State Fair

2021 Ohio Fair Schedule Now Available

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REYNOLDSBURG, Ohio (Dec. 21, 2020) –The Ohio Department of Agriculture today released the official dates for the 2021 fair season.

The Paulding County Fair will kick off the 2021 fair season on June 12, and the season will wrap up on October 16 with the Fairfield County Fair. For a complete schedule, click here.

In addition to setting and approving the dates for the independent and county fairs, the Ohio Department of Agriculture is responsible for helping to ensure the safety of fair amusement rides, monitoring livestock shows to ensure honest competition and coordinating animal health efforts with local veterinarians.

Contact: Katie Boyer, (614) 563-6974, katie.boyer@agri.ohio.gov

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Ohio State Fair Market Beef Exhibitors – DNA Sample Deadline EXTENDED to 1/30/2020

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The deadline for youth who plan to show market beef at the Ohio State Fair to send in their DNA samples has been EXTENDED for 2021 only through Saturday, January 30th, 2021. The Ohio State Fair, OSU Department of Animal Science, and Ohio 4-H will continue to monitor COVID and update us as necessary.

Please note that a 4-H Educator must sign off on these envelopes before they are submitted to the Ohio State Fair so please plan accordingly considering our Extension Office is now closed – please communicate directly with Leslie Cooksey at cooksey.25@osu.edu and she will get a kit to you in the mail. 

“Ohio State Fair Anywhere: An Online Experience” starts 7/29/2020

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COLUMBUS – From Wednesday, July 29, through Sunday, August 9, Ohioans can enjoy their fair favorites from the comfort of their homes. “Ohio State Fair Anywhere: An Online Experience” will provide Ohioans with recipes, butter cow content, music, entertainment and daily programming on the Ohio Channel featuring past fair experiences.

A digital collection of fair favorites is available at ohiostatefair.com/anywhere, including:

 

• Recipes for fair food that can be made at home, blue ribbon culinary creations and a digital recipe guide for foods served at the Taste of Ohio Café and Dairy Products Building
• Mountain Dew Virtual Midway ride videos via YouTube
• A “Shop the Fair” page featuring dozens of the Ohio State Fair’s vendors, including a commemorative Ohio State Fair t-shirt from Homage
• Spotify playlists featuring Fair concert performers, and the Ohio State Fair podcast, “A Fair to Remember”
• Behind-the-scenes videos featuring the sculptors of the iconic butter cow, performances from the fair’s musicians and entertainers, the beauty of the fair’s Natural Resources Park and more

In addition, there will be competitions and engaging opportunities on the Ohio State Fair’s social media pages, @ohiostatefair, on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter, including:

• A Facebook Live Spin-To-Win contest with Marathon Pipe Line on Aug. 1 at 1 p.m.
• The chance to complete a fun Lottery Fair BINGO card for the chance to win daily Ohio Lottery prize packages
• A #BackToSchoolWithKroger giveaway for a chance to win a Kroger gift card for sharing a photo with a teacher or honorary teacher (like a parent or guardian)
• Giveaways for Pepsi prize packs for sharing photos of pets using the hashtag #PepsiDogDays and a pair-a-Pepsi comment to win contest on Facebook

Ohioans will be able to tune into the Ohio Channel at noon each day, July 29 through August 9, to view Ohio State Fair coverage from previous fairs. The Ohio Channel is broadcast on WVIZ/PBS Ideastream in Akron/Cleveland, WOUB in Athens, WCET in Cincinnati, WOSU in Columbus, WPTD/Think TV in Dayton and WGTE in Toledo.

The Ohio Expositions Commission canceled the 2020 Ohio State Fair in Columbus due to concerns for public health, as well as the financial feasibility of hosting a fair that would adhere to social distancing protocols and its impact on the long-term viability of the Ohio State Fair. Last year, 934,925 people attended the Ohio State Fair during its 12-day run. These attendees came from each of Ohio’s 88 counties, all 50 states, the District of Columbia, as well as Canada and Mexico.

