Volunteers

2020 Junior Fair Updates (by specie) as of 9/23/2020 are posted!

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2020 Junior Fair Updates by specie have been organized and posted by specie on the OSU Extension/4-H website. Please note that this information is current as of 9/23/2020 and is subject to change. Updated documents will be reposted to this site with the updated date noted next to the specie should that need to happen. http://go.osu.edu/2020fairinfo

Please take the time to read all updates as it pertains to your family and Junior Fair participation this year. Please review the 2020 General Rules and Modified Junior Fair Schedule listed at the top of this page. Additionally, since no updated rule book was printed for 2020, it is important to read the 2019 Junior Fair Book rules as well for your respective specie. All of this information is listed on this page of the website.

Please reach out if you have any questions at all!

Here is a screenshot of our OSU Extension/4-H website where the updates are posted. Below the 2020 updates, you will find links to the 2019 Junior Fair Rule Book.

2020 4-H//FFA Project Book Review – PLEASE READ!

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4-H members are required to complete a project or record book each year for each of the projects in which they are enrolled. In past years, advisors reviewed project books for livestock, horse, gardening/crop projects at the club level – unless members pursued the Premier Exhibitor Contest, where they turned in their project book at the fair to compete in the Project Book Contest.

Likewise, FFA members are required to complete project records for their Supervised Agricultural Experience (SAE) projects through AET. If FFA members chose to participate in Premier Exhibitor in the past, they also turned in a printed version of their project records from AET to be reviewed in the Project Book Contest.

In 2020, Skillathons returned to the Fairfield County Junior Fair and the Project Book Contest and Premier Exhibitor Test have been discontinued for the Premier Exhibitor Contests. Originally, our plan was to have project books reviewed as a station of in-person Skillathons. The books would have been quickly reviewed in person by a judge who also would have interviewed the exhibitors on what they have learned from their 4-H/FFA project(s). Due to COVID-19 and moving Skillathons virtually, this in-person book review could not take place and an alternative plan was established.

Our alternative plan to review project books this year will be a county level review. 4-H Project/Record Books will be reviewed by 4-H Staff at the Extension Office while FFA Record Books will be reviewed by each FFA Advisor in their respective chapters.

What do exhibitors need to do?

  • Each member will need to turn in a project book for each project you plan to bring to the fair. This includes: All Beef (breeding, market, feeders, dairy beef feeders), Hogs, Sheep (breeding, market), Goats (meat does, market wethers, dairy, pygmy), Poultry, Rabbits (breeding, market – NOT Pet Rabbits), Horses, Dairy (breeding), and Llamas/Alpacas.
  • Records should be completed through September 18th. We understand there are portions of your book(s) that cannot be finished until after fair (i.e. profit/loss statements). We also know that you could not do everything you normally could have done this year with regard to citizenship, leadership, and project activities – but please update these sections of your book(s) the best you can for what you were able to do this year. Complete as much of your book as possible through September 18th.
  • For project completion requirements for each species, please review the 4-H Project Guidelines for Fair Projects.
  • If more work does need to be completed in project books (i.e. a book is turned in with numerous pages not filled out), you should expect to get a phone call asking you to pick-up your book and work on it more in order for it to be complete and be eligible to show at the fair.
  • Remember: Exhibition at the fair is an option beyond completion of 4-H and FFA projects. It is a privilege, not a right. You must be a member in good standing with your 4-H Club/FFA Chapter in order to show at the fair. One of the requirements for both organizations is completed project/record books.
  • Families can choose to drop off books on their own but should communicate that with their club advisor(s).

What do 4-H advisors need to do?

  • Sign the front covers of the 4-H Project Books!
  • Help with book collection and drop off at the Extension Office.
  • Books can be dropped in a box/tote provided by the club at the front door of the Extension Office. Or, you may place books in tote that we will place outside the Extension Office. No appointments are needed for book drop-off only.
  • Families can choose to drop off books on their own but should communicate that with you.

Drop-off schedule:

  • Monday, September 21st from 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
  • Tuesday, September 22nd from 9:00 a.m. – 7:15 p.m.
  • Wednesday, September 23rd from 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
  • Thursday, September 24th from 9:00 a.m. – 7:15 p.m.
  • Friday, September 25th from 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.

