Ohio Department of Agriculture

Poultry Exhibitors: New ODA Exhibition Guidelines for 2025

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Market chickens and market turkeys bought from an NPIP source do NOT have to be tested before exhibition

NPIP hatcheries and flocks continue to be a part of a testing program to ensure pullorum free status. Even if an individual brings those market poultry to their property where they have other birds present (layers, fancy birds, etc.), they do NOT need to be retested.

The above exemption is for market poultry projects (turkeys, chickens) only. If individuals are showing in a fancy or breeding poultry show (typically these projects are multi-year projects), those birds MAY be subject to pullorum testing.

Source: Ohio Poultry Association January Newsletter

Livestock Exhibitors – Please Read: Ohio Animal Health News – Fairs and Exhibitions Edition

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From the Desk of the State Veterinarian, Dr. Dennis Summers, State Veterinarian and Animal Health Division Chief

Ohio’s Livestock Exhibition Rules, Livestock Show Reform Act, and state Livestock Exhibition Program are nationally and internationally recognized for being some of the best in the country and the world. Ohio and all its livestock producers and exhibitors help to keep Ohio as a top state for exhibition regulations and superior quality exhibition livestock.

In this newsletter, we aim to provide key topics and discussions on the most important and current topics related to livestock exhibition rules. It is important that all sponsors, exhibitors, producers, and veterinarians understand these new rules and be familiar with the changes and expectations. Failure to read and understand these rules, or ignoring the requirements, may have a negative impact on an exhibitor and their family. The goal is to provide information in various formats so that everyone can exhibit and enjoy the rewards of their hard work while following the law.

The 2024 fair season was another great year, and we know that 2025 will be even better. Thanks for your support!

5 Frequently Asked Questions

1) What livestock are required to complete a Drug Use Notification Form (DUNF)

A drug use notification form is to be completed for the following livestock exhibited in a junior livestock show: market beef; market hog; market lamb; veal calf; market dairy cattle; market goats; market poultry; lactating dairy animals; market rabbits; and feeder cattle. **Please review Fairfield County Junior Fair Book for a complete list of species.

2) What is Exhibition Drug Residue legal?

All livestock shall be exhibition drug residue legal (EDRL) prior to the start of the show in which the livestock is entered into for exhibition. This includes market, non-terminal, open, and breeding classes. This means that all exhibition livestock:

  • must be slaughter eligible at time of show;
  • have only been administered an approved drug, for which the withdrawal time has elapsed and met tolerance;
  • have not been administered an unapproved drug;
  • do not contain an unlawful substance.

**Please review Fairfield County Junior Fair Book as we require all livestock to be Exhibition Drug Residue legal at fair weigh-in/check-in.

3) Do feeder calves and lactating cattle have to meet the same drug residue or withdrawal times as market class animals?

Yes. All livestock shall be exhibition drug residue legal (EDRL) prior to the start of the show in which the livestock is entered into for exhibition. This means that drugs, including but not limited to, pain killers, steroids, antibiotics, dewormers, and vaccines, must have met withdrawal times and tolerance by time of show to be eligible. This will require responsible use, recordkeeping, and stewardship of drugs and quality assurance on behalf of the veterinarian and exhibitor. ODA expects exhibitors to maintain the highest ethical standards when completing drug use notification forms to ensure that drugs and treatments are properly disclosed and to ensure exhibition livestock maintain EDRL status at time of show.

4) Can vaccines be given to animals before the show?

As stated above, all livestock must be exhibition drug residue legal at the time of show. This means that all vaccines, dewormers, and medications must meet their withdrawal period by the day of show. Vaccines and preventive drugs should be part of managing disease during stressful commingling events with livestock, such as exhibitions. The rules do not prohibit the use of vaccines as part of an effective disease prevention program designed by the official veterinarian, fair board, or your private veterinarian. But vaccines are drugs with a withdrawal time, and if those medications are given as preconditioning before coming to the fairgrounds, they must be given far enough in advance to take into the account the withdrawal period for those medications and drugs. In some circumstances, sponsors may have to adjust their prevention programs or policies in consultation with the official veterinarian to ensure that exhibitors maintain eligibility for the show.

5) Are vaccines considered drugs? How does this impact drug testing?

