Judging

Youth Opportunity: 4-H Demonstration Contest – Signup by July 1st

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Sign-up NOW through Monday, July 1st to participate in the Fairfield County 4-H Demonstration Contest by calling the Extension Office at 740-653-5419.

When: Wednesday, July 16th, 2025

Time: 10:00 a.m.

Who: Any 4-H member (project age)

What: A contest designed to demonstrate your ability to teach how to do something. There are Junior and Senior Divisions! For more information contact the Extension Office

Where: Ag Center, 831 College Avenue, Lancaster Why: To share your talents or skills with others and improve your teaching abilities.

Need tips on how to plan for a great demonstration? Click here!

Participants in the county demonstration contest have the opportunity to advance to the Ohio State Fair! For more information on guidelines and rules, review the Ohio State Fair Guidebook for Communication Days.

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.

Youth Opportunity: Ohio State Fair Livestock Judging Contest – July 20th

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The rules and entry forms are officially posted for the 2025 Livestock Judging contest. Please visit our website for all of the up-to-date information. Please forward this information to anyone who may be interested. Currently, we do not have a livestock judging coach/team in Fairfield County. If you are interested in coaching a team, please contact Leslie Cooksey at cooksey.25@osu.edu. If you are interested in competing in this state 4-H event, they can still do so (even without an organized team at the county level). Youth must be 4-H members in good standing and have a county 4-H educator sign off on your registration. If you have any questions, do not hesitate to reach out!

The 2025 Ohio State Fair Livestock Judging Contest will be Sunday, July 20th. If interested in participating, please contact Leslie Cooksey by July 1st (cooksey.25@osu.edu)

Ohio 4-H Livestock Judging Resources and Information: https://ohio4h.org/node/3429

Youth Opportunity: Ohio 4-H Avian Bowl and Poultry Judging

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The rules and entry forms are officially posted for the 2025 Ohio 4-H Avian Bowl, Poultry Judging, and Livestock Judging contests. Please visit the websites below for all of the up-to-date information. Please forward this information to anyone who may be interested. If you have any questions, do not hesitate to reach out! 4-H Advisory, Jeff Sweeney will be coaching the poultry team this year. If you are interested in participating in these events – please contact Leslie Cooksey (cooksey.25@osu.edu) by July 1st and she’ll get a list to Jeff.

Youth Opportunity: 4-H Demonstration Contest – Signup by July 1st

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Sign-up NOW through Monday, July 1st to participate in the Fairfield County 4-H Demonstration Contest by calling the Extension Office at 740-653-5419.

When: Wednesday, July 16th, 2025

Time: 10:00 a.m.

Who: Any 4-H member (project age)

What: A contest designed to demonstrate your ability to teach how to do something. There are Junior and Senior Divisions! For more information contact the Extension Office

Where: Ag Center, 831 College Avenue, Lancaster Why: To share your talents or skills with others and improve your teaching abilities.

Need tips on how to plan for a great demonstration? Click here!

Participants in the county demonstration contest have the opportunity to advance to the Ohio State Fair! For more information on guidelines and rules, review the Ohio State Fair Guidebook for Communication Days.

Companion Animal Exhibitors – Schedule your judging appointment for fair!

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Fair is almost here! Companion Animals will be judged by appointment only again in 2024. Judging will be Sunday, October 6, 2024, beginning at 10:00 a.m. and will be held in the #50 Show Arena. Please see below for specific times depending on project:

  • 10:00 a.m. – 12:45 p.m. Pet Rabbits
  • 11:45 a.m. – 12:15 p.m. Cavy
  • 11:30 a.m. – 1:15 p.m. Amphibians, Birds, Reptiles
  • 1:00 p.m. – 4:15 p.m. Cats
  • 1:30 p.m. – 1:45 p.m. Rodents & Ferrets

PetPALS Projects will be judged immediately following the member’s companion project appointment.  Additional information and requirements regarding judging can be found on the 2024 Jr. Fair Companion Animal Rules.

If you cannot find the email with the scheduling link, please contact Stacy at 740-653-5419.

Do you want to participate in a fun activity with your Companion Animal right after judging?  Then consider participating in the Costume Contest.  Dress yourself and your pet up in your favorite costume, have your picture taken. Fair goers will vote on their favorite costume.

We are excited to see all that you have completed and learned in your 4-H project.

Cakes/Pies/Candies/Pastries Exhibitors – Schedule your judging appointment for fair!

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4-H members with cake/pie/candy/pastry projects projects should have received an email from Stacy Hicks earlier this month to schedule their appointment for judging on Monday, October 7th at the Fairfield County Junior Fair. Appointments will be scheduled from 3:00-6:00 p.m. with awards at 7:00 p.m. Cakes/Pies/Candies/Pastries Judging will take place in the 4-H Display Barn (south side of the fairgrounds).

Additional information and requirements regarding judging can be found in the 2024 Cake/Pie/Candy Fair Guidelines.

If you cannot find the email with the scheduling link, please contact Stacy at 740-653-5419. Appointments should be scheduled by Wednesday, October 2nd so that we can prepare for fair.

Companion Animals Exhibitors: Reminders for fair!

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Companion Animal Judging Reminders:

For All Exhibitors: Judging will be held on Sunday, October 6th by appointment.  Schedule your appointment using the e-mail you received last week.  All exhibitors need to bring their completed project book to judging.  Review the Junior Fair Book for details: go.osu.edu/fcjrbook (See Department 14: Companion Animals). The Costume Contest Returns – Use your creativity to dress your pet and yourself, to see who fair goers like the best.  Prizes will be awarded.

Cat and Ferret Exhibitors: You must bring your 2024 Certificate of Vaccination Certificate to judging.  All required vaccinations must be given by a licensed, accredited veterinarian and must be current through October 6th, 2024, for county judging.

Amphibians and Reptiles exhibitors: If weather conditions on the day of judging are not appropriate for your pet to endure, please err on the side of caution and leave your pet at home and explain to the judge the reasons behind your decision.

We look forward to seeing you and your pets! – The Companion Animal Committee

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.