Judging

Fairfield County 4-H Members participate in the 2024 Ohio 4-H Livestock Judging Contest

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On Thursday, July 25th, fourteen Fairfield County 4-H members participated in the Ohio 4-H Livestock Judging Contest at the Ohio State Fair. This contest allows you to evaluate 8 classes of livestock (sheep, goats, hogs, beef cattle), select their placings for each class, and provide oral reasoning to support their placings. Juniors had to complete two sets of oral reasons and two question classes while Senior participants had to complete four sets of oral reasons.

The Fairfield County Junior Team placed 16th. Those youth participating in the Junior division were: Lydia Smith, McKenna Miller, Macie Miller, Evan Walters, and Stella Koehler.

  • Evelyn Koehler placed 17th in sheep

The Fairfield County Senior Teams placed 19th, 31st, and 23rd. Those youth participating in the Junior division were: Evelyn Koehler, Abigail Walters, Owen Russell (from Pickaway County), Addie Dennis, Lily Dennis, Brin Leigh Hoisington, Henry Hoisington, Cole Rowley, Paisley Alt, Emilyn Kanet.

  • Stella Koehler placed 11th in goats, 18th in sheep, 16th in swine, and was placed 22nd overall individually
  • Lydia Smith placed 19th in beef

Full contest results can be found at this link.

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Save the Date for 4-H Summerfest: Summer Project Awards Ceremony is Sunday, August 18th

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Our annual Summerfest Awards Program will be held Sunday, August 18th at the Liberty Center in Lancaster. Members who completed their summer projects and received a 1st-3rd place, Honorable Mention or Outstanding will be emailed invitations to the event soon. The event will begin at 6 p.m.  We look forward to seeing you help us celebrate the great work done with summer projects. This event is open to the public.

Did you miss Summer Judging last week? Sign up for Late Judging!

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We strongly encourage completion of 4-H projects. If members are unable to have projects completed or have scheduling conflicts during Summer Judging dates, we would like to invite them to sign up for late judging. Late judging (for grade only) will be held on Monday, July 29th at the Extension Office by appointment between the hours of 9:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. You must call the Extension Office at 740-653-5419 to schedule an interview time. 

Ohio 4-H Horse Judging Contest Results – Congrats to Fairfield County participants!

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Congratulations to Fairfield County 4-H members completing the Ohio 4-H Horse Judging Contest.

Junior Horse Judging Team Members – Brenna Neff, Hallie Nicodemus, Baylin Alt, and Bella Champlin

  • Special Achievements:
    • Hallie Nicodemus placed 6th in Halter Judging

Senior Horse Judging Team Members – Riley Cain, Beau Cutright, Brianna Downey, Abigail Smith (Hocking County)

  • Special Achievements:
    • 7th place Senior Team in Halter Judging
    • 9th place Senior Team in Performance Judging
    • 6th place Senior Team in Reasons
    • 9th place Overall Senior Team

Selected to attend the Ohio State Fair for your 4-H Summer Judging Project?

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Selected to attend the Ohio State Fair? Check out the schedule for non-livestock projects here:
Specific rules for each project can be found here. Especially for clothing and nutrition projects that judge on multiple days: https://ohio4h.org/nonlivestockguidebook
Please still pick up you state fair packet from the office as it includes a letter from the county that you will need.

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).

Can’t make it to Summer Judging (July 15-16)? Sign up for Late Judging!

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We strongly encourage completion of 4-H projects. If members are unable to have projects completed or have scheduling conflicts during Summer Judging dates, we would like to invite them to sign up for late judging. Late judging (for grade only) will be held on Monday, July 29th at the Extension Office by appointment between the hours of 9:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. You must call the Extension Office at 740-653-5419 to schedule an interview time. 

How do I get ready for Summer Judging?

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  1. Complete your project book and activities as outlined in your the 4-H Project Member Guidelines (located in the 2024 4-H Member Handbook and in the front of your project book) for your particular project.
  2. Practice reviewing your project with an adult. Have them ask you questions about what you did and learned from your project.
  3. Schedule an project judging appointment by Thursday, July 11th for each project that you are completing this summer by visiting go.osu.edu/fcsummerjudging.
  4. What day is my project judging? Review your project information in the 2024 4-H Member Handbook
    • Can’t make it on your assigned day? No problem! Although you won’t be eligible for county awards/state fair consideration, you can sign-up for late/make-up summer judging on July 29th at the Ag Center/Extension Office by calling 740-653-5419 to make an appointment. There will be no early judging.
    • That still doesn’t work for you? No problem! Although you won’t be eligible for county awards/state fair consideration, you can talk to your 4-H advisor to work with you to review your project for completion for the year.

WHAT IS INVOLVED IN INTERVIEW JUDGING?

Interview judging is a discussion between the judge and 4-H member regarding the member’s project, the member’s learning experience and development and plans for the future. It is a one-on-one discussion. Members do not have to participate in interview judging to complete a project, but it is an excellent way to build skills in interviewing and provides an opportunity to compete for county awards and state fair participation. Listed below are a few statements or questions often used in making the interview meaningful to the 4-H member. These types of statements help a judge find out about the member’s knowledge, accomplishments, interests, and challenges with the project.

I. PAST EXPERIENCES & PROJECT SELECTION
a. What projects have you taken in 4-H?
b. Why did you select this project this year?
c. What did you hope to learn from the project?

II. THE PROJECT
a. Knowledge of project – subject matter – use of project terms.
b. What went well with the project? What did you do? What did you accomplish?
c. What problems did you encounter?
d. What assistance did you have? – 4-H Advisor, Junior Leader, Parents, Friends or Relatives.
e. Questions related to 4-H project book content.

III. PLANS FOR THE FUTURE
a. What more would you like to learn in this project area?
b. What project will you take next year?
c. What are your other interests?

IV. PERSONAL INFORMATION & KNOWLEDGE OF 4-H
a. What 4-H activities have you participated in within your club or county?
b. Leadership experience in local club
c. Overall knowledge of 4-H
d. Plans for future – schooling, career, etc.
e. What was the biggest thing 4-H taught you this year?

V. ADDITIONAL TIPS TO PREPARE FOR JUDGING:
This is an interview, so 4-Hers will want to keep in mind:
a. Wear nice clothes (dress pants/slacks, skirts, nice blouses, tops, etc.)
b. Grooming is essential. (hair, nails, etc. should be presentable)
c. Shake the judge’s hand
d. Be polite; use please and thank you
e. Do not have gum or other food in their mouth!

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!

Youth Opportunity: Ohio State Fair Livestock Judging Contest – REGISTER BY JULY 8TH

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All 4-H members are encouraged to participate in the 2024 Ohio State Fair Livestock Judging Contest on July 25th at the Ohio Expo Center.

  • Check-In: 8:30 am – 9:30 am – Voinovich Livestock Center Show Arena
  • Contest Instructions: 10:00 am – Voinovich Livestock Center Show Arena
  • Judging Begins: 10:30 am – Denny Hales Arena
  • Awards Presentation – Following Contest Critiques in Voinovich

Pre-Registration is required by July 8th and must have a county 4-H Educator’s approval – please contact Leslie Cooksey if you wish to participate. The cost is $15 per member and if Fairfield County 4-H youth wish to participate in this contest, members will be reimbursed by the 4-H Advisory Committee. Click here for additional rules and contest information.