Swine | Fairfield County 4-H

MQP Applications for Goats, Swine and Lambs are Due by April 15, 2025

February 6, 2025 at 9:15am by Smith

Apply by April 15th!

Entries for the 2025 Fairfield County Jr. Fair Goat, Swine, and Lamb MQP programs are now being accepted. Again this year all MQP entries will be accepted on-line and must be submitted by April 15, 2025.

Please note that some of the important MQP details have changed as follows:

Goats for the MQP contest must be owned by May 17, 2025 and will be weighed-in on that date at the Fairgrounds. After 99 days on feed the Goat MQP contest will conclude at the Fairgrounds on Sunday, August 24, 2025. NEW for this year, female goats may now be entered in MQP, and there is no minimum weight requirement at harvest. Go here for the Goat MQP application.
Lambs for the MQP contest must be owned by June 28, 2025 and will be weighed at the Fairgrounds on that date. After 65 days on feed the MQP lambs will be brought back to the Fairgrounds for the conclusion of the contest on September 1, 2025, which – NEW for this year – is Labor Day Monday. Go here for the Lamb MQP application.
Barrows or gilts for MQP must be owned by June 28, 2025 and will be weighed this year at the Fairgrounds on that date. After 71 days on feed the MQP pigs will return to the Fairgrounds for the contest conclusion on September 7, 2025. NEW for this year, only two pigs may be weighed/tagged in for MQP and these pigs may not be used for the “live” show at the Fair. Go here for the Swine MQP application.

Applications for any of these contests must be received on-line by April 15, 2025. Find more details about MQP here: https://go.osu.edu/mqp

Swine Exhibitors: Virtual Show Pig Conference

January 23, 2025 at 9:40amJanuary 23, 2025 by Leslie Cooksey

This free resource could be a HUGE benefit to your 4-H advisors and 4-H members. This year the Ohio Pork Council is sponsoring and providing really awesome opportunities – A FREE virtual showpig conference for show pig families, and the show pig community. This event is held through Ring Central, a virtual online conference platform (think in person conference, only online).

How it works: The live conference is all free! Individuals sign up for their free ticket, at www.showpigconference.com The conference will feature over twenty speakers who are excited to help youth and their families learn and succeed. Attendees will be able to listen to mainstage speakers, breakout group sessions, enter virtual expo booths, and ask show pig experts the questions that they have always wanted answered. If individuals and families are unable to attend live, we have options for them as well.

See flyer below for more information. Furthermore, check out their Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100074877937078

If you have any questions please reach out.

Ryan Kline

www.showpigconference.com

330-317-4104

Livestock Tagging/Weighing and MQP Dates for 2025

January 9, 2025 at 9:55am by Smith

Get the tagging and weigh-in dates on your calendar.

The good news is . . . participation in livestock projects remains strong while muscle quality and performance carcass-based project participation continues to grow in Fairfield County. The rest of the good news is, although there will be a few changes, plans continue to accommodate all the livestock project participation that is being experienced. That said, for the most part weigh-in/tagging dates, as well as harvest dates will remain similar in 2025 to what they were in 2024.

The changes being considered involve the Beef Performance & Carcass Quality (BPCQ), Swine MQP and Goat MQP programs.

A third, optional, early harvest date for participants in the BPCQ is being added for those youth with early born calves who would like to conclude their carcass-based project in August. The youth participating in the August harvest will weigh/tag their BPCQ calves on February 1. The two later September beef harvest dates will also be maintained and calves being harvested then will be weighed/tagged along with the ‘live’ beef cattle on March 8. Youth had the opportunity to apply for BPCQ with an application deadline for the 2025 BPCQ contest of January 8, 2025 and on a first come, first served basis select their preferred harvest date.

Swine MQP will be considering two changes. First change being considered is pigs will be weighed/tagged in specifically for either the MQP or ‘live’ show. The pigs for each contest will be Continue reading Livestock Tagging/Weighing and MQP Dates for 2025 →

Scholarship Opportunity: Pork Industry Scholarships – due 12/13/2024

November 20, 2024 at 11:08am by Leslie Cooksey

Calling all college students! Applications for the 2025 Lois Britt Memorial Pork Industry Scholarship are now open.