Yes, vaccines are considered drugs. The federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FD&Act) defines drugs as “articles intended for use in the diagnosis, cure, mitigation, treatment, or prevention of disease,” and vaccines meet this definition. Additionally, under the exhibition rules, “drug” means “any article…intended for use in the diagnosis, cure, mitigation, treatment, or prevention of disease in humans or animals or any article, other than food, intended to affect the structure or any function of the body of humans or animals…”

There is growing support to expand drug testing to other classes of livestock exhibition, such as junior livestock exhibition non-terminal shows. Beginning in 2025, the state program will offer testing for market meat goats, market dairy goats, and feeder calves (non-terminal) on a voluntary basis. If a fair or sponsor voluntarily wishes to have animals in these additional classes tested, the state will test in the same manner as other market classes. Regardless, all exhibition livestock must maintain the same status at the time of show, which is exhibition drug residue legal.

Guidance Documents and Resources

Download a copy of the updated ODA FAQ, which includes 22 additional questions not listed above.

Exhibition Guidance and Best Practice Checklist

To see the current rules:

RFID tags and ODA’s RFID Loan Reader Program

Ohio’s Exhibition Rules including Ohio Administrative Code 901:1-18 and Ohio Administrative Code 901-19 were updated May 23, 2024. Beginning January 1, 2027, all cattle and swine will be required to have official ear tags at exhibitions in Ohio. Official ear tags are USDA-approved electronic identification devices that are both visibly and electronically readable (i.e. 840 RFID tag).

Currently, free official RFID ear tags are available from ODA for cattle exhibitors that have a Premises ID. Additionally, official RFID tags can be purchased from vendors and distributors.

To assist Ohio fairs and exhibitions with the requirement to have RFID ear tags in all swine, ODA has purchased Allflex HDX button RFID ear tags approved for swine. Each fair is eligible for an initial distribution of up to 100 free swine RFID ear tags.  To request tags, please contact Cindy Bodie at Cindy.Bodie@agri.ohio.gov or call the ODA office at 614-728-6220 ext 1.

Many (at least 35) of Ohio’s county and independent fairs are already using RFID tags in some capacity; we expect that number will grow with the new exhibition rules in place (see above). While the requirement to have official ID that is electronically readable does not require fairs and other exhibitions to utilize an RFID reader, doing so can certainly help reduce transcription errors and improve efficiency. Several fair software programs, including FairEntry and ShoWorks, allow for RFID tag data to be gathered and transmitted directly to the program.

ODA has RFID readers available for loan to Ohio veterinarians, livestock markets, exhibitions, and producers. There are different models and manufacturers including the Allflex AWR 300 and RS 420 and the TruTest (Datamars) XRS2i. The readers are available for loan free of charge on a first come, first served basis, so please contact us early to get your reservation. You can start the reservation process by submitting a request form—more information is also available on the ODA Animal Health website: RFID | Ohio Department of Agriculture. Additional questions can be directed to our office at 614-728-6220 ext 1.

Pullorum Testing in Poultry

In the past, there was confusion around when to pullorum test poultry at county fairs. Starting for the 2025 fair season and going forward, all market chickens and market turkeys that are bought from an NPIP source do NOT have to be pullorum tested before exhibition.

As a part of the NPIP program, those hatcheries and flocks continue to be a part of a testing program to ensure pullorum free status. Even if an individual brings those market poultry to their property where they have other birds present (layers, fancy birds, etc.), they do NOT need to be retested.

The above exemption is for market poultry projects (turkeys, chickens) only. If individuals are showing in a fancy or breeding poultry show (typically these projects are multi-year projects), those birds MAY be subject to pullorum testing.

The fairs and exhibitions may have more stringent rules than those enacted by ODA. However, if they do, then that fair will be responsible for enforcing that rule.

Ringworm in Livestock Species

Ringworm is a fungal infection affecting the skin, hair, and nails and is also known as dermatophytosis. Ringworm affects many mammalian species including cattle, sheep, goats, swine, horses, dogs, and cats. It is also zoonotic, meaning that humans can get infected from animals as well. It is highly infectious among animals and between animals and humans, so be sure to wear gloves and wash hands when handling an animal with a known or suspected ringworm infection. 

