Livestock

DUNF: Drug Use Notification Forms – MUST be completed before WEIGH-IN (do not submit until after Oct. 7th)!

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DUNF Forms – These will be completed online this year. I would suggest that exhibitors should not fill them out until as close to weigh-in/move-in day as possible to ensure the information is correct and their market/lactating animal is drug free moving into fair. The link to the online DUNF Form is in the specie rules of the Junior Fair Book (under Health Papers).

A direct link to the DUNF is: http://go.osu.edu/fairfielddunf. If someone submits a form with errors, please have them contact Leslie Cooksey at cooksey.25@osu.edu so we can delete that record and they will be asked to submit a new form.

Online DUNF Instructions – Fairfield

Market Poultry exhibitors will not have identification until fair weigh-in for their birds. Please put TBD in the identification field and we will update your form after weigh-in.

As a reminder:

Valid and current Drug Use Notification Forms (DUNF) must be submitted on-line immediately prior to the Fairfield County Fair  for each market or lactating animal that is exhibited by a youth participating in Junior Fair. Animals requiring a DUNF indicating the animal is free from any/all drugs in it’s system on fair weigh-in/move-in day are:

  • Market Beef (Steer or Heifer)
  • Dairy Beef Feeder
  • Dairy Cow (Lactating)
  • MQP Barrow
  • Market Barrow
  • Market Gilt
  • Market Goat
  • Dairy Goat (Lactating)
  • Market Chicken
  • Market Turkey
  • Market Duck
  • MQP Lamb
  • Market Lamb

A separate form must be completed for each animal being brought to the Fair. If the information on the form regarding drug use changes or if a drug is subsequently administered at any time after the drug use notification form is filed, an updated drug use notification form shall immediately be filed with the records official (contact Leslie Cooksey information if a second form must be submitted).

Forms should be completed no sooner than 3 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.

  • MQP Barrows will weigh-in on Sunday, September 26th. (submit your form between the 24th and 26th)
  • MQP Lambs will weigh-in on Sunday, October 3rd. (submit your form between the 1st and 3rd)
  • All other animals being brought to the fair requiring DUNF forms will need to submit their forms after October 7th and by Saturday, October 9th.

To submit your form for each animal, begin by going to this link.

Jr Fair Beef Exhibitor Announcement from your Superintendents

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Due to increased beef numbers, some things will change.

The following announcement is from your Beef Superintendents Chris Turner and Brandon Thomas regarding the 2021 Junior Beef Show

Congratulations and welcome to the 2021 Fairfield County Fair Jr. Beef Show.  In order to make this year as successful as possible we are wanting to express that the fair is continually changing to provide the best opportunities for all exhibitors and that the show reflects the best interests of the exhibitors.  The Beef Committee has met numerous times to discuss this year’s fair and protocol’s and want to make the following announcements for you to prepare for the upcoming show/fair week experience.

Preparing for entry/weigh in

  1. With the increase of entry numbers the Beef Barn will be at full capacity and will have some exhibitors housed in a tent that will run the length of the barn located on the South side of the building.
  2. There will be additional grooming areas roped off for anyone that has not already marked an area for grooming.  This will be done after all weigh ins are completed.
  3. Make sure you have all of your registration paperwork along with DUNF forms for your animals.  DUNF forms must be completed online before you bring your animal to the fairgrounds.  Also make sure that if you have registered animals that the identification methods for that animal matches the paperwork provided.
  4. We will be conducting weigh-in like last year from 2 p.m. – 5 p.m.  When you are ready to weigh in your  entry you will take it across the scales.  Make sure that you announce before the weight of the animal is announced the intention of the animal.  Example of this is either Live, Carcass, or Live/Carcass.  You must also announce if you plan on taking your animal home or not.  Reminder that you will lose your sale position if you take your calf home.
  5. Once weigh-in is completed, the Beef Committee will conduct an exhibitor meeting  at 6 p.m. that will explain the fair show day procedures. This will be held outside of the Beef Barn by the wash rack facility.  If it is raining we will still meet there and move to a dry location.
  6. Bedding will be provided for all exhibitors.  We will be using mulch like previous years.
  7. Showmanship sign up was conducted online.  As soon as we get a copy of the participants we will post the details on class breaks.