Ten $2,500 scholarships are awarded each year to college students who intend to pursue a career in the pork industry. Any undergraduate student enrolled in a two-year swine program or four-year college of agriculture may apply. Applications are due December 13, 2024. Find more details here.

Graduate students committed to a future in the pork industry quality to apply for the 2025 Neil Dierks Scholarship. Applications are due December 31, 2024. Find more details here.

Source: showpig.com Newsletter 11/8/2024

You’re invited – Jr. Fair Swine Exhibitor Meeting: November 21st

October 30, 2024 at 1:53pm by Leslie Cooksey

Sent on behalf of Fairfield County Junior Fair Swine Superintendents:

Junior Fair Swine Exhibitors and 4-H/FFA Advisors,

As a Fairfield County Junior Fair swine exhibitor family, the Junior Fair Swine Superintendents are inviting you to come and talk about the 2024/2025 Swine Shows on Thursday, November 21st, 2024, beginning at 6:00 p.m. in the Fairfield County Ag Center/OSU Extension Office. We hope that you can join us at this open meeting!

Scholarship Opportunity: Neil Dierks Scholarship (Pork Industry) due 12/31/2024

October 21, 2024 at 9:21am by Leslie Cooksey

One $5,000 scholarship is annually awarded to a student who intends to pursue a career in the pork industry with hopes that they may emerge as a future pork industry leader.

Essays will be judged based on clarity and expression, persuasiveness, originality and relevance to the topic. All entries must be sent by December 31, 2024 to be accepted.

Please submit your application either through the online form, email to russelll@nppc.org or send materials in a single envelope to:
National Pork Producers Council

ATTN: Neil Dierks Scholarship
P.O. Box 10383
Des Moines, IA 50306-9960

Drug Use Notification Forms – due at NOON, Friday, October 4th for Market Beef/BEEF FEEDERS/DAIRY MARKET STEERS/Dairy Beef Feeders/Lactating Dairy Cows & Dairy Goats/Market Hogs/Market Goats/Market Lambs

September 28, 2024 at 4:49pmSeptember 28, 2024 by Leslie Cooksey

Animals must be drug free by weigh-in day of fair. Each member must complete a Drug Use Notification Form (DUNF) (http://go.osu.edu/fairfielddunf) form online for each animal they plan to exhibit prior to weigh-in at the fair. If the forms are not correctly completed, exhibitors will not be permitted to show. The link to the form will open on Monday, September 30th (as forms should be completed more than 5 days before fair weigh-in).

Animals requiring a DUNF indicating the animal is free from any/all drugs in its system on fair weigh-in/move-in day are:
- Market Beef
- NEW FOR 2024: BEEF FEEDER
- NEW FOR 2024: DAIRY MARKET STEER
- Dairy Beef Feeder
- Dairy Cow (lactating)
- MQP Hog
- Market Barrow
- Market Gilt
- Market Goat
- MQP Goat
- Dairy Goat (lactating)
- Market Chickens
- Market Turkey
- Market Duck
- MQP Lamb
- Market Lamb
- Market Rabbit
Forms should be completed no sooner than 5 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. All animals being brought to the fair requiring DUNF forms will need to submit their forms by 12:00 p.m., Friday, October 4, 2024.
The only EXCEPTION to the Friday deadline will be Market Poultry and Market Rabbits who will complete DUNF Forms AFTER they receive tags/leg bands so they have identification information to enter into the DUNF Form. One form per pen of animals should be completed for Poultry and Rabbits. Deadline for poultry and rabbit exhibitors is MIDNIGHT on Saturday, October 5^th.
Animals tagged with an EID 840 (15 digit tag) should include the last 6 digits in the identification field of the form.
Scrapie Tag numbers DO NOT need to be entered for market goats and market sheep – please use the last 6 digits of your EID 840 tag.
There should be ONE form submitted for each animal Exception: Each pen of rabbits and each pen of market chickens will need a form per pen.
Turkeys exhibitors will put N/A in the identification field.
Market Chicken exhibitors will put all 3 leg band numbers in the same identification field for their pen of chickens.
Market Rabbit exhibitors will put both tag numbers for their pair of rabbits in the identification field for their pen of rabbits.

