Livestock

Attention STATE FAIR livestock exhibitors – PLEASE READ!

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Those who plan to exhibit at the 2021 Ohio State Fair will need to complete their Quality Assurance by June 1st, 2021. Members must also be enrolled at the county level by May 1st in the project(s) they intend to exhibit at the Ohio State Fair. Our office will be asked to verify both QA  completion and that members are enrolled in the correct projects (breeding projects, for example) on all Ohio State Fair junior livestock entries.

Information about the Ohio State Fair is expected to be released in early May – including a schedule. The Ohio State Fair will not be open to the public in 2021. State Fair dates are July 19 – August 8, 2021. Additionally, we expect entries to be due by June 20th (online) like past years. Here is the link to the Ohio State Fair livestock website.

4-H and FFA members must make OSF entries online at https://ohiostatefair.com/livestock/

No late OSF entries will be accepted. Additionally, you may review the link above to confirm rules and possession dates for the Ohio State Fair.

Attention Ohio State Fair Swine Exhibitors:

  • 4-H youth who wish to take a GILT in the Junior Swine Show MUST be enrolled in the Breeding Swine Project. There is no Market Gilt Show at the Ohio State Fair. This project must be submitted by your May 1st enrollment deadline via 4-HOnline.
  • New for 2021: Youth who are taking hogs to the Ohio State Fair must have a parent/guardian certified in Pork Quality Assurance (PQA) by June 20th. One parent can complete this certification for all children in the family (household). The certification is good for 3 years and is required by the packer at the state fair. The certification number is required when making swine entries on June 20th (you will be asked to enter that information). For more information on how to complete this requirement, please contact Leslie Cooksey at cooksey.25@osu.edu.
  • Additionally, the Ohio State Fair is Ractopamine (i.e. Paylean) free for market hogs. You will have to select that you understand this when making your Ohio State Fair entry and you will have to provide a signed affidavit at weigh-in at state fair.

Virtual Show Clinic: Advanced Nutrition 5/6/2021 (rsvp required)

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Road to the Winners Circle – Part 2, Advanced Nutrition (a virtual event): Thursday, May 6 @6:00 PM CST

 ***BONUS*** anyone who emails me back with picture(s) of their projects this year will be featured during the event 😊

See details below on what is going on with this exciting event.

Event Details

  • This will be an expansion on the first show seminar we did in March.
    • Topics Covered Include:
      • Crunch Time
        • Timeline of what to do with these final weeks before the show to really be successful
      • Advanced Nutrition
        • Deeper dive into supplementation
      • Daily Care – Final Countdown
      • Showmanship

To join part 2, follow the link below:

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/rural-king-and-nutrena-virtual-show-edge-clinic-part-2-tickets-150763607007

Be sure to reach out with any questions and we look forward to “seeing” you next week!

 

Tayler Etzel

Retail Account Representative – Cargill Animal Nutrition, Cargill

Contact direct (319) 540-3079 or email Tayler_Etzel@cargill.com

2021 Barrow and Lamb MQP Information/Deadlines Announced

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Entries for the 2021 Fairfield County Jr. Fair Barrow and Lamb MQP programs are now being accepted. To be considered for a spot in either the 2021 Barrow or Lamb MQP, a completed application and essay (not to exceed 300 words) must be postmarked or received in the Extension Office by the end of business on May 1, 2021.

Barrows will be harvested and processed at Bay Packing in Fairfield County. In order to accommodate such a large harvest and process the pork in a timely fashion, participants or those who have purchased the freezer pork from the participants, must agree to pick up their fresh/frozen pork prior to the Fair at a time to be announced. Cured product, such as bacon or ham, will be available for pick-up at a time yet to be determined after the fair.

Lambs will also be harvested at Bay Packing. Likewise with the freezer pork, in order to be able to accommodate such a large harvest and process the lamb in a timely fashion, participants or those who have purchased the freezer lamb from the participants must agree to pick up their fresh/frozen lamb prior to the Fair at a time yet to be announced.

The application process being required is intended to allow the Barrow and Lamb MQP Show Committees the opportunity to clearly communicate in a timely fashion to participants where they rank on the participant list. The subjective and age appropriate evaluation of the essays by several ‘judges’ will serve as the basis for that ranking that will be completed and announced by May 15 or as soon as possible.