Media contact: Alicia Shoults, 614-602-1506, a.shoults@expo.ohio.gov

2020 Ohio State Fair has been Cancelled

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Ohio State University Extension 4-H Youth Development respects the decision made by the Ohio Expositions Commission. We recognize this was incredibly difficult. Ohio 4-H youth remain resilient and will have the ability to complete their 4-H project work, although their experiences will be different this year due to COVID-19. We remain committed to working with our partners and stakeholders to elevate the important role played by Ohio’s agricultural community and that commitment to Ohio’s youth. We look forward to continuing our collective work and a brighter 2021. Ohio 4-H is the youth development program of OSU Extension, which is the outreach arm of The Ohio State University College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences (CFAES).

 

May 21, 2020 Ohio Expositions Commission Press Release:

Today, the Ohio Expositions Commission announced that it will cancel the 2020 Ohio State Fair, originally scheduled for July 29 – August 9 in Columbus. Members of the Commission expressed concern for public health, as well as the financial feasibility of hosting a socially distant fair that would adhere to social distancing protocols and its impact on the long-term viability of the Ohio State Fair.

“After careful thought and deliberation, we have decided to cancel the Ohio State Fair. Knowing how easily the virus spreads in large groups, we believe it is the safest path forward for the health and safety of all Ohioans.” said Andy Doehrel, chair of the Ohio Expositions Commission. “The financial ramifications of hosting a reduced-capacity Fair would be too great, and we need to protect the great Ohio State Fair for future generations.”

“Our first priority is the safety of the hundreds of thousands of people involved in the Ohio State Fair each year. While this is a difficult decision, we feel it is necessary to protect the fairgoers, exhibitors, volunteers, vendors, partners, performers, concessionaires, youth leaders, employees and sponsors,” said Virgil Strickler, general manager of the Ohio Expo Center & State Fair. “I look forward to seeing my fellow Ohioans at the 2021 Ohio State Fair, when it is safer for us to enjoy our favorite traditions together.”

Last year, 934,925 people attended the Ohio State Fair during its 12-day run. These attendees came from each of Ohio’s 88 counties, all 50 states, the District of Columbia, as well as Canada and Mexico.

The Ohio Expositions Commission is focused on developing a strategy to responsibly reopen its year-round facilities when appropriate, and to welcome guests back for the 2021 Ohio State Fair, scheduled for July 28 through August 8 of next year.

Source: Ohio State Fair website.

Attention STATE FAIR livestock exhibitors – PLEASE READ!

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For those 4-H and FFA members who wish to enter into the Junior Shows at the Ohio State Fair, please read!

This message was pulled from the Ohio State Fair website on 4/22/2020:

As you may have heard, Ohio 4-H has cancelled all in-person 4-H activities through July 6. At this time, the Ohio State Fair is still making preparations for its junior livestock show to proceed as planned. All 4-H members may enter their livestock project at the Ohio State Fair as long as they are enrolled in the project at the county level, regardless of whether or not they actually showed the animal; this is the typical process for county fairs that occur after the Ohio State Fair. All county 4-H educators will still be able to verify whether or not a 4-H member has enrolled in that project while teleworking. Entry information for the Ohio State Fair’s livestock competitions will be updated online in mid-May. The deadline to enter is June 20.

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

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

Attention 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 2020: 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.

Quality Assurance Options for Ohio State Fair Exhibitors: If your Fairfield County 4-H Club/FFA Chapter did not host Quality Assurance Training at the club level prior to March 12th – here are your Quality Assurance options you can do to meet the QA requirement for the Ohio State Fair. The 45 day rule in which QA must be completed before the start of the exhibition has been waived in 2020 by ODA. I highly suggested QA is completed by the Ohio State Fair deadline (June 20) and will certainly need to be completed when we verify Ohio State Fair livestock entries in early July. 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.