How will 4-H Staff/FFA Advisors review books?

  • We will not be using a rubric.
  • We will be looking for current, up to date records for this year.
  • We expect the book to be completed for the projects that are taken.
  • We expect the front cover of the book to be completed and legible.
  • We expect members to complete their own project/record books.
  • A quick project/record book review will take place prior to fair. If more work needs to be done in a 4-H project/record book prior to fair (i.e. a book is turned in with numerous pages not filled out), we will contact the exhibitor to pickup their book(s) and to work on it more in order for it to be complete and be eligible to show at the fair.
  • We will keep books until after fair to allow for a more thorough review books and so we can provide feedback on how 4-H members can learn and make their books better. This is meant to be a learning process this year, much like learning how the Skillathons were going to be for the first time this year. Books will be returned in December when 4-H Advisors pick-up Livestock Sale Checks on behalf of the club.

Details on 4-H Project Books:

The newer 4-H livestock record books are designed to include records for all projects taken in that specie. Add additional pages if needed if you are keeping separate records (i.e. pygmy vs. dairy goats). If you are taking more than one project in a specie, you should fill out all information applicable for those projects in your 4-H record book (market, breeding, feeders, etc). Those projects that share ONE 4-H record book are as follows:

  • ONE (135) Project/Record Book should be turned in for all 4-H Goat Projects:
    • (135BD) Dairy Goats
    • (135BM) Breeding Meat Goats
    • (135M) Market Goats
    • (135PY) Pygmy Goats
  • ONE (117) Beef Project/ Record Book should be turned in for all 4-H Beef Projects:
    • (117B) Beef Breeding
    • (117DF) Dairy Beef Feeder
    • (117M) Market Beef
    • (117BF) Beef Feeder
  • ONE (150) Poultry Project and Record Book should be turned in for all 4-H Poultry Projects:
    • (150CE) Chicken, Exhibition
    • (150CM) Chicken, Market
    • (150CEP) Chicken, Egg Production: Hens and Pullets
    • (150DE) Duck, Exhibition
    • (150DM Duck, Market
    • (150GE) Goose, Exhibition
    • (150TE) Turkey, Exhibition
    • (150TM) Turkey, Market
    • (150H) Helmeted Guinea Fowl
  • ONE (190R) Equine Record Book for the following Horse Projects:
    • (174) Beginning Horse Management*
      • *First year members taking (174) Beginning Horse Management can turn in this book with completed records for their first year and do not need to turn in the (190R) Equine Record Book. For second year and up, members taking (174) Beginning Horse Management should turn in the (190R) Equine Record Book.
    • (175) Light Horse Selection
    • (177) Horse Training: How to Talk to Your Horse
    • (180) Learning to Jump
    • (181) Draft Horse
    • (182) Small Equine
    • (184) Standardbred Horses
    • (185) Equine Reproduction and Genetics
    • (188) Trail Riding
    • (189) Dressage
    • (762) Horse Nutrition

The 4-H livestock record books that have not been updated by Ohio 4-H in recent years have separate books for breeding and market. 4-H members taking both market and breeding should be completing a book for each project.

  • SEPARATE Record/Project Books should be turned in for (199) Sheep Breeding and (198) Market Lambs.
  • SEPARATE Record/Project Books should be turned in for (225) Breeding Rabbits and (226) Market Rabbits.
  • SEPARATE Record Books should be turned in for (122 ) Dairy Heifers and (126) Dairy Cows.

Additional books that should be completed for the following projects:

  • Market Hogs: (139) Market Hog Project and Record Book
  • Llama/Alpaca: (132) Llama and Alpaca Project and Record Book
  • Pigeons: (365.22) Self Determined Idea Starter: Pigeons

Book Drop-Off Exceptions:

  • You and Your Dog exhibitors will keep books and bring with them to Dog Judging at the fair on Sunday, October 11th.
  • Companion Animal (including 227 Pet Rabbit) exhibitors will keep books and bring with them to Companion Animal Judging at the fair on Sunday, October 11th.
  • 4-H Gardening/Crop Project exhibitors will keep books and bring with them when they drop off their fair display on Saturday, October 10th between 1:00 – 4:00 p.m. in the 4-H Display Barn.
  • Cakes/Pies/Candies exhibitors will keep books and bring with them to Cakes/Pies/Candies Judging at the fair on Monday, October 12th.

