Livestock Opportunity: Virtual Livestock Evaluation – Beef 101 is February 19th

The Ohio 4-H Animal Science Design Team Livestock Evaluation webinar series is underway! These series are being recorded so that if someone is not able to attend, they can review it later at: https://ohio4h.org/node/3429.

Each month we will be focusing on a new topic/species in helping youth across the state prepare for various contests available to them. Here’s the lineup:

  • January 24 – Let’s Start a Team
  • February 19 – Beef 101
  • March 18 – Swine 101
  • April 15 – Sheep 101
  • May 20 – Goats 101
  • June 17 – EPDs & Scenarios
  • July 8 – Reasons, Part 1
  • July 10 – Reasons, Part 2

February Topic: Beef 101

DATE: Monthly TBD

TIME: 7:00–8:00 p.m.

LOCATION: ZOOM – go.osu.edu/livestockevaluation

Youth Opportunity: Livestock Judging Webinar Series starts January 24th

The  Ohio 4-H Animal Science Design Team Livestock Evaluation committee has been working with OSU livestock judging coaches, Matthew Chaney and Seth Ebert to host a series of livestock judging webinars. Each month we will focusing on a new topic/species in helping youth across the state prepare for various contests available to them. Please share with parents, coaches, and any youth who might have an interest in livestock evaluation.

DATE: Monthly TBD

TIME: 7:00–8:00 p.m.

LOCATION: ZOOM –  go.osu.edu/livestockevaluation

  • January 24 – Let’s Start a Team
  • February – Beef 101
  • March – Swine 101
  • April – Sheep 101
  • May – Goats 101
  • June – EPDs & Scenarios
  • July – Reasons, Part 1
  • July – Reasons, Part 2

Livestock Exhibitor Opportunity: Ohio 4-H Animal Science Virtual Judging Contest

Announcing the 3rd annual Ohio 4-H Animal Science Virtual Judging Contest brought to you by JudgingPro.com.
  • The contest will begin on January 25th and will last for 6 weeks.
  • Classes will be posted every Thursday and will close on Sunday at 11:59 pm.
  • The link to participate will be posted each week.
  • Please complete the survey to submit your response.
  • Results will be uploaded on Monday at: https://go.osu.edu/judgingprocontest
  • It is open to anyone and FREE to participate.
Age divisions are as follows:
  • Novice: 3-7
  • Junior: 8-11
  • Intermediate: 12-14
  • Senior: 15-18
  • Advanced: 19+
Participate each week for the chance to be named the Ohio 4-H Animal Science Virtual Judging Contest Champion. Please reach out to 4hanimalscience@osu.edu with any questions. More resources and study materials are located at JudgingPro.com.
Don’t forget to include this in your 4-H and FFA record books as a learning opportunity/experience for this year!
May be an image of text that says '3RD ANNUAL OHIO 4-H ANIMAL SCIENCE VIRTUAL JUDGING CONTEST CONTEST BEGINS JANUARY 25TH P COURTESY OF JUDGING PRO -NOVICE (3- (3-7] -JUNIOR (8- 1] -INTERMEDIATE [12- 14] -SENIOR (15- 18) -ADVANCED (19+) THE .H OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY ENVIROMENTAL Ohio 4-H Animal Sciences 2029 Animal Science Building'

Fairfield Co. Junior Fair Livestock Judging Contest – Preregister NOW (through Oct. 4th)

The Livestock Judging Contest will be held on Sunday, October 8th with registration beginning at 12:30 p.m. and the contest will begin at 1:00 p.m. in Feeder Creek Vet Show Arena. We will be having youth sign-up online (go.osu.edu/fclivestockjudging) prior to the contest so that we can help prep judging cards in advance. For more information, please review Livestock Judging Contest Rules in the Junior Fair Book at go.osu.edu/fcjrbook.

Congrats to Fairfield County’s 4-H Poultry Judging Teams!

Fairfield County 4-H Members participated in the Ohio 4-H Poultry Judging Contest on Saturday, July 29th at the OSU Animal Science Building. Fairfield County Teams comprised members from Fairfield and Champaign County 4-H Programs. Thank you to 4-H Advisor, Jeff Sweeney, for coaching these 4-H poultry members.

A full list of results can be found at this link.

Junior Poultry Judging – 1st Place Junior Team (Nolan Anderson, Fiona Sweeney, Daniel Weidner)

Nolan Anderson:

  • 1st Overall Junior
  • 2nd Place Live Birds (Junior)
  • 2nd Place Market Birds (Junior)
  • 3rd Place Market Eggs (Junior)
  • 1st Place Reasons (Junior)

Fiona Sweeney

  • 5th Overall Junior
  • 4th Place Live Birds (Junior)
  • 7th Place Market Birds (Junior)
  • 1st Place Market Eggs (Junior)
  • 5th Place Reasons (Junior)

Daniel Weidner

  • 6th Overall Junior
  • 7th Place Live Birds (Junior)
  • 6th Place Market Birds (Junior)
  • 7th Place Market Eggs (Junior)
  • 3rd Place Reasons (Junior)