  • Option 1: Complete online with YQCA (Youth for the Quality Care of Animals). This is the ONLY approved ONLINE Quality Assurance Program for youth in Ohio. For 2020 ONLY, this web-based course has been approved by ODA for 8-18 year olds.
    • Go to: https://yqca.learningrow.lo.
      • Fairfield County 4-H Members should select “sign in with 4-HOnline”. It will prompt you to select a state and then enter your 4-HOnline account information. After successfully logging in, you will be given a list of active family members. Select the family member and start the account creation process.
      • Fairfield County FFA Members (who are not in 4-H) should select FFA & Independent Sign-In.
    • You will need to select the web-based training ($12.00 per member, annually).
    • For a complete list of directions visit: Getting Your YQCA Online Certification
    • When you are finished, please send name(s) and certificate number(s) to Leslie Cooksey at cooksey.25@osu.edu.
  • Option 2: For those FFA and 4-H Members who plan to enter livestock into the Ohio State Fair and do not want to complete YQCA, please email Leslie Cooksey at cooksey.25@osu.edu to indicate that you need to participate in Quality Assurance for the Ohio State Fair. She will be setting up another virtual option before June 20th. Advisors cannot teach QA through Zoom at this time.

Workforce Prep Day at the Ohio State Fair!

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3 Classes for 2020. Top in each class gets a clock trophy and $250 cash. The Workforce Prep Day at the Ohio State Fair will be Wednesday, July 29th, 2020. Pre-registration is due July 14th.

You do not need to be enrolled in a particular project to participate in Workforce Prep Day – just let Leslie know that you are interested! All current 4-H members can participate! This experience is great for any one who has taken 4-H projects such as Teen Leadership on the Job, Am I Ready for Work, Get in the Act OR participated as a Camp Counselor, Junior Fair Board Member, OR have completed ANY 4-H Leadership Project.

During the State Fair event, those who enter will complete a  “mock interview” for a job – such as a day camp counselor, summer internship, part-time job at a retail store or grocery store. Participants will have to prepare a digital display in advance and discuss their display with the judges.

This is truly a great experience for youth of all ages to start to learn what it takes to demonstrate their workforce skills that they are developing as participants in the 4-H program! Contact Leslie for more information: cooksey.25@osu.edu. Click here for further details about Workforce Prep Day at the 2020 Ohio State Fair.

Help at the Ohio State Fair! 4-H Educational Assistant Applications are OPEN

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The 2020 Ohio State Fair is quickly approaching.  The State 4-H Office is still accepting applications for Educational Assistants for the 2020 Ohio State Fair. This is a paid position. The first day of work would be around July 25 and ending on August 9. Free housing is available in the Rhodes Center Dormitory, if needed. Please share this information with those that you think might have an interest. Interested individuals may contact Allen Auck at auck.1@osu.edu.

Applications open for Ohio State Fair Educational Assistants!

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The Ohio State Fair is quickly approaching.  The State 4-H Office is currently accepting applications for Educational Assistants for the 2020 Ohio State Fair. This is a paid position. The first day of work would be around July 25 and ending on August 9, 2019. Free housing is available in the Rhodes Center Dormitory. Please share this information with those that you think might have an interest. For more information, contact Allen Auck at auck.1@osu.edu or 614-247-8148.

Teen Opportunity: 2020 Youth Capital Challenge applications due 12/15/2019

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Exceptional community citizenship is one of the values that makes FFA, 4-H and Farm Bureau such successful organizations. These groups are partnering again for the 2020 Ohio Youth Capital Challenge, giving teens the chance to get involved and have a hands-on experience that will enable them to make their communities a better place.

Up to 40 delegates will be selected for the 2020 Challenge. Delegates will travel to an all-expense paid advocacy training March 2-3 in Columbus for Phase One of the challenge and meet with Ohio legislators. Delegates will work in their assigned delegate teams during the following months to develop a public policy issue and proposed solution and prepare a presentation for public hearing. Delegate teams will come together again in Columbus May 16, 2020 to present their proposed policy. Finalist teams will be invited to compete at the Ohio State Fair July 31 for scholarship dollars..

Read about the 2019 participants and winning projects.