Additional questions can be addressed to Leslie Cooksey, 4-H Extension Educator, by email at cooksey.25@osu.edu. Additionally, feel free to listen to this recording of an interview with Connie Smith featured on 88.9 The Farm Page on Saturday, September 12th where 4-H and FFA project/record books are discussed: https://u.osu.edu/thenews/files/2020/09/LeslieBooks.2020.mp3

 For a printable version of this information, click here: 2020 Project Book Information

Fair Update for Cloverbud Members

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In order to keep all Cloverbuds and their families safe, we have decided to make all activities virtual. The Fairfield County Senior Fair Board is trying to limit the number of people who attend the Junior Fair and are on the grounds, so we are creating virtual opportunities to celebrate our Cloverbud members.

Please provide the following updates to your members:

  • We are inviting Cloverbud Members to participate in the Fairfield County Skillathons. These are virtual this year and are just for completion for our traditional members. This is a great opportunity for Cloverbud members to test their knowledge about different animal species that show in Fairfield County. Cloverbud Members who participate will receive a certificate of completion. Links to all skillathons can be found here. The Skillathons are online September 1-21 and must be completed by 8 pm on September 21st.
  • Stuffed Animal Show & Show-N-Tell will be virtual this year. Details will be coming out soon on how members can participate in this activity. Members who participate in either of these events will receive a ribbon and their videos will be shared during Fair Week.
  • Cloverbud Graduation will be virtual this year as well. Eligible members will receive an email invitation to participate in the graduation. Keep an eye on your family email in the next few weeks for more details. Members who participate in graduation will receive a graduation ‘gift’ bag and certificate.
  • Take & Make It Bags and Thank You Notes:
    • If you have Cloverbud members who will be at the fair with siblings or families there will be Take & Make It Activity bags available for them to pick up thanks to the Junior Fair Board. These bags will have simple crafts for Cloverbud members to work on during shows to keep them busy. There will be activities from commodity groups for them to enjoy as well. Keep an eye out for registration details so that the JFB can plan for enough supplies
    • The Thank You Note Station will be available during the fair again this year and there will be Cloverbud Specific bags with postcards for members who want to write thank you notes to their advisors, award sponsors, etc.
  • There will be no peewee shows taking place at the 2020 Fairfield County Junior Fair.

As a reminder, all of these activities are optional, but we would love for your members to participate. Cloverbud members will receive recognition for participating in some form whether that is a certificate, ribbon, video played during fair week, or a photo featured on Fairfield County’s 4-H social media channels.

If you have any questions, please contact Aubry Fowler (fowler.443@osu.edu). We appreciate all your hard work and dedication to the Fairfield County 4-H Cloverbud Program, we truly could not do all of this without you!

Updates to In-Person 4-H Club Meetings and Events as of 9/1/2020

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Dear 4-H families, volunteers, and supporters,

As we head into fall, we want to take a moment to thank you for remaining flexible as we work together to help prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus. By following recommended guidance, we’re helping to keep our families and friends safer, our kids learning, and our economy going. We also want to take a moment to share updated in-person 4-H meeting requirements and a reminder to continue to follow our 4-H guidelines.

Updated information, effective as of today, September 1, 2020 includes:

  • Hosting virtual meetings and events is preferred.
  • If activities are critical/essential and are in-person, they must be education-focused.
  • Group cannot be larger than 50 people, including adults, youth, presenters, etc.
    • This directive is dependent on local health department guidelines.
    • The group size may need to be reduced to 10 (or other amount), based on the directives of your local health department.
  • Face masks are required.
    • This includes inside AND outside at all times.
    • Program participants and parent/guardians ages five and older must wear a mask.
    • The exception is shooting sports where safety is a concern when on the line. Refer to the full guidance document online for additional shooting sports guidance (link below).
    • Medical conditions or disability exceptions are also permitted.
  • Potlucks and buffets are not permitted

Any time your county is designated a Level 4 Public Health Emergency (color-coded purple) by the Ohio Department of Health, all in-person 4-H club meetings and events must be held virtually or postponed until the designation changes to Level 3 or below.

