield County Junior Fair activities: Alpaca/Llama Skillathon*, Showmanship, Public Relations Class, Trail Pack Class, and Obstacle/Agility Class
  • Horses: The Horse Premier Exhibitor will be the highest point total from up to 4 of the 5 following Fairfield County Junior Fair activities: Horse Skillathon*, Showmanship, Pleasure Class, Pattern Class, and Contesting Class.

The *Fairfield County Skillathon will be a mandatory activity for participation in the respective species’ Premier Exhibitor Contest. A Skillathon is an activity to test knowledge of specific subject matter in a hands-on experiential learning model. Skillathons will take place on the assigned day and times in September, and this will be the only opportunity for participants to complete the Skillathon for their respective species and be eligible to participate in the respective Premier Exhibitor Contest. Exhibitors will earn corresponding Premier Exhibitor points based off of their raw score (out of 100 points). Skillathons will be comprised of four stations. A completed project book is required at Skillathon.

The Fairfield County Livestock Judging Contest will take place on Sunday of the Fairfield County Fair for swine, beef, sheep, and goats. Exhibitors will earn corresponding Livestock Judging Contest points based off of their raw score. Total points possible will be determined on the day of the contest. The Fairfield County Dairy Judging Contest will take place on Monday of the Fairfield County Fair for dairy cattle.

Rate of Gain will be available to all market beef, dairy steer, and dairy feeder exhibitors.

Breeding/Market/Showmanship/Rate of Gain class/heat points will be assigned according to class rankings (placing 1st through 5th, followed by participation points).

Livestock Sale: If the Premier Exhibitor has a market animal in that respective species, they will sell third in the market sale for that species following the Overall Grand and Reserve Grand Champion Market Animals. If an exhibitor chooses to take home and earns Premier Exhibitor, they will lose their sale slot. (In that case second place Premier Exhibitor will not move into that sale slot).

Ties: Exhibitors will complete a tiebreaker station at Skillathon for their respective species. Scoring from the tiebreaker station will only be used to help break ties for the overall rankings of each specie’s Premier Exhibitor.

Awards will be given for 1st place winners of each age group (Age 8/9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18), from which, overall 1st through 3rd place winners will be chosen for the Premier Exhibitor Program for each specie.

  • 1st Place Awards for each age group (Age 8/9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18) will receive a rosette and coupon to be used at the fair for a free sandwich at the Fairfield County Cattlemen’s Food Booth.
  • 1st Place Award Overall for each specie will receive a vinyl banner and $100 cash award.
  • 2nd Place Award Overall for each specie will receive a vinyl banner and $75 cash award.
  • 3rd Place Award Overall for each specie will receive a vinyl banner and $50 cash award.

As printed in the 2025 Fairfield County Junior Fair Book.

Meat Doe/Market Goat Exhibitors – Read this to prepare for Skillathon!

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It’s hard to believe, but the fair will be here before we know it- and that means Skillathon is right around the corner! If you haven’t done so already, please be sure to schedule an appointment for your Skillathon at this link: http://go.osu.edu/signup4skillathon.

This information was previously emailed to 4-H families enrolled in Breeding Meat Doe/Market Goat (Wether) Projects. Here are some helpful study tips and directions to help you prepare.

A quick reminder:

All Junior Fair Exhibitors must complete both a Skillathon (county or state level) and a 4-H/FFA project record book in order to be eligible to show at the Fairfield County Fair. Project book rubrics are available on our county website for your reference.

This year’s Meat/Market Goat Skillathon will include four stations:

  1. Interview & Project Book Review- A brief conversation about your project and a check of your completed book.
  2. Breeds- Match breed names to their correct images (similar to previous years).
  3. Diseases- New this year! Exhibitors will identify diseases based on written or visual descriptions.
  4. Feeds- Identify various feedstuffs displayed in plastic containers, just like in the past two years.

Skillathon study materials can be found in your Dairy & Market Goat Resource Handbook (GRH) and are also outlined below:

If you don’t have your species Resource Handbook, a limited number are available for purchase at the Extension Office. Your 4-H/FFA advisor may also have one you can reference.

If you have any questions or need help preparing for Skillathon, please don’t hesitate to reach out! And if you’ve decided to not take your livestock project this year, please let me know as soon as possible.

We are looking forward to seeing all of your hard work and studying pay off!

All About Goats! – Webinar series begins September 22nd (must register)

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Are you interested in learning more about goat production? Join Ohio State University Extension Small Ruminant Team for the 2025 All About Goats! Webinar. This webinar series answers producers burning questions concerning their own herd and helps new producers become knowledgeable herdsman. Whether you raise goats for dairy, fiber or meat production or as pets- this webinar is for you. All youth livestock exhibitors are encouraged to attend.

The topics and dates for this series are below. The webinar is hosted via Zoom from 7-8:00 p.m. EST.

  • September 22 – Goat Health and Care
  • October 6 – Farm Business and Management
  • October 20 – Goat Processing
  • November 3 – Livestock Marketing
  • November 17 – Hay and Grain Production
  • December 1 – Coyote Management
  • December 15 – Open Forum: Ask Me Anything

Registration is required and can be completed here. If you have any questions, please contact Pressley at 419-447-9722 or buurma.20@osu.edu.