There are many species of fungus that cause dermatophytosis.  Most of these species of ringworm do NOT glow under Wood’s Lamp, so it is not an effective means of diagnosis. Fungal culture is the only test that can definitively diagnose dermatophytosis, but results can take as long as three weeks. However, ringworm has distinctive lesions that can indicate an infection to you and your veterinarian.  

Ringworm lesions are typically individual, circular areas of hair loss that may have scaling, crusting, and/or oozing along with redness or inflammation. Lesions are commonly found on the face, neck, chest, and limbs. These lesions may only become evident after shearing, so it is important to disinfect clippers between animals or use an entirely different set after clipping an infected animal.  

While ringworm typically self-resolves, there are treatments that can aid the process and reduce spread since resolution may take 4 to 12 weeks. Supportive treatment of ringworm typically consists of topical therapy and adjustments in husbandry, as overcrowding can perpetuate infection among individuals.  Isolation of infected animals until resolution of lesions is ideal when possible. Please consult your veterinarian for use of topical therapies. Resolution is usually determined by new wool or hair growth in the lesion and supported by hair or wool around the edge of lesion not being easily removed when pulled.

As a reminder – animals that have active ringworm lesions should NOT be taken to the fair, especially given the zoonotic and contagious nature of the disease.

To see how ringworm lesions may progress overtime, please see the infographic provided below.

Diamond C Livestock: https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=572655578410153&set=a.472144501794595 

What’s next? Plan for 2025

The Division of Animal Health is making a concerted effort for the 2025 fair season to do as much outreach to the various interested parties and entities affected by these new rules as possible, to make sure the exhibition rules are visible to everyone. The following are meetings and outreach activities that are planned or have already been attended by ODA Animal Health staff (with more added as they arise).

  • Annual Assuring Quality Care for Animals (AQCA) meeting to OSU Extension educators in November 2024
  • Advisory Committee on Livestock Exhibitions Meeting in November 2024
  • Fair veterinarian trainings both in the winter (December 2024) and in the spring (2025) preceding the exhibition season
  • OFMA convention in January 2025
  • OFMA District Meetings in the Spring 2025
  • 4-H volunteer conference in March 2025
  • Spring Dairy Expo in March 2025
  • Outreach via ODA/USDA field staff during the 2025 fair season

If your 4-H club, Fair Board, or other entity would like ODA Animal Health staff to present at a meeting of yours, do not hesitate to reach out – animal@agri.ohio.gov.

Additional Questions?

If you are an educator, parent, exhibitor, or fair veterinarian and have additional questions, our Fairs/Exhibitions Administrative team is always available to answer questions. If you wish to speak to the team, please email animal@agri.ohio.gov.

  • Dr. Dennis Summers – State Veterinarian
  • Dr. Kristy Shaw – Assistant State Veterinarian
  • Jacquie Keller-Potvin – Program Administrator
  • Cindy Bodie – Program Administrator

Source: Fairs and Exhibitions FAQ and Hot Topics Edition – shared December 20, 2024

UPDATED Ohio Livestock Exhibitions Rules are in Effect

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Jacquie Keller-Potvin, Emergency Operations and Program Manager

The Livestock Exhibitions Program has updated applicable chapters of Ohio Administrative Code just in time for the start of Ohio Fair Season. The Ohio Department of Agriculture (ODA) is tasked with determining the regulatory framework for exhibitions of livestock to ensure the food safety of market livestock, health and welfare of the livestock, and provide consistent regulations for the competition. ODA distributes testing supplies and performs urine sample testing for select market livestock exhibited at county, independent, and state fairs. The testing is critical to ensuring the market livestock tested are safe for consumption.

Chapters 901:1-18 and 901-19 became effective on May 23, 2024. The Ohio Advisory Committee on Livestock Exhibitions have been working on the draft regulations since 2022 in efforts to streamline, update, and simplify the regulations for exhibition livestock. Specifically, chapter 901:1-18 pertains to the importation requirements for exhibition livestock and chapter 901-19 pertains to the practices in preparation to and at the exhibition. To read the regulations in their entirety, please click the links below. Also, take time to browse Ohio Fair Manager’s Association’s webpage to find a fair near you!