Ohio’s Public Health Advisory System updates are at https://coronavirus.ohio.gov/wps/portal/gov/covid-19/publichealth-advisory-system/

All other guidance we provided July 22 is still in effect. That information, along with these new updates, is at https://ohio4h.org/families/stay-connected.

 

Statement on 4-H Membership Eligibility

Ohio 4-H membership begins with Cloverbuds when a child is five and ends on December 31 of the year they turn 19. Due to cancellation of activities in 2020, there have been requests to extend a year of eligibility for 4-H members. This was given strong consideration at the national and regional levels. The decision was made that national 4-H programs will follow existing age requirements and another year of eligibility will not be granted. Following conversation with our 4-H professionals, Ohio will follow that policy.

Changing the policy would set an unsustainable precedent for youth participation for years to come. It would create increased unfairness when considering competitive events with the cascading impact on those who would have aged out taking spots of current youth down the line. COVID-19 has created a loss of experiences for everyone however, I am confident in the resiliency of our youth. Over the past few months, their ability to adapt and willingness to persevere has been evidenced by their participation in virtual camps, meetings and other 4-H activities.

Ohio 4-H is proud of how our volunteers and young people have adapted in this unprecedented time.

Kirk Bloir, Ph.D.
Assistant Director, 4-H Youth Development

College of Food, Agricultural and Environmental Sciences – Ohio State University Extension

Nationwide & Ohio Farm Bureau 4-H Center, 2201 Fred Taylor Drive, Columbus, OH 43210

Friend of the Junior Fair Award – due Friday, September 11th, 2020

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The Junior Fair Board is again sponsoring the Friend of the Junior Fair Award. Agricultural students, 4-H members and community members in Fairfield County are encouraged to nominate a person or business in the community that has a strong influence in agriculture and has contributed to the lives of Junior Fair members and the Fairfield County Junior Fair. Details on the presentation of this award will be shared at a later time.

Applications are due Friday, September 11th and can be obtained online or at the OSU Extension Office or from a Junior Fair Board member. Nominate a deserving person or business you know today!

Fair Entries: Due, Friday, August 28th at 4:00 p.m.

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The  Junior Fair Entry form is now available. Please submit one form per youth per club/chapter they belong to.  (an example would be a youth taking livestock in 4-H and FFA would need to submit 2 forms).  Advisors may turn club forms into the Senior Fair Office (SFO), Monday – Friday, August 24-28, between the hours of 8:30 am and 4:00 pm. This is the second and final week to drop off Junior Fair Entries.

Youth and their parents must complete the form using the  2019 Junior Fair Book for class numbers, and turn the form into their advisor.  The advisor is to check the form over, and then will submit all member forms for their club to the Junior Fair Office.  Don’t forget to sign the form – Member, Parent and Advisor!

Please enter all animals (including backup animals) for each member, as we know many of you aren’t sure which market animal you will be bringing to the fair yet.  The form does ask for the Fairfield County Market Tag and Sex in the last column – this is new this year.  Don’t forget to enter those!

Youth entering dogs, companion animals, crops and gardening projects, or cakes, pies and candies will also need to complete this entry form.

Dogs and Horses will need to complete their separate show entry forms as well.  Once those are finalized, we will share those with you. Update as of 8/21/2020: The Dog Show Entry Form will be emailed to dog members. This must be turned in with fair entries to the Senior Fair Office by August 28th. Horse Members – and update will be shared on the Horse Entry Form at the Horse Advisor’s Zoom Meeting on Tuesday, August 25th – stay tuned for updates. 

When going to the Senior Fair Office, located in the brick Administration Building on the fairgrounds, advisors must enter the door marked Junior Fair. This door is closest to Fair Avenue. Masks are expected to be worn into the office, and Sandy will be wearing appropriate PPE to accept your paperwork. There will be a limit of 2 advisors in the office at a time, so if you see people waiting, please wait your turn. You are expected to stay 6 feet apart when waiting as well.

Once inside the office, turn left to Sandy’s desk and hand her your club entries. She will review the entries and ask questions if she has any. Once all entries are finalized, the SFO will prepare pass packets and let advisors know they are ready for pickup.

Please remember, due to COVID-19, the SFO is asking you be patient when dropping off entries. They will be doing their best to keep the lines moving, but you may have a slight wait. Also, once the Senior Fair Board finalizes advisor/member/parent pass information, we will share that with you as well.