Both Fairfield County’s Barrow and Lamb MQP programs will operate under the following guidelines:

  1. Applications for the 2021 Barrow and/or Lamb MQP programs must be postmarked or received in the OSU Extension office (831 College Avenue, Suite D, Lancaster) by the end of business on May 1, 2021. Applications are  available on the OSUE website under livestock forms. Paper forms will be sent upon request.
  1. With the application, on a separate paper, an essay, not to exceed 300 words, must be included for each contest that is entered. The title of the essay is to be, “Why I want to participate in a livestock project that’s focused on producing high quality pork/lamb that meets the consumer’s demand.”
  1. The essays will be scored and ranked by an independent panel of judges. Only the author’s age, not their name, will be revealed to the judges. Applicants will receive notice by May 15th or as soon as possible of their ranking on the participants list.
  1. If a participant must withdraw from the program, he/she must agree to notify the OSU Extension office immediately in order that participants that ranked below them may be moved up on the list.
  2. MQP barrows must be in the exhibitor’s possession by July 15th, and tagged by the club/chapter advisor between July 19th and 30th. The live MQP barrows must be delivered to the Fairgrounds for the conclusion on Sunday, September 26th, between 1 and 2 p.m.
  1. MQP lambs must be brought to the Fairgrounds for tagging and weighing on July 10th, and the live MQP lambs must be delivered to the Fairgrounds for the conclusion on Sunday, October 3rd, between 12:30 and 1 p.m.
  1. Freezer pork and freezer lamb cutting/processing sheets must be submitted when the animals are delivered to the Fairgrounds. These sheets will made available to exhibitors in September.
  1. Immediately following delivery on their respective dates and following the live evaluations, the Show Committees will transport the animals to Bay Packing for harvest on the following morning.Carcass data for both contests will be collected at Bay’s and the scoring of the contests will be conducted under the direction of OSU Swine Specialist Dr. Steve Moeller or his designee.
  1. The fresh frozen freezer pork and lamb must be picked up at a time to be determined prior to the Fair. Smoked/ cured pork product will be available after the Fair.
  2. A concluding educational program where the placings will be announced will be scheduled at a time and place yet to be determined prior to the Fair.

We are privileged to have a local packing house such as Bay Packing who is willing and able to help facilitate the Fairfield County Barrow and Lamb MQP programs by harvesting and processing at least 30 barrows and 25 lambs. We also appreciate the effort of faculty and students in the OSU Animal Science Department who are willing to help score and facilitate this unique program.

Applications can be found on the Fairfield County website under Livestock Information and Resources:

https://go.osu.edu/FClivestockresources

PBS Animal Health – 2021 4-H/FFA Discount Program

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Please see the link to the form below to participate in a 5% discount on all items purchased for exhibitor livestock projects at PBS Animal Health. There will be a gift certificate shared to a winning club/participant at the end of the year!

For information, contact Chris Johnson at PBS Animal Health in Circleville 740-474-7394 or cjohnson@pbsanimalhealth.com.

Link to form: PBS Discount Program

Nutrena® and Rural King invite you to chat about Show animals and Show Edge® Feed options!

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Do you want to be in the Winners Circle this summer??? Nutrena® and Rural King stores cordially invite you to an evening chatting  about Show animals and Show Edge® Feed options!

Event Date :  Tuesday March 23rd  6:00-7:30 PM CST

Event Registration Link : https://www.eventbrite.com/e/show-edge-show-clinic-with-rural-king-registration-141742147579

Or simply click on the QR code in the invitation below!

Free seminar – goodies mailed to each participant who attends! See registration link below through EVENTBRITE Please share!

Please feel free to email karen_barie_johnson@cargill.com with any questions.

Fairfield County Market Beef Tagging, Weighing, and DNA Sample Collection Procedure for 2021

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For those planning to exhibit 4-H and FFA market beef projects at the 2021 Fairfield County Junior Fair:

This information is available at this link as well.

The COVID-19 pandemic has caused us to change the way we do many things in life that had become seemingly routine. Fortunately, in most cases the advances in technology have allowed many of these changes to take place almost seamlessly. The annual Junior market beef weigh-in and tagging in Fairfield County is an example.

As we continue to be surrounded by the virus, in order to tag market beef as safely as possible, yet ensure the integrity of our show, this year we will be employing a tagging process similar to that utilized by the Ohio State Fair market beef show in recent years.

Youth will be required to tag their market beef animals with a visual and EID tag (unless their calf already has an EID tag, in this case they will apply only a visual tag) and must submit a hair follicle DNA sample prior to weigh-in on March 13, 2021. In advance, families with market beef projects will also be required to reserve a weigh-in time for the March 13 event, and only those directly involved in transporting and weighing-in calves should plan to attend . . . please, no spectators! The goal is to reduce congregation at weigh-in and minimize the transfer of paperwork. Specifically, the step-by-step process includes . . .

1) The deadline for ownership and possession of a market beef project in Fairfield County remains March 1.