Who can be nominated or apply?
Delegates must be in at least the ninth grade and between the ages of 14 and 18 during the 2019-2020 school year. Delegates are expected to have concern for local community issues and a desire to be more involved in advocating for their community. Cost to youth is $30 upon selection as a delegate. Students can be nominated by county Farm Bureau boards of trustees, or local teachers, or students can self-nominate.

Delegate nominations must be received by Nov. 11, 2019.
Delegate applications must be received by Dec. 15, 2019.

Online extras

2020 Challenge brochure

2020 Delegate nomination information and form

2020 Delegate application

Source: Ohio’s Country Journal/Ohio Ag Net

2019 Ohio State Fair Livestock Results

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For a complete list of 2019 Ohio State Fair Livestock results, visit: https://ohiostatefair.com/competition-results/

Junior Beef

  • All Other Breeds – Mason Love, 1st Place Heifer
  • Crossbred Heifer – Delaney Moore, 3rd Place Heifer
  • Hereford – Morgan Love, 1st Place Winter Heifer Calf
  • Hereford – Maddox Cupp, 2nd Place Early Summer Yearling
  • Hereford – Maddox Cupp, 1st Place Spring Yearling Heifer
  • Hereford – Mason Love, 3rd Place Jr. Yearling Heifer
  • Hereford – Maddox Cupp, YRP Hereford Champion
  • Hereford – Morgan Love, Bred & Owned, 1st Place
  • Market Beef, Hereford – Maddox Cupp, 2nd Place
  • Shorthorn – Ellanor Tarbert, Spring Heifer Calf, 2nd Place
  • Simmental – Mckenzie Powers, Jr. Yearling, 2nd Place
  • Simmental – Mckenzie Powers, Influence – Sr. Heifer, 1st Place
  • Showmanship, 1st Session Breeding (Senior 15+) – Mckenzie Powers, 2nd Place

Junior Goats

  • Wether – Julia Cowdrey, 3rd Place
  • Wether – Morgan Cowdrey, 3rd Place
  • Showmanship (Age 10) – Julia Cowdrey, 2nd Place
  • Showmanship (Age 18) – Jordan Ash, 2nd Place
  • Skillathon (Age 10) – Julia Cowdrey, 2nd Place

Dairy Cattle Judging

  • 3rd High Individual (Senior) – Derek Burns

Junior Dairy Cattle

  • Guernsey – Case Alt, Senior 2 yr. Old, 1st Place
  • Guernsey – Derek Burns, 3 yr. Old, 2nd Place
  • Guernsey – Silas Kohler, Aged cow, 5 yrs. & over, 2nd Place
  • Guernsey – Case Alt, YRP Reserve Senior Guernsey
  • Guernsey – Silas Kohler, Fall Heifer Calf, 3rd Place
  • Guernsey – Derek Burns, Fall Yearling Heifer, 3rd Place