Tagging Info due Friday, July 31st at 6pm for Market/MQP Hogs, Market/MQP Lambs, Market Goats, Dairy Feeders

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The Fairfield County Senior Fair Board has voted to proceed with Fairfield County Fair with modifications to project our youth, visitors, and volunteers. They have changed the process for our upcoming July weigh-ins/taggings to protect and limit our social contact at this time. The Junior Fair Directors feel that it is important to limit contact as much as possible. Please find below the attached plan for Fairfield County Modified Junior Fair Tagging:

Fairfield County Fair July Tag-Ins have been modified to better accommodate concerns for Covid 19. Changes include exhibitors/families/advisors will be responsible for securing tags for Dairy Feeders, and market hogs from the Senior Fair Board Office, placing tags in animals (MQP lambs will still be weighed), Market goat & market lambs will be tagged using the Scrapie tag issued to them. You will be required to submit photographs of each animal. Please note the Senior Fair Board Office is located at 157 East Fair Avenue and office hours are 8:30 a.m. to noon each day.

Market Hogs- You can tag in up to four different animals for the Fairfield County Hog Show. Two are for the live show one for MQP and one as a back- up that a family can share. Tags need to be ordered from the Fair Office and can be picked up by a 4-H/FFA advisor, parent or exhibitor. Tags orders can be submitted on the tag order form. Prior order must be placed so they are prepared and sanitized prior to your arrival. This form below along with pictures of all four sides of the animal, ear notching and the tag in the ear must be submitted by July 31st 6 p.m. If an animal is a shared back up in the family you must list both names on the form. One form per hog required. Animals must later be listed on the Junior Fair entry form Due August 28th as well.

Market Goats- You can tag up to two market goats for the Fairfield County Fair Market Goat Show. You will not weigh in your goat this year as in the past. This form below along with pictures of all four sides of the animal and the Scrapie tag in the ear must be submitted by July 31st 6 p.m. If an animal is a shared back-up in the family you must list both names on the form. One form per market goat required. Animals must later be listed on the Junior Fair entry form Due August 28th as well. Your goat will receive a Fairfield County Tag at Fair Weigh in in October once your scrapies tags are verified.

Dairy Feeders- You can tag in up to two dairy feeders for the Fairfield County Dairy Feeder Show.  You will not weigh in your Dairy Feeder this year as in the past. Tags need to be ordered from the Fair Office and can be picked up by a 4-H/FFA advisor, parent or exhibitor. Prior order must be placed so they prepared and sanitized prior to your arrival. This form below along with pictures of all four sides of the animal and the Fair tag in the ear must be submitted by July 31st 6 p.m. If an animal is  a shared back-up in the family you must list both names on the form. One form per Dairy Feeder required. Animals must later be listed on the Junior Fair entry form Due August 28th as well.

Market Sheep- You can tag in up to four market lamb for the Fairfield County Market Sheep Show. Two for the live show one as a back up and one for the MQP Class. You will not weigh in your Market Lamb this year as in the past unless you are in the MQP class. The MQP Committee will contact you on how to weigh in your animal.  This form below along with pictures of all four sides of the animal and the scrapies tag in the ear must be submitted by July 31st 6 p.m. If an animal is a shared back-up in the family you must list both names on the form. One form per market lamb required. Animals must later be listed on the Junior Fair entry form Due August 28th as well. Your market lamb will receive a Fairfield County Tag at Fair Weigh in in October once your scrapies tags are verified.

ALL POSSESSION DATES REMAIN THE SAME AS 2019-

If you click on this link or copy and paste in your browser it will take you to the forms. This is a google form document. Multiple pictures can be added through the picture submit button. Please take clear pictures that can be used to verify your animal(s).

All forms for tagging information should be submitted through the following link: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdMXvGiyIDH0UnfuOTa5ZPAg1HrhLJXfSsXBr-pyTFdP2AiOg/viewform?usp=sf_link

All tag request should be sent through the following link: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSd4tpFgdwgzBAHZdEh9Y0v1IRjDaFga0aaWZmd5Uzblzwrhjg/viewform?usp=sf_link

Questions should be directed to Chuck Miller , Junior Fair Director at keywest100@att.net