During the week

  1. Tie outs will be conducted the same as previous years.  They are held along the North property line of the fairgrounds in the same location.  Cattle are allowed to go to tie outs at 5 p.m. and need to be back in the barn by 9:00 a.m.
  2. Check the bulletin boards each day throughout the week to track any changes or news throughout the week.

Show Day

  1. The show is going to start this year at 8:30 a.m.
  2. The arena is going to be expanded and will have changes.  One change is the make up area.  There will be a tent for exhibitors to stage their animals outside of the building.  Please make sure you arrive when called to the arena.  The tent will be located at the Northeast corner of the show arena.
  3. There will be only 1 parent to help the exhibitor in the make up area.  All other individuals will be removed to make the flow of events more fluid.
  4. During the show throughout the day, we will not pause the show for any missing or late exhibitors.  It is up to the exhibitor to keep track of the events happening in the show and to listen to the announcements for class calls.
  5. Per Jr Fair book, we will be selecting a Top 5 in the Market show. It is critical for all 2nd & 3rd place animals to be in the make up area & ready to enter ring for Final Drive. We will not delay show for you. Once Top 5 is chosen, the judge will place the remaining animals in the ring for sale order purposes.
  6. We plan on breaking for lunch and will complete the Market classes after lunch.

Find the 4-H/FFA Jr Beef Cattle rules in their entirety linked here.

Skillathons are Mandatory for Livestock/Horses/Dogs for the 2021 Fairfield County Junior Fair – Read more here!

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Continuing from what was begun in 2020, the Fairfield County Junior Fair will require the completion of at least one Skillathon per 4-H/FFA exhibitor in order to show at 2021 Fairfield County Junior Fair for all beef, dairy, goat, poultry, rabbit (except Pet Rabbits), sheep, swine, dog, horse, and alpaca/llama projects. This requirement is included on page 14 of the 2021 4-H Member Handbook.

Fairfield County Skillathons may include (but are not limited to) animal anatomy/body parts, breeding and reproduction, feeds and nutrition, current events, diseases and animal health, equipment ID, feed ID, Quality Assurance, breeds, marketing, meats, and record keeping including your project book.

Project Books should be complete and up to date for the current year. Project Books for each project an exhibitor plans to bring to the fair should be brought to Skillathon.

  • If competing for Premier Exhibitor, exhibitors must complete a Skillathon for each species they plan to compete in this year.
  • If exhibitors completed the Ohio State Fair Virtual or In-Person Skillathons, or opt to take the written test, they must submit project books to the Extension Office by October 1st.

Here are options to meet this county requirement:

  1. Participate in the Fairfield County Skillathon event to be held September 11th and 12th at the Fairfield County Fairgrounds in the Ed Sands/Fairfield County Farm Bureau Building.  Sign up by noon, Wednesday, September 8th using this link: go.osu.edu/21fcskillathon
  • Fairfield County youth interested in competing for any Fairfield County Premier Exhibitor Award must complete the Skillathon in each respective specie they play to compete in.
  • Example: Exhibitor wishes to compete for Swine Premier Exhibitor Award and Poultry Premier Exhibitor Award must complete both the swine and poultry Fairfield County Skillathons on either September 11th or 12th.
  1. Participate in the Ohio State Fair Virtual Skillathon.
  • Youth do not have to be exhibitors in the OSF to participate.
  • Registration is due June 14th by visiting: www.go.osu.edu/skillathonregistration
  • Youth do not have to be exhibitors at the OSF to participate.
  • OSF Youth participating in the Outstanding Breeding Exhibitor must register and complete the OSF Virtual Skillathon to be eligible for this award.
  • Exhibitors must have their own unique email address to create a log-in to access the online skillathon.
  1. Participate in the Ohio State Fair In-Person Skillathon.
  1. None of these options work? Exhibitors can take a written test in the Ed Sands Building on the Fairfield County Fairgrounds on either Sunday, September 26 at 1 p.m. or Monday, September 27 at 6 p.m. To participate in this testing option, youth must first register with the Fairfield County Senior Fair Office by contacting them at 740-653-3041.

