Youth Opportunities

OSF Poultry Judging and Avian Bowl: Entry Deadline – June 25

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A link to the 2021 Ohio State Fair 4-H Poultry Judging Contest Rules and Ohio State Fair 4-H Avian Contest Rules are posted on the Poultry Calendar of Events page at https://ohio4h.org/animalsciences/poultry/poultry-calendar-events  or www.poultry.osu.edu. The postmark deadline for entries for both the Poultry Judging Contest and Avian Bowl is Friday, June 25. Both contests will be held at the Department of Animal Sciences on Saturday, July 17.

 

Please be aware that although the state of Ohio is currently scheduled to lift several COVID-19 restrictions at the beginning of June, The Ohio State University, and therefore Ohio 4-H, may still mandate restrictions.

  • For the 2021 Avian Bowl and Poultry Judging Contests, unless announced otherwise, everyone (contestants, volunteers, advisors, family members, officials, etc.) will be required to wear a mask when in the contest rooms or walking around the building (to/from contest rooms, to/from the restroom, etc.).  All teams will have assigned areas to maintain social distancing where they may take their masks off when seated in their assigned area.
  • Failure to abide by these guidelines will result in the disqualification of the entire team.

We may also restrict the number of individuals allowed into the building per team (i.e. only 6 individuals per team (including the contestants, coach, and any family members).  This will depend on the number of teams per age division that register for the contest.  This information will be updated and emailed to coaches after registration is closed.

Community Service Opportunity: Pet Heaven Cemetery in Reynoldsburg/Etna

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Read on if your 4-H Club is looking for a community service opportunity!

From Joe Downs, Cemetery Director at Pet Heaven Cemetery:

A brief explanation of who we are; Pet Heaven was purchased by The Basement Doctor in 2018, and is now one of their many sister companies. In the years prior to the purchase of the cemetery, it has been pretty neglected and overgrown. Since purchasing the cemetery in 2018, the employees at The Basement Doctor have been volunteering their time to mow, meet with families, dig graves, and even set monuments. Finally this year, they realized the cemetery has too much business to keep running on volunteer capacity, so they hired me. I am a former dog groomer and humane agent, as well as a current funeral director and crematory operator. I am now THE only person responsible for everything related to the cemetery.

Over the past few months I have contracted with casket suppliers, monument artists, and a lawncare team.

My final big task before re-opening the cemetery and accepting new burials; is landscaping!

Pet Heaven dates back to the 1950’s, and is home to hundreds of companions final resting places. Being that we have headstones from the 50’s and up, many families don’t make it out to care for the graves anymore, and I really want the grounds to be clean and welcoming before reopening.

Some of the biggest tasks I have include:

  • Washing off headstones with soap and water
  • Pulling weeds around headstones – we do not use a weed-eater around the headstones because the string contains metal reinforcement, and can damage the stone ☹
  • Leveling stones – Many of the headstones have settled into the ground over the years and shifted. Since our headstones are sized for pets, they are fairly small and lightweight. Most of the stones just need to be re-centered on their slabs, so the rows are in nice straight lines.
  • Gardening and landscaping – I have been reaching out to local nurseries and garden centers for donations of mulch and stone. Right now, the cemetery is just lawn and trees. I want to have a nice eye-catching entrance with bright flowers and dark mulch. We also have a large empty area in the center of the cemetery where I would like to add a “Pick-your-own flower garden” – growing a variety of flowers and greenery, offering a unique experience for visitors to pick their own arrangement of flowers to place on their loved ones grave.

I am reaching out to see if your 4H community would be interested in helping us complete any of these tasks. We are eager to open our doors again and start accepting burials for at-need families!

Everything necessary will be provided for our volunteers; gloves, sunscreen, glasses, brushes and cleaners etc…

I will also be installing a community board with local veterinary office info, coupons for pet supplies etc, and would be more than happy to add a big banner thanking the Ohio 4-H volunteers for making our cemetery beautiful!