Livestock Sale Updates for Fair (Sale Etiquette, Commissions, Add-On’s, Take Homes, Buyer Info)

September 28, 2024 at 4:45pm by Leslie Cooksey

Livestock Sale Etiquette – Due to some concerns expressed from buyers and families, please make sure you review the Livestock Sale Etiquette fact sheet to learn the Do’s and Don’ts of Buyer communication.

Livestock Sale Update: Sale Commissions – Continuing for 2024: All dollars handled by the Livestock Sale Committee are subject to commission, not to exceed 4%. This includes direct to packer animals and all add-ons.

Livestock Sale Update: Add-Ons – Continuing for 2024: In order for an exhibitor to receive an add-on, the exhibitor must qualify for a sale slot as either an individual or in a group. Take Home animals are not able to receive add-ons. Parents and exhibitors should not be completing Add-On Forms on behalf of a buyer – it is the Buyer’s responsibility. Parents and exhibitors should not be including Add-On Forms in their buyer letters. Buyers can request an Add-On Form by contacting the Sale Clerk or picking up a paper copy on sale days. New for 2024: Add-On’s must be received by the Sale Clerk by 5:00 p.m. the last Saturday of fair week (Saturday, October 12th at 5:00 p.m.)

Livestock Sale Updates: Take Home Animals – The 2024 Fairfield County Fair Junior Fair will have a partial terminal sale/show for all species. This will allow for a Take Home option this year.

The exception to this is the 10 champions that must be slaughtered and inspected at a designated packer according to ODA (grand/reserve market beef, grand/reserve market dairy steer, grand/reserve market hog, grand/reserve market lamb, grand/reserve market goat).
Additionally, grand/reserve dairy beef feeders, grand/reserve market rabbits, grand/reserve market turkeys, grand/reserve market ducks, and grand/reserve market chickens will forfeit any take home option and must sell in the respective sale slots.
- In the event that the buyer chooses to NOT KEEP any of the top non-terminal species (grand/reserve dairy beef feeders, grand/reserve market rabbits, grand/reserve market turkeys, grand/reserve market ducks, and grand/reserve market chickens), then the exhibitor may take their animal home if they completed a Take Home Form at weigh-in.
- Any animal that does not have a packer bid (i.e. poultry) will be offered to the buyer, if turned, the owner is responsible for that animal.
Take homes will be allowed for all species with the exception of those all grand/reserve champions listed above.
Take homes must be declared before the animal leaves the scale during check-in (no exceptions). Exhibitors must express their intent to take home their animal by submitting the Take Home Form at weigh-in. Take Home Forms will be available from your Show Superintendent at weigh-in.
Take home animals will lose their sale slot and will not be eligible for a premium, packer bid, or add-on’s.
Exhibitors who do not take home must qualify for their sale slot (as individual or group) at the discretion of the species show committee.
Take Home animals will be released by the specie’s Superintendent. See Specie Department Rules and Junior Fair Schedule for details: https://go.osu.edu/fcjrbook.

Buyer Information

If exhibitors are aware of buyers who often choose to “KEEP” and wish to have animals processed for meat, it is important for the buyer to have arrangements made prior to fair with the harvest facility of their choice. This is due to limited availability for custom livestock harvest and processing capacity.
Please send buyers to the https://u.osu.edu/livestocksale/ website to review this information.

Fairfield Co. Junior Fair Livestock Judging Contest – Preregister NOW (through Oct. 2nd)

September 28, 2024 at 4:40pm by Leslie Cooksey

The Livestock Judging Contest will be held on Sunday, October 6^th with registration beginning at 12:30 p.m. and the contest will begin at 1:00 p.m. in Feeder Creek Vet Show Arena. We will be having youth sign-up online (go.osu.edu/fclivestockjudging) prior to the contest so that we can help prep judging cards in advance. For more information, please review Livestock Judging Contest Rules in the Junior Fair Book at go.osu.edu/fcjrbook.