Details including dates for both virtual/in-person options on the two options from the Ohio State Fair can be found here: https://ohio4h.org/animalsciences/ohio-youth-skillathons

The 2021 In-Person County skillathons will consist of 4 stations:

  1. Parts of the animal
  2. Breeds of the species
  3. Quality Assurance
  4. Project Book Review and Interview

Dogs will complete their skillathon during Dog Check-in on Saturday, August 28th.

The following species will have skillathons on Saturday, September 11th from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.  Appointments must be made noon, Wednesday, September 8th through this link: go.osu.edu/21fcskillathon.

  • Dairy
  • Beef (Including Dairy Beef Feeders)
  • Swine
  • Rabbits
  • Poultry

The following species will have skillathons on Sunday, September 12th, from noon to 6:00 pm.  Appointments must be made by noon, Wednesday, September 8th through this link: go.osu.edu/21fcskillathon.

  • Sheep
  • Horses
  • Dairy Goat
  • Market Goat
  • Pygmy Goat
  • Alpacas and Llamas

Study materials would include your project books, resource books, skillathon kits, and online resources (for poultry).

Return to the Junior Fair Rule Book index page

Premier Exhibitor Contests – Program Updates Coming Soon!

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A committee has been working the past few months to update the Premier Exhibitor Contests across all species. A few details are being finalized and the updates to the program will be shared BEFORE September 1st. Stay tuned!

Livestock Project and Record Book Examples

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Hey Livestock Exhibitors! We know many of you are working on your 4-H project books in preparation for club advisors to review these soon prior to fair!

I have found a great resource for you if you would like to see examples on how to complete your books! 4-H members from across the state have volunteered their books to serve as examples. Copies are available to review online by clicking here. Scroll to the bottom of the page under “General Resources.” Sample books are posted for Lambs, Poultry, and Beef.

Please only use as a resource and DO NOT COPY!

2021 Junior Fair Rule Book is now available!

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Please find a link to the 2021 Junior Fair Rule Book below. Since there will not be a print version this year, the on-line version you see is what we will be working from this year, and likely into the future. As you review it, please note the following:

  • Near the top of the index page that will open from the link below, you’ll find links to the NEW Junior Fair Entry Forms. Links to these forms are also included within each Department link you find in the index. Carefully read and follow the protocol for completing and submitting entry forms that you find on the Entry Forms page.
  • In addition to each specie, in the index also find links to the General Rules, DUNF, Premier Exhibitor, Skillathon and Project Book Review, Showmanship, the Livestock Judging Contest and the Livestock Auction. Carefully review these pages for further instruction.
  • Rules for ‘take home’ animals and the livestock auction have changed. Carefully review these changes found under the Exhibitor Info ’21 link on the 78th Fairfield County Fair 4-H & FFA Livestock Auction page.
  • We know there may still be some mistakes in this new on-line version of the Junior Fair Rule Book. Newly adopted rules plus over 60 pages from the old rule book have been converted from PDFs and Publisher into a web format. We know some things didn’t convert perfectly . . . if you find them, please share with us and they can be quickly fixed.
  • IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS please email them to us. We will be hosting a live ZOOM August 11th at 6:00 pm and will address all your questions then, and share additional information about how best to utilize this new on-line Rule Book and Entry forms. Register here for the zoom meeting.
  • Entries will be accepted at the Sr. Fair Office on the Fairgrounds from Advisors on weekdays between 8:30 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. from August 16 thru August 27, 2021.