2) Youth/families planning to weigh/tag-in market steers and market heifers for the 2021 Fair must submit a request for their tags on-line by completing the survey linked here before March 2, 2021. Complete only one request survey per family.

3) When requesting your tags on-line you will be asked for the first date you would like to pick up your tags and the necessary tagger(s) at the Sr. Fair office. Please order your tags at least two working days prior to your preferred date to pick them up. Senior Fair staff will then contact you to make an appointment for pick up when your tagging packets and taggers are ready. Please be reminded that the Sr. Fair office is typically open M-F from 8:30 a.m. until Noon.

4) The ‘tagging packet’ will include a combination visual numbered ear and EID tag (EID tags are sometimes also called RFID tags; radio frequency identification), and a small zip lock plastic bag for supplying a hair/DNA sample. If a calf already has an EID tag, that original tag must remain in the animal and you will not receive a new EID tag for that calf. It is a violation of Federal law to EVER remove an ‘840’ EID tag.

If your calf does not already have an EID tag, your kit for that calf will include a combo visual/EID tag.

NOTE: Tag applicators may be borrowed from the Sr. Fair Office at the time tagging packets are picked up and must be returned in a timely fashion at a time agreed upon at the time they are received. Exhibitors needing assistance in tagging should contact their 4-H/FFA advisor for assistance.

5) Youth/families are expected to apply the required tags in the calf’s ear prior to weigh/tag-in on March 13, 2021 and submit their individual exhibitor, calf tagging, housing and County Bred, Born & Raised information on a second survey linked here before March 11, at 12 noon.

NOTE: Those participating in the Born, Bred, and Raised (B, B & R) in Fairfield County show may upload their breeder signed B, B & R form when submitting their individual calf information on-line in the second form found linked above, or must turn in their signed B, B & R in an envelope on weigh in day. A copy of the B, B & R form is linked here. Be certain all information is complete and your breeder is a member of the Fairfield County Cattlemen’s Association (FCCA). FCCA membership details may be found linked here.

6) In the second survey linked above each family will also select the time they will arrive with their calf(s) to be weighed and checked in on March 13. All tagged calves must be weighed in on March 13, 2021, at the Fairfield Cattle Company facility located at 3443 Cincinnati-Zanesville Road (S.R. 22), Lancaster.

7) By the time of tagging youth/families are also expected to submit a hair follicle DNA sample from each calf they tag in. The zip lock plastic bag for submitting this hair sample is included in each ‘tagging packet’ and can be seen in the photo above. If you’ve not done this before, see this one minute YouTube for detail on how to collect the hair sample: https://youtu.be/Upl-09ZOLF0

8) Any unused tagging packets including the tags and/or any extra EID tags must be returned to the Sr. Fair Office along with completed tagging packets that include the hair DNA sample, and details of who will be potentially exhibiting each calf. These packets may be returned at the time taggers are returned, or at weigh-in on March 13, 2021.

For more information on this new tagging and weighing process for your 2021 Fairfield County Fair market beef animals, contact Junior Fair Director Chuck Miller at: keywest100@att.net.

You Gotta Believe Livestock Camp (Sheep & Goats)

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We have an exciting SHOWMANSHIP opportunity for you in a location near you in Norwalk, OH. Chastin Leggett, from You Gotta Believe Livestock Camps, is holding a sheep and goat livestock camp on May 1st-2nd, 2021 at the Huron County Fairgrounds, Norwalk OH.

Your campers will receive hands on learning and 1 on 1 showmanship coaching with industry leading counselors while working and practicing with your OWN animal.

Things also covered in camp are:

  • Livestock selection and evaluation
  • Livestock basic nutrition
  • How to fit and prepare your animal for show
  • Character strengthening
  • ….and much more!

Camp spots to have a tendency to fill fast, but registration is as simple as going to http://www.ygblivestockcamps.com/campschedule.html and filling out your registration form.

Some FAQs can also be found at his website: http://www.ygblivestockcamps.com/faqs.html.

 

If you have any general questions about the camp, please reach out to Lauren Ott at ottlauren8@gmail.com.

Join the Family of Champions Today!

Showmanship Sign-up for Junior Fair – Online NOW!

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Showmanship Sign-ups – these will also be completed online this year. There is a deadline to sign-up that is different for specie. If an exhibitor misses their deadline, have them talk to the specie superintendent to see if they can be added late. We have a cutoff time prior to their show day so that we can pull the report, sort by age, and get this to the superintendent as soon as possible to prepare for their show. The direct link for signing up for showmanship is: http://go.osu.edu/fc2020showmanship

DUNF: Drug Use Notification Forms – Now Online and MUST be completed before WEIGH-IN!

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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 each of the 2020 Specie Documents (http://go.osu.edu/2020fairinfo). 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.