Junior Horse

  • Class 10, Senior Pony Barrels – Gabby Gugliemotto, 6th Place
  • Class 13, Junior Pole Bending Pony – Justin Levin, 6th Place
  • Class 13, Junior Pole Bending Pony – Carlie Wear, 9th Place
  • Class 18, Training Level, Test 1 – Jocelyn Delaney, 1st Place
  • Class 18, Training Level, Test 1 – Anna Kuhn, 3rd Place
  • Class 25, Junior Keyhole Pony – Justin Levin, 8th Place
  • Class 26, Senior Keyhole Pony – Gabby Gugliemotto, 3rd Place
  • Class 29, Junior Stakes Race Pony – Carly Wears, 3rd Place
  • Class 38, Senior Easy Gaited Western Equitation – Jordan Kagey, 6th Place
  • Class 38, Senior Easy Gaited Western Equitation – Sydni Kagey, 7th Place
  •  Class 38, Senior Easy Gaited Western Equitation – Brittnee Streitenberger, 9th Place
  • Class 40, Senior Easy Gaited Western Pleasure – Brittnee Streitenberger, 6th Place
  • Class 40, Senior Easy Gaited Western Pleasure – Sydni Kagey, 7th Place
  • Class 40, Senior Easy Gaited Western Pleasure – Jordan Kagey, 10th Place
  • Class 43, Junior Hunter Hack – Anna Kuhn, 7th Place
  • Class 45, Intermediate Equitation Over Fences – Jocelyn Dulaney, 7th Place
  • Class 49, Hunter Showmanship, 9-11 yr – Ashlyn Carder, 1st Place
  • Class 74, Hunter Under Saddle 15-16 yr – Morgan Cutright, 9th Place
  • Class 74, Hunter Under Saddle 15-16 yr – Karli Cutright, 10th Place
  • Class 81, Hunt Seat Equitation, 13 yr – Anna Kuhn, 4th Place
  • Class 83, Hunt Seat Equitation 15 yr – Morgan Cutright, 1st Place
  • Class 88, Western Showmanship, 12 yr – Beau Cutright, 10th Place
  • Class 93, Western Showmanship, 17 yr – Kyle Keller, 8th Place
  • Class 99, Senior Trail – Karli Cutright, 2nd Place
  • Class 104, Western Riding – Ashlyn Carder, 8th Place
  • Class 107, Western Pleasure, 9-12 yr – Ashlyn Carder, 4th Place
  • Class 107, Western Pleasure, 9-12 yr – Luke Cutright, 7th Place
  • Class 109, Western Pleasure, 15-16 yr – Karli Cutright, 2nd Place
  • Class 110, Western Pelasure, 17-18 yr – Kyle Keller, 5th Place
  • Class 112, Western Pleasure Grand Championship – Karli Cutright, 2nd Place
  • Class 117, Western Pleasure, 15-16 yr – Ashley Love, 7th Place
  • Class 129, Western Horsemanship, 15 yr – Morgan Cutright, 6th Place
  • Class 130, Western Horsemanship, 16 yr – Karli Cutright, 3rd Place
  • Class 131, Western Horsemanship, 17 yr – Kyle Keller, 5th Place
  • Skillathon (age 11) – Peyton Sullivan, 2nd Place

Outstanding Market Exhibitors

  • Outstanding Market Poultry Exhibitor – Sophia Preston, 1st Place
  • Outstanding Market Goat Exhibitor – Julia Cowdrey, 1st Place

Junior Poultry

  • Class 067, AOV Standard Recognized Breed – Brooklyn Defazio, 1st Place
  • Market Chickens – Campbell Reese, 1st Place
  • Market Turkey – Campbell Reese, 2nd Place
  • Market Turkey – Parker Reese, 2nd Place
  • Showmanship (age 10) – Sophia Preston, 1st Place
  • Showmanship (age 17) – Emmalee Preston, 3rd Place
  • Skillathon (age 11) – Campbell Reese, 3rd Place

Junior Rabbit

  • Skillathon (age 9) – Rachel Sponseller, 1st Place
  • Skillathon (age 11) – Charlie Sponseller, 1st Place
  • Skillathon (age 13) – Logan Hampton, 3rd Place

Junior Sheep

  • Horned Dorset, Spring Ram Lamb – Parker Reese, 3rd Place
  • Horned Dorset, Fall Ewe Lamb – Campbell Reese, 2nd Place
  • Horned Dorset, Slick Sheared Fall Ewe Lamb – Parker Reese, 1st Place
  • Oxford, Early Ewe Lamb – Derek Burns, 2nd Place
  • Showmanship (Market, age 9) – Peyton Courtright, 2nd Place
  • Showmanship (Breeding, 1st Session, Age 17) – Derek Burns, 2nd Place

Junior Swine

  • Dark Crossbred Market Barrow – Jeff King, 1st Place
  • Spotted Gilt – Maci Barber, 3rd Place
  • Yorkshire Gilt – Tanner Rose, 1st Place
  • Supreme Champion Gilt (Second Session) – Tanner Rose
  • YRP Grand Champion Yorkshire Gilt – Tanner Rose
  • Skillathon (Age 10) – Caroline Endsley, 3rd Place