Use this link to access the 2021 Fairfield county Junior Fair Rule Book: https://go.osu.edu/jrfairbook

Please review the entire book before you start asking questions.  There are now pages with the Entry Forms, Showmanship Information in one place, DUNF information, Skillathon and Project Book Review, Livestock Judging Contest, and Super Showmanship.  We are still working with a committee to finalize Premier Exhibitor information and hope to have that posted by Sept. 1. Continue reading →

Ohio State Fair Skillathons – Open to **ALL** 4-H and FFA youth!

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Did you know any 4-H/FFA youth can participate in the State Fair skillathons? Skillathons are events for youth to show what they know about a species and to be recognized for their knowledge and skills. All Skillathons are open to any Ohio 4-H member, age 8 and in the 3rd grade, or 9 years old and older regardless of grade level, to age 18 as of January 1, 2021, and FFA members. Youth do not have to be an exhibitor at the Ohio State Fair to participate or be enrolled in an animal project. Want more information? Click here!

Dates for Ohio State Fair In-Person Skillathons are listed below. You do not need to register in advance…just show up!

  • Horse: Wednesday, July 22, 10:00am – 3:00pm, Voinovich Livestock Center Mezzanine (2nd floor)
  • Rabbit: Friday, July 30, 10:00am – 2:00pm, Rabbit/Poultry Pavilion
  • Dairy Cattle: Monday, August 2, 12:00 – 4:00pm, Voinovich Livestock Center Mezzanine (2nd floor)
  • Poultry: Wednesday, August 4, 4:00pm – 8:00 pm, Rabbit/Poultry Pavilion
  • Swine: Thursday, August 5, 9:00am – 1:00pm, Voinovich Livestock Center Mezzanine (2nd floor)
  • Sheep: Thursday, August 5, 3:00pm – 7:00pm, Brown Arena Wool Room
  • Goat: Friday, August 6, 9:00am – 12:00pm, Voinovich Livestock Center Mezzanine (2nd floor)
  • Beef: Friday, August 6, 1:00 – 5:00 pm, Voinovich Livestock Center Mezzanine (2nd floor)

By participating in an Ohio State Fair Skillathon, this will meet the Skillathon requirement for 4-H and FFA youth to exhibit at the 2021 Fairfield County Junior Fair. As a reminder, Skillathons will continue in 2021 as a required portion of project completion for livestock projects. Fairfield County Skillathons will be offered for all beef, dairy, goat, poultry, rabbit (except Pet Rabbits), sheep, swine, dog, horse, alpaca/llama projects. Skillathons may include (but are not limited to) animal anatomy/body parts, breeding and reproduction, feeds and nutrition, current events, diseases and animal health, equipment ID, feed ID, Quality Assurance, breeds, marketing, meats, and recordkeeping. Skillathons are required for those who wish to exhibit at the 2021 Fairfield County Junior Fair. Youth must complete at least one Skillathon. Youth can participate in more than one species if they intend to participate in the Premier Exhibitor for that respective species. For more information: Refer to Junior Fair Book. Fairfield County Skillathons will be held on September 11th and 12th at the Fairfield County Fairgrounds.

“Partial Terminal” Sale approved for Junior Fair Market Animals

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During their regular monthly meeting on March 16, 2021, the Fairfield County Sr. Fair Board passed a motion declaring the 2021 Jr. Fair Livestock Sale will be “partial terminal.” Specifically, that motion reads:

The 2021 Fairfield County Fair Junior Fair will have a partial terminal sale/show for all species. The only exception to this is the 8 champions that must be slaughtered and inspected at a designated packer according to ODA (grand/reserve market beef, grand/reserve market hog, grand/reserve market lamb, grand/reserve market goat). Take homes will be allowed for all species with the exception of those 8 declared grand/reserve champions. Take homes must be declared before the animal leaves the scale during check-in (no exceptions). Take home animals will lose their sale slot and will not be eligible for a premium and packer bid. Exhibitors who do not take home must qualify for their sale slot (as individual or group) at the discretion of the species show committee.