Senior Poultry Judging – 3rd Place Senior Team (Sophia Preston, Liam Sweeney, Alex Anderson, Ryan Drury)

Sophia Preston

  • 10th Overall Senior
  • 13th Place Live Birds (Senior)
  • 12th Place Market Birds (Senior)
  • 2nd Place Market Eggs (Senior)
  • 9th Place Reasons (Senior)

Alex Anderson

  • 14th Overall Senior
  • 14th Place Live Birds (Senior)
  • 11th Place Market Birds (Senior)
  • 11th Place Market Eggs (Senior)
  • 10th Place Reasons (Senior)

Liam Sweeney

  • 11th Overall Senior
  • 9th Place Live Birds (Senior)
  • 14th Place Market Birds (Senior)
  • 13th Place Market Eggs (Senior)
  • 11th Place Reasons (Senior)

Ryan Drury

  • 17th Overall Senior
  • 12th Place Live Birds (Senior)
  • 16th Place Market Birds (Senior)
  • 17th Place Market Eggs (Senior
  • 14th Place Reasons (Senior)

2023 Fairfield County Junior Fair Premier Exhibitor Contest Information

This information is also posted in the 2023 Junior Fair Book under Optional Activities for Species: http://go.osu.edu/fcjrbook

Premier Exhibitor Contests

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 the 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 specie 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.

  • 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 specie.
  • Exhibitors must show their own animal(s).

Eligible Species

  • Dairy Cattle
  • Dairy Beef Feeders 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 are able to 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 3 of the 4 following Fairfield
    County Junior Fair activities: Dairy Skillathon*, Showmanship, Ohio 4-H Dairy Judging Contest, and Breeding Class.
  • Dairy Beef Feeder: The Dairy Beef Feeder Premier Exhibitor will be the highest point total from up to 4 of the 5 Fairfield County
    Junior Fair activities: Beef Skillathon*, Showmanship, Fairfield County Beef Judging Contest, Market 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 (Kid/Yearling Class), and Breeding (Doe Class).
  • Meat/Market Goats: The Meat/Market Goat Premier Exhibitor will be the highest point total from 5 of the 6 Fairfield 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, Costume 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.

Rate of Gain will be available to all market beef that are exhibited in the live show, 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 specie. 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 winner 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.

Ohio State Fair Livestock Judging Contest

Just a reminder, the link for the 2023 Ohio State Fair Livestock Judging Contest is open! As always, pre-registration is mandatory for participation.

REGISTRATION CLOSES JULY 10th!

A few tips for this year’s contest:

  • Attached are the rules for you to review: 2023 Livestock Judging Rules
  • You also have a copy of the contest instructions that may be useful to go over with your team members prior to the contest: Ohio State Fair 4-H Livestock Judging Contest Instructions
  • If 4-H members from Fairfield County wish to put together a team for this contest, please contact Leslie Cooksey by July 7th with name(s) of participant(s).
  • Please note there is no organized 4-H Livestock Judging Team/Program currently in Fairfield County. However, anyone is welcome to participate in the Ohio State Fair Livestock Judging Contest.
  • You will have to have a county extension professional sign off on your team members!!!

Livestock Judging at the Ohio Beef Expo!

On behalf of the Ohio Cattlemen’s Association and the Ohio State University, we welcome you to join us at the 35th Annual Ohio Beef Expo for the Judging Contest. It will be held on March 17th at 9 a.m. in the Coliseum at the Ohio Expo Center. Check-in will be from 7-8 a.m. There will be NO ONSITE REGISTRATION. Beef Expo is one of Ohio’s largest industry events, bringing youth, breeders and the public together.

The EARLY registration deadline is March 1

  • $10 per participant, $40 per team

The LATE registration deadline is March 12

  • $15 per participant, $60 per team

Link: https://www.ohiobeefexpo.com/schedule-events/youth-events

If you have any questions about the contest, reach out to Karigan at kblue@ohiocattle.org or by phone at 614-873-6736

Ohio 4-H Virtual Livestock Judging Contest

How would you like to participate in a judging contest and gain judging experience from your phone? The contest began on Thursday via Facebook. Each week a class will be posted on the Ohio State – 4-H Animal Sciences Facebook page with a link to fill out your information and placing selections. It is open to participants of all ages and states. The species will include cattle, swine, sheep, and goats.

The rules are simple:

  • It is 100% FREE
  • Participate each week before results are posted
  • The contest is open to all ages
  • Results will be posted at the beginning of each week
  • The contest will run for 6 weeks

Division champions will be selected and are divided as follows:

  • Novice (0-7)
  • Junior (8-11)
  • Intermediate (12-14)
  • Senior (15-18)
  • Advanced (19+)
Check out judgingpro.com for additional species and resources.

Participate every week for a chance to be named the Ohio 4-H Animal Sciences Virtual Judging Champion!

Be sure to include this in your 4-H and FFA record books under learning experiences!

Sources: Licking County 4-H Blog and Ohio State – 4-H Animal Sciences Facebook Page