Chapter 901:1-18

Chapter 901-19

Published in the Ohio Animal Health Newsletter – July 2024

Request for Public Comment from Ohio Dept. of Ag. – Animal Health Livestock Exhibition Rules Ch 18 and 19

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Request for Public Comment: Animal Health Livestock Exhibition Rules Ch 18 and 19

Revised Bulletin- Through stakeholder feedback, the division of Animal Health has further amended rule 901-19-13 of the Administrative Code to further clarify the prohibited and unacceptable practices. A statement has also been added to paragraph (C) to clarify that any of the listed practices, if applied during an exhibition, would cause the livestock to be ineligible for the show.  Due to this revision, the comment period will be extended until February 23, 2024.

The rules in Chapter 901:1-18 of the Ohio Administrative Code outline the rules and requirements for animals which are imported into or moved within Ohio for exhibition purposes. Pursuant to section 941.02 of the Revised Code, the Department, through the Chief of the Division of Animal Health, shall promote and protect the livestock, poultry, and other animal interests of the state, prevent the spread of dangerously contagious or infectious disease, provide for the control and eradication of such disease, and to cooperate with the United States Department of Agriculture in such work. The rules of this chapter meet this directive. More specifically, the rules outline the disease testing requirements as well as proof of ownership of all animals coming into Ohio. These rules are necessary in ensuring that all animals in the state of Ohio remain disease free.

The rules in Chapter 901-19 of the Ohio Administrative Code outline the regulations for the exhibition of livestock in the state of Ohio. Exhibition of livestock generally occurs at a livestock show held at the Ohio State Fair or a fair under the control of a county or independent agricultural society. The rules in this chapter set forth the governance and administration of these exhibitions and standards related to food safety and the health, safety, and welfare of livestock including grooming, commercial, or medical practices that are generally accepted in the community. The rules have been reviewed by the Advisory Committee on Livestock Exhibitions which advises the Director on topics pertaining to the administration of the exhibition of livestock program.

Pursuant to Ohio Revised Code 901.72, the rules adopted under which apply to exhibition related food safety and the health, safety, and welfare of livestock shall apply to every exhibition. However, exhibitions may choose to adopt rules which do not apply to those issues. The rules as drafted indicate which rules are mandatory and which rules are optional for adoption by the exhibition.

  • (Amended) OAC 901:18-01 to 11 and 901:19-01, 02, 03, 04, 05, 06, 07, 10, 12, 13, 19, 21, 31, 32, 35, 39 and 40
  • (No Change) OAC 901:19-33
  • (Rescinded) OAC 901:19-09, 11, 34, 38,

View Business Impact Analysis and Proposed Rules: https://agri.ohio.gov/divisions/legal-office/Admin-Rules

These Rules are open for comment between January 26, and February 23, 2024. Please send your written comments on these rules to eComments@agri.ohio.gov and CSIPublicComments@governor.ohio.gov

Source: February 16, 2024 News Release from the Ohio Department of Agriculture

Junior Fair Families: ODA Comment Period Open for Proposed Changes to Livestock Exhibition Rules

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The Ohio Department of Agriculture, division of Animal Health – Animal Exhibitions Program, has posted the following rules to its website. As stakeholders, please read and review the proposed rules and provide comments back to the department by January 8, 2024.

  • OAC 901:1-18
  • OAC 901-19

You can find these rules under the “Stakeholder Review” tab of the Department’s Administrative Rule Review page. You can find the Department’s Administrative Rule Review page by visiting here.

Ohio Department of Agriculture – Exhibition Ownership Rules Clarified

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Complete list of rule updates: Ohio Youth Livestock Exhibition Rules 4.17.23

Leasing MARKET animals for youth exhibition projects is NOT permitted under any circumstances.

Ownership
For market animals, dairy animals, and owned (not leased) breeding livestock:
1. An animal cannot be used by more than one youth member per project year.

2. The same animal cannot be used for more than one project per project year (i.e., a single heifer cannot be shown as both a market and a breeding project).