As a result, points for exhibitors of market animals to consider include:

  1. Since there is no packer bid available, all market turkeys, market chickens and market ducks will go back home at the conclusion of the Fair as in past years. Similar to 2016 and prior, it will be the responsibility of the exhibitor to decide whether to process their birds and give them to their sale buyer or market them privately.
  2. Exhibitors of all other market animals that have an opportunity to earn a sale slot must declare before they leave the scales during weigh-in at the beginning of the Fair if they will choose to take home a market animal.
  3. Per Ohio Department of Agriculture rules, the ‘live’ Champion and Reserve Champion market beef, market hogs, market lambs and market goats must go to slaughter and may not go home with the exhibitor regardless their choice during weigh-in prior to fair.
  4. Unless named Champion or Reserve Champion market beef, market hog, market lamb or market goat during their respective Junior market show, animals designated by their exhibitor to go home after the fair will forfeit the opportunity to earn a livestock sale slot with that animal.
  5. Animals not designated by the exhibitor during weigh-in to go home will compete for an individual or group livestock sale slot as they have in the past.
  6. Buyers will once again have the opportunity to ‘keep’ animals they purchase.

An affidavit will be developed and made available for youth to use when designating they choose to take home a market animal.

 

2021 Jr. Fair Sale Exhibitor Information

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UPDATE: The Sr. Fair Board has decided the 2021 Jr. Fair Sale will be “partial terminal.” Details of that decision are linked here.

Live animals will also return to the sale ring in 2021.

Thursday, October 14, 2021 – 5:00 p.m. – Feeder Creek Vet Show Arena
Sale Order: Market Beef, Dairy Products & Feeders, and Market Hogs

Friday, October 15, 2021 – 10:00 a.m. – Feeder Creek Vet Show Arena
Sale Order: Market Lambs, Poultry, Rabbits, Dairy Goat Products, and Market Goats

  1. All market animals except poultry will be packer bid and sold based on the Saturday/Sunday weigh-in weight except for MQP animals.
  2. The following minimum weights will be used to be eligible to sell individually: Market Steer/Heifer – 1100 pounds; Carcass Steers/Heifers – 1100 pounds; Market Hogs – 225 pounds; MQP Hogs – 225 pounds; Market Lambs – 100 pounds; MQP Lambs – 100 pounds; Market Goats – 50 pounds; Market Rabbits – 7.00 to 10.50 pounds total pen weight; Pen of Three Market Chickens – 12 pounds pen weight; Market Duck – 5 pounds.
  3. NOTE: in 2021 the Fairfield County Jr. Fair Sale will be partial terminal as indicated above.
    • With the exception of poultry which will go home as in the past, if you make the decision to take home your market animal in 2021, a ‘take home’ affidavit will be available soon that must be completed. Take Home affidavits are due at weigh-in at the Fair, no exceptions.
  4. The sales commissions that will be deducted from the Junior Fair Exhibitor’s checks are still being determined.
  5. 4-H and FFA Advisors can pick up their club/chapter buyer lists from the OSU Extension Office no earlier than Tuesday, October 19th, 2021.
  6. Exhibitors must submit a stamped thank you note to their advisor prior to November 1st. Advisors will be required to turn in their Buyer Checklist with verification of thank you notes sent in order to receive an exhibitor’s check.
  7. Checks will be available the first Saturday in December for the head Advisors of 4-H and FFA to pick-up. These advisors will be responsible for the distribution of checks in their club/chapter. If a check is not cashed within the specified 90 day period from the check date, there will be a Stop Payment Fee deduction imposed and a replacement check issued to the exhibitor. If checks are not picked up the first Saturday in December, they will be deposited back into the Sale Committee Fund.

Additional information:

  • Again this year every market turkey, duck or chicken will go through the sale either individually or in a group. Regardless there will not be a packer bid for poultry that exhibitors are required to accept. Similar to 2016 and prior, it will be the responsibility of the exhibitor to decide whether to process their birds and give them to their sale buyer or market them privately.