Get these weigh and check-in dates on your calendar.

Participation in market livestock projects remains strong in Fairfield County and the good news is plans continue for accommodating all the livestock project participation that will be experienced this year. That said, for the most part weigh-in/tagging dates, as well as harvest dates will remain similar in 2026 to what they have been in recent years.

The only significant change is that a fourth harvest date in early August for the Beef Performance & Carcass Quality (BPCQ) programs has been added. Youth participating in either of the August harvest dates will weigh/tag their BPCQ calves on January 31 at Fairfield Cattle Company. The two later September/October beef harvest dates will be maintained and calves being harvested then will be weighed/tagged along with the ‘live’ beef cattle on March 14. Youth had the opportunity to apply for BPCQ with an application deadline for the 2026 BPCQ contest of January 8, and on a first come, first served basis selected their preferred harvest date.

Again this year for Swine MQP, pigs will be weighed/tagged-in specifically for either the MQP or ‘live’ show. The pigs for each contest will be designated at weighing/tagging and may not cross over between the two contests. All Swine MQP pigs will be weighed on the same scales at the Fairgrounds.

Also again this year female market goats are allowed in the Goat MQP contest.

Specifically, the dates for 2026 that are Continue reading Important Livestock Weighing/Check-in Dates for 2026 →

Visit the Grain C.A.R.T. during the Tractor Show!

Families – and especially youth – are invited to come see the Ohio Grain C.A.R.T. (Comprehensive Agricultural Rescue Trailer) during the 30th annual Fairfield County Tractor and Truck Show on August 15 thru 17. The Grain C.A.R.T. is a traveling demonstration grain trailer operated by the Ohio Fire Academy and the Ohio State University Ag Safety Program. During the demonstrations being held at Noon on both Saturday and Sunday, August 16 and 17, those who attend will learn about the hazards associated with on-farm grain bins, and what farmers and their families must do to stay safe on the farm.

Topics in the demonstration include how grain entrapment and engulfment occur, electrical and equipment safety, and other issues with confined spaces. This trailer is used to train fire departments how to respond to farm emergencies at the grain bin. Part of the demo will include tips for what to do before trained help arrives on the scene.

The Tractor and Truck Show along with the Grain C.A.R.T. demonstrations are free to attend. The C.A.R.T. trailer will be located on the Fairfield County Fairgrounds, west of the caretaker’s residence along Fair Avenue. Demonstrations are planned for Noon on both Saturday and Sunday, August 16 and 17 and are intended for the entire family, both young and old, including farm and non-farm families.

For more details about the 30th annual Tractor and Truck Show, visit fairfieldcountytractorclub.com

Exhibitor back tags will be available for pickup starting on Saturday, October 5, 2024, from your respective Junior Fair Show Committees during check-ins/weigh-ins. No back tags will be distributed in the Junior Fair Office this year. If you show multiple species, the same exhibitor number will be used for each specie.

Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza has been detected in dairy cattle, a goat and humans!

It’s become apparent that most any mammal can become infected with Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza

Frequently over recent months you may have heard of the current outbreak of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) in domestic poultry, H5N1. This disease has been occurring since 2022 and has been reported in 48 states, affecting nearly 100 million domestic birds.

On March 20, 2024 the Minnesota Board of Animal Health reported that a juvenile goat on a Minnesota farm tested positive for HPAI. This marked the first U.S. case of the virus in a domestic ruminant.

The following week on Monday, March 25, 2024 the US Department of Agriculture (USDA), Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and Center for Disease Control (CDC) issued a statement confirming the identification of HPAI (now called Bovine Influenza A Virus) in dairy cattle located in Texas and Kansas. Shortly after, the USDA confirmed the detection of HPAI in a total of seven dairy herds in Texas, two in Kansas, one in Michigan, one in New Mexico, one in Idaho, and one in Northern Ohio. On April 1, the CDC reported one person in Texas who had been in contact with affected cattle tested positive for HPAI. The next week North Carolina became the seventh state to officially confirm the presence of HPAI in a dairy herd.

These findings are significant because Continue reading Don’t Let a Lapse in Biosecurity Ruin Your Fair →

Application for 2023-2024 Ohio 4-H Health HEROES are open. This statewide teen healthy living advocacy group are called HEROES because they serve as Health Education Resources for Outreach, Engagement, and Service. Youth will learn about current issues and topics in healthy living, learn lessons and activities to implement in their local 4-H community, will be tasked to create an action plan to create change in their local community, and will be a part of a statewide cohort who cares about the health and well-being of Ohio youth.

Benefits of becoming a 4-H Health Hero are:

• Learning about a variety of healthy living topics
• Gaining valuable leadership and communication skills
• Meeting other 4-H youth from across Ohio who are invested in healthy living
• Leaving a positive impact on your family, friends, and community
• Promoting the 4th H!

In previous years we have had youth focus on making change in health topics such as; mental health, vaping, opioids, and more.

Youth who are passionate about health and in grades 9 through 12 may apply! For more information, important dates, and expectations, you may check out https://go.osu.edu/HealthHEROES.  Application is due Sunday, October 15^th, 2023 by 11:59 pm.

Any questions, you may contact Justin Bower, State 4-H Healthy Living and Ohio Military Kids Educator at bower.183@osu.edu or at 614-247-1979.

The Fairfield County 4-H Junior Leaders have a new challenge for clubs: Save those metal pop tabs! Work within your club to collect clean, dry metal pop tabs. Please place them in a ziploc bag or similar container to be dropped off and weighed at the Fairfield County Extension Office. All pop tabs will be donated to the Ronald McDonald House Charities of Central Ohio to help pay the electric bill for families staying there.

The club who collects the most tabs by weight will receive a cash prize for your club to use for end of the year activities.

Metal pop tabs can be dropped off at the Extension Office (831 College Ave, Suite D, Lancaster) from NOW until 10/31/2023. If you have questions, please contact our office at 740-653-5419.

The OSU Extension Office will be closed on Monday, May 29th in observance of Memorial Day.

The Ohio 4-H Foundation’s annual Celebration of Youth is fast approaching! All adults aged 21 and over are invited to join us at Leeds Farm in Ostrander, Ohio on Thursday, October 6 for an evening of fall fun on the farm. The event will begin at 5 p.m. and will include a delicious dinner, a variety of fun farm activities, and both a silent and live auction. The kids are away so the adults can play!

This year, the Ohio 4-H Foundation is providing each county with two free tickets to the event. If you are interested in this opportunity, please contact your county educator for more information. Young alumni are also eligible for our BOGO ticket package, where you can purchase two tickets for the price of one! For additional details on how to purchase a ticket to Celebration of Youth, as well as information on how to sponsor the event or donate an auction item, please visit https://go.osu.edu/COY. Questions can also be directed to ohio4hfoundation@osu.edu. We hope you will join us for a night of fellowship and fundraising for Ohio 4-H!