3. An animal may only be exhibited by the project member in any junior livestock exhibition, including at the Ohio State Fair.
a. Excludes show/class conflicts at the exhibition, “showman of showmen” type classes, or extenuating circumstances. Check with local exhibition sponsor to determine what circumstances may qualify.
b. For junior fair classes where education or charity is the purpose (e.g., pee wee, special needs, Dean’s Charity Steer Show, etc.), ensure that the exhibitor is involved in the mentoring of the individual showing the animal in that class.
c. Refer to “junior livestock show/exhibition” definition above.

4. In shows outside of “junior livestock show/exhibitions,” a project animal may only be shown by the youth exhibitor or family members. If shown by a youth outside of the immediate family, this constitutes a change in ownership.
a. “Family” means the immediate family of an exhibitor, including but not limited to the exhibitor’s parent, step-parent, foster parent, grandparent, step-grandparent, foster grandparent, brother, sister, step-brother, step-sister, half-brother, half-sister, son, daughter, step-son, step-daughter, or legal guardian.

5. All market, dairy, and breeding animals exhibited at a junior livestock exhibition must be fully owned by the exhibitor or household as defined in OAC 901-19-39 as evidenced by a bill of sale or registration, including all showing rights, and in the complete custody and care of the exhibitor on or before possession deadlines.

6. Ownership of an animal shall be considered lost if the animal has been:
a. Leased to a different individual (not the project member) after the applicable possession date,
b. Consigned to or sold through an auction or any other type of transaction that takes place prior to the junior livestock exhibition, after the applicable possession date even if the animal is bought back by the exhibitor.

7. The exhibitor is expected to fully provide daily care for their animal(s) from the possession deadline to the conclusion of the exhibition/sale. This includes, but is not limited to, ensuring adequate access to clean, fresh water, feed, and shelter while ensuring good health and welfare of the animal. If not possible, in extenuating circumstances, the exhibitor is responsible for contacting the local Extension office and/or FFA advisor to ensure transparency. Additional paperwork may be necessary, as determined at the local level (i.e., Ohio 4-H Livestock Care Agreement

Last Chance: QA Instructor Training for Advisors is April 26th

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2023 Fairfield County Quality Assurance: Instructor Training for 4-H and FFA Advisors, Superintendents, and Show Committee Members

Quality Assurance is an annual Ohio Department of Agriculture (see 901-19-07 of Ohio Administrative Code) requirement for 4-H and FFA youth to exhibit at the Fairfield County Junior Fair who are enrolled in beef (breeding and market), goats (dairy, meat, market, & pygmy),rabbits (market and breeding – this does not include pet rabbits), sheep (breeding and market), dairy cattle (breeding and feeders),poultry (breeding and market), hogs, and alpacas/llamas. Fairfield County youth must attend a qualified Quality Assurance Clinic by June 30th of the current year to be eligible to show at the 2023 Fairfield County Junior Fair. Youth who wish to show in a Junior Livestock Show at the Ohio State Fair should have QA completed by June 1st, 2023.

We will continue the same process of allowing 4-H club volunteers/FFA chapter advisors to teach QA at the club/chapter level IN-PERSON. We are looking for interested “Assistant Instructors” to be trained (and “certified”) to educate exhibitors on the required Good Production Practices (GPP’s) to be covered in 2023. As a certified Assistant Instructor, you will be able to teach Quality Assurance at the club/chapter level for 2023 after completing this training. We will also be looking for trained individuals to help with our countywide make-up dates on Saturday, May 6th (9:00 – 10:30 a.m.) or Sunday, May 21st (12:00 – 1:30 p.m.) at the fairgrounds.

All 4-H Advisors, FFA Advisors, and Show Committee Members are invited to attend the QA Instructor Training. Please share with your fellow advisors to be sure they know about this information.

The final QA instructor trainings will be: Wednesday, April 26th at 6:30 p.m. at the Ag Center/Extension Office.

Please RSVP to Leslie Cooksey at cooksey.25@osu.edu or call the Extension Office at 740-653-5419.

