Senior Fair

2024 Junior Fair Book is Available!

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The 2024 Fairfield County Junior Fair Book is now posted on OSU Extension 4-H Youth Development and Senior Fair websites. Please review all Junior Fair Rules. Please know that Ohio’s Livestock Exhibition Rules have been updated as of May 2024 so be sure to review these as well as there are changes.

To access the Junior Fair Book, visit: go.osu.edu/fcjrbook. To access information regarding the 2024 Junior Fair Livestock Sale, visit: u.osu.edu/livestocksale.

Paper copies of the Junior Fair Book can be picked up at the OSU Extension Office or contact your club/chapter advisor as they can also request paper copies to be printed for the club/chapter.

Be Prepared for Fair Season With Your Sheep and Goat Projects! What to Know About Scrapie ID.

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Jennifer Reynolds, USDA Animal Health Technician

 

When you have picked out your fair goat or sheep project, make sure the breeder has officially identified the sheep or goat before it leaves the farm. The most common form of official ID is a scrapie tag that will have a U.S. shield on the tag and will start with a state abbreviation according to the premises where the animal was born (flock/herd of origin). Other forms of official identification can be found in our USDA Official ID Types Handout . Always make sure the exhibition you are showing the sheep or goat at accepts the form of official ID you are using. If you are using official tattoos or 840-approved microchips for official identification, remember that tattoos must be legible, you must have your corresponding paperwork in the form of a registration paper or owner statement, and microchips should be in the correct location. You should arrange for a microchip reader to be available at ID check time at the fair. The important thing to remember about official ID is that it cannot be duplicated and it’s unlawful to remove. There is no reason why a sheep or goat should have two scrapie tags – it only needs one which identifies it to the flock of birth. 

 

Scrapie is an incurable, fatal, degenerative disease that affects the central nervous system of sheep and goats. It is classified as a transmissible spongiform encephalopathy, the same class of disease as BSE, otherwise known as Mad Cow Disease. Sheep and goats are exposed to scrapie at birth if they are born into an infected flock and may not show signs or symptoms of the disease until 2-5 years of age. This is why flock of birth/flock of origin identification is so important. You can learn more about scrapie and disease resistant genotypes for sheep on the USDA Scrapie website page. If you are a sheep or goat producer and have not yet signed up for scrapie ID and live in Ohio, please call our Ohio USDA APHIS VS office at 614-856-4745 to get a scrapie flock identification number assigned. 

Published in the Ohio Animal Health Newsletter – July 2024

Biosecurity and Best Practices at County Fairs and Exhibitions

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County fairs are a great place for individuals to come together to celebrate agriculture and often there are livestock projects exhibited and showcased. There are many practices that county fairs and individuals can put into action to have a safe and successful event. We want exhibitors, fair goers, and animals to remain safe and healthy throughout the fair season!

 Some of those recommendations include:

– Do not bring sick animals to the fair/exhibition

– Know who the Fair Veterinarian is and have their contact information

– Practice good hand hygiene including washing your hands 

– Follow all rules in the fair book for the respective county fair

See the ODA website for the complete list and Exhibition Guidance and Best Practices Guideline. 

Published in the Ohio Animal Health Newsletter – July 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

Livestock Exhibitors: Quality Assurance MUST be completed by June 30th to show at fair, no exceptions!

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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 Steers, & Dairy Feeders; Goats (Dairy, Meat, Market & Pygmy); Poultry (Breeding & Market); Sheep (Breeding & Market); Swine; Rabbits (Breeding & Market), and Alpacas/Llamas.

Deadlines for 2024:

  • Youth planning to exhibit at the Ohio State Fair must have their Quality Assurance completed by June 1st, 2024.
  • Youth planning to exhibit at the Fairfield County Fair must have their Quality Assurance completed by June 30, 2024.

Email reminders have been sent to advisors over the last month for those who have yet to complete this requirement. Also, families are receiving final email reminders today (June 28th).

All Quality Assurance information has been shared with club/chapter advisors and has been posted on the blog since April 25th. Read all Quality Assurance options for 2024 here.

Sponsors Needed – Benches for the Fairfield County Fairgrounds

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The Fairfield County Junior Leaders will be ordering new benches for the Fairfield County Fairgrounds. Sponsors are needed to cover the cost of these benches, and we need your help!

This year we are purchasing ten 6-foot deluxe benches that will sit out during the 2024 Fairfield County Fair (see the picture below). Each bench costs $550.00 and will include a personalized plaque. The size and color of bench have been selected by the Fairfield County Senior Fair Board in order to continue improving the Fairfield County Fairgrounds.

Approved payment method: Cash or Checks can be made out to the Fairfield County Junior Leaders. Money is due to the OSU Extension Office by July 1st.

If you are interested in sponsoring a bench, please contact Aubry Fowler (Fowler.443@osu.edu or 740-653-5419) with Sponsor Name, Wording for the Plaque on the bench, and preferred payment method by July 1st. 

Junior Fair Board and Senior Fair Board Members learn more about Fairfield County’s Weights & Measures!

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In May, the Fairfield County Junior and Senior Fair Boards participated in a demonstration/presentation by Fairfield County’s Division of Weights and Measures with the Auditor’s Office. Great questions were asked to the weights and measures inspectors as it relates to certifying scales and weighing animals at the fair. A huge thank you to Fairfield County Auditor, Dr. Carri Brown, and her team: Patrick Brighton, Carter Corcoran, and Bev Hoskinson for providing this educational program to our members!

Attention Livestock Exhibitors: Quality Assurance Requirements

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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 Steers, & Dairy Feeders; Goats (Dairy, Meat, Market & Pygmy); Poultry (Breeding & Market); Sheep (Breeding & Market); Swine; Rabbits (Breeding & Market), and Alpacas/Llamas.

Deadlines for 2024:

  • Youth planning to exhibit at the Ohio State Fair must have their Quality Assurance completed by June 1st, 2024.
  • Youth planning to exhibit at the Fairfield County Fair must have their Quality Assurance completed by June 30, 2024.

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 2024:

  • 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. 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 Thursday, May 2nd from 6:30-8:30 p.m. or Saturday, May 18th from 9:00-11:00 a.m. at the Fairfield County Ag Center/Extension Office (831 College Ave. Lancaster). 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 2024, this web-based course has been approved by ODA for 8-18 year olds.
    • Go to  https://yqcaprogram.org/ for the training and quiz.
    • Instructions for using the new website can be found at: 2022 YQCA Website Instructions
    • Exhibitors must complete by June 30, 2024 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). The age of the course should be age as of January 1st of the current year.
    • When you are finished, please send a pdf/picture of your certificate which includes exhibitor name(s) and certificate number(s) to Leslie Cooksey at cooksey.25@osu.edu.

Quality Assurance should be completed for Ohio State Fair exhibitors by June 1st

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Fairfield County 4-H and FFA youth planning to exhibit at the Ohio State Fair must have their Quality Assurance completed by June 1st, 2024 to meet the 45 days prior to the Ohio State Fair exhibition (as required by the Ohio Department of Agriculture). Youth who do not meet this requirement, will have any entries denied.

If youth still need to complete Quality Assurance to meet this requirement and your club/chapter is not planning to host their own QA Clinic by June 1st, we recommend you complete QA through the Youth for the Quality Care of Animals online modules or attend the countywide makeup QA Trainings on May 2nd or May 18th.

  • In-Person Countywide Make-Up Clinics: To be held on Thursday, May 2nd from 6:30-8:30 p.m. or Saturday, May 18th from 9:00-11:00 a.m. at the Fairfield County Ag Center/Extension Office (831 College Ave. Lancaster). An RSVP is required. Please click here to register for a countywide QA makeup clinic.
  • Online: Youth for the Quality Care of Animals (YQCA). This is the ONLY approved ONLINE Quality Assurance Program for youth in Ohio. For 2024, this web-based course has been approved by ODA for 8-18 year olds.
    • Go to  https://yqcaprogram.org/ for the training and quiz.
    • Instructions for using the new website can be found at: 2022 YQCA Website Instructions
    • Exhibitors must complete by June 30, 2024 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). The age of the course should be age as of January 1st of the current year.
    • When you are finished, please send name(s) and certificate number(s) to Leslie Cooksey at cooksey.25@osu.edu.

Junior and Senior Fair Boards attend Ohio Fair Managers Association Convention

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Last weekend, Junior and Senior Fair Board members had the opportunity to attend the Ohio Fair Managers Association Convention. On Saturday, members attended various sessions and workshops related to Junior Fair learning new ideas on how to better communicate, lead, and organize events and livestock shows.