 At the training, you will:

  1. Learn the 10 Good Production Practices of Quality Assurance Education and which GPP’s need to be covered for 2023.
  2. Learn the documentation process planned for 2023. This will be structured for smaller groups and more at the club/chapter level.
  3. Receive training materials to cover this year’s required GPP’s for 2023. As an instructor, you will teach market exhibitors about all 10 GPP’s but go in detail on 3 of them. Activities will be provided to you to work through with market exhibitors for the 3 required GPP’s.
  4. Learn more about how record keeping and the accountability of your instruction to clubs and chapters needs to be documented and returned to the OSU Extension Office to ensure market exhibitors will then be eligible to show market livestock at the 2023 Fairfield County Fair. As a reminder, the deadline to complete Quality Assurance for Fairfield County Junior Fair Exhibitors is June 30th of the current year.
  5. Learn about any changes in Ohio Department of Agricultural Fair Exhibition Rules that affect Junior Fair Livestock Exhibitors so that you can share these with all livestock participants in your club/chapter.

If questions, Leslie (cooksey.25@osu.edu) know!

We are looking forward to continuing this process in 2023.

ODA News: Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza Update

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HPAI cases are still being detected in commercial and backyard flocks throughout the country. ODA, USDA, and the Ohio Poultry Association continue to push out the message and importance of good biosecurity. The ODA website has many great resources on biosecurity as well as a list of the cases that have occurred in Ohio.

 

If you have sick or dying poultry call ODA at 614-728-6220.

Source: Ohio Animal Health Newsletter – April 2023

Attention Livestock Exhibitors: Quality Assurance Updates

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Quality Assurance is an annual requirement of the Ohio Department of Agriculture for youth taking livestock projects to county and state fair. In Fairfield County, Quality Assurance Training is required for all members who will be exhibiting a livestock project at the Fairfield County Fair or Junior Exhibitor at the Ohio State Fair. Beef (Breeding & Market); Dairy Breeding & Dairy Feeders; Goats (Dairy, Meat, Market & Pygmy); Poultry (Breeding & Market); Sheep (Breeding & Market); Swine; Rabbits (Breeding & Market), and Alpacas/Llamas.

Deadlines for 2022:

  • Youth planning to exhibit at the Ohio State Fair must have their Quality Assurance completed by June 1st, 2022.
  • Youth planning to exhibit at the Fairfield County Fair must have their Quality Assurance completed by June 30, 2022

At this time, Quality Assurance CANNOT be taught by club/chapter advisors to Fairfield County 4-H/FFA youth virtually (i.e. Zoom, Google Hangouts, Google Classrooms, Facebook Live, etc.).

Here are the acceptable options to complete Quality Assurance in 2022:

  • In-Person 4-H Club/FFA Chapter Clinic taught by a 4-H/FFA Advisor who has completed the Quality Assurance Assistant Instructor Training this year (which took place on March 14th and March 28th). Advisors who attended this training will notify their members of their club/chapter QA Clinic date and will be responsible for getting all QA paperwork submitted to the Extension Office by the appropriate deadlines.
  • In-Person Countywide Make-Up Clinics: To be held on Saturday, May 7th from 9:00 a.m. – 10:30 a.m. and Sunday, May 22nd from 12:00 p.m.- 1:30 p.m. in the Ed Sands Building at the Fairgrounds. An RSVP is required. Please click here to register for a countywide QA makeup clinic.
  • In-Person Beef Quality Assurance: Members who complete an in-person BQA taught by a certified BQA instructor must submit documentation to Leslie Cooksey at cooksey.25@osu.edu.
  • In-Person Pork Quality Assurance: Members who complete an in-person PQA taught by a certified PQA advisor must submit documentation to Leslie Cooksey at cooksey.25@osu.edu. Youth MUST be age 14 or older (current age) to complete in-person PQA. Youth will receive a PQA certification number from the National Pork Board upon completion.
  • Online: Youth for the Quality Care of Animals (YQCA). This is the ONLY approved ONLINE Quality Assurance Program for youth in Ohio. For 2022, this web-based course has been approved by ODA for 8-18 year olds.
    • Go to  https://yqcaprogram.org/ for the training and quiz. 3
    • Instructions for using the new website can be found at: 2022 YQCA Website Instructions
    • Exhibitors must complete by June 30, 2022 or they will not be able to show at the Fairfield County Fair.
    • You will need to select the web-based training ($12.00 per member, annually).
    • When you are finished, please send name(s) and certificate number(s) to Leslie Cooksey at cooksey.25@osu.edu.