***Pet Heaven as well as all of our sister companies have been completely covid free during the entire pandemic. While our employees are getting vaccinated, we are still enforcing a strict mask policy in our offices, vehicles, and common areas. Outdoor activities are mask optional as long as a 6-foot distance is still enforced, or members are from the same household.

Thank you so much for taking the time to read this email, and I look forward to hearing back from you! 😊

JOE DOWNS 

CEMETERY DIRECTOR

PET HEAVEN CEMETERY

ADDRESS: 13701 NATIONAL RD. SW, ETNA OH, 43068

SITES: www.PetHeavenOhio.com / Facebook/PetHeavenCemetery

PHONE: 740.927.3582

~ JDowns@PetHeavenOhio.com ~

4-H Cloverbud Camp – Photos posted!

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I love camp here, I love camp there, I love everywhere!

Thank you to all campers, camp counselors, and adult staff for an AMAZING Cloverbud Camp! It was WARM, SUNNY, and AWESOME to be in-person doing our thing! How blessed are we to have this amazing facility right here in Lancaster! A huge thanks to our friends at Alley Park. Photos from 4-H Cloverbud Camp are now posted on the Ohio State – Fairfield County 4-H Facebook Page!

Next up… Intermediate Camp starts next week!

Youth Opportunity: Virtual Youth Meat Judging Summer Series

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As the American Meat Science Association (AMSA) explores opportunities to attract, develop, and connect meat science talent,  AMSA will be hosting our first virtual meat judging summer series (4 virtual meat judging contests) targeted to youth (3rd-12th grade, 4-H, FFA students, etc.). Participants will compete in divisions based on their upcoming grade: Youth (3rd-7th grade) and Senior Division (8th-12th grade). Divisions will be based on the grade the student is going into the upcoming academic year. The contest will consist of 6 placing classes, 2 questions classes, quality grading (6) and 40 Retail Identification. Participants will register via the AMSA website.

Contest Dates

  • June 23, 2021
  • July 7, 2021
  • July 21, 2021
  • August 4, 2021

Contests will be open for 48 hrs. and the participant must complete the contest and submit the electronic scantron within the contest time allotment.  Additional contest guidelines will be posted in the AMSA community platform in which the contests will be facilitated. 

Points

  • Contests will be scored, and results will be posted to judgingcard.com and the AMSA website the Monday following the contest.  All results across categories will be posted, but points will be earned on the overall ranking only. 
  • Count top 3 contest rank finishes.  Students placing 1 through 20 will receive rank points.  For example, 1st place will receive 20 points, 2nd = 19 points, etc.  The students will the five highest point totals will be eligible for awards.

Awards

Youth Division- Top five students receive awards

  • 1st- $500 scholarship, 2nd- $250, 3rd- $100, 4th- $100, 5th- $50; Top 5 receive a complimentary AMSA Youth Membership

Senior Division- Top five students receive awards

  • 1st- 1,500 scholarship, 2nd- $1,000 scholarship, 3rd- $750 scholarship, 4th- $500 scholarship, 5th- $250 scholarship; Top 5 receive a complimentary AMSA Youth Membership

Registration – To register for the virtual clinics/ contests:

  • Click here to register!
  • Registration Fee: $100 per participant
  • Registration Fee Includes: 4 Contest Registrations, Electronic Scantrons, and Summer Series T-Shirt

Contest Eligibility:

  • Participants should be in 3rd-12th grade.
  • Participating in any of these contests does not impact eligibility for the in person National 4-H Contest.

Virtual 4H/FFA Meat Judging (meatscience.org)

If you have any additional questions please email lfrenzel@meatscience.org

Skillathon Requirement Info for 4-H/FFA Junior Fair Exhibitors (Alpacas/Llamas, Beef, Dairy Cattle, Dogs, Goats, Horses, Poultry, Rabbits, Sheep, Swine)

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Continuing from 2020, the Fairfield County Junior Fair will require the completion of at least one Skillathon per 4-H/FFA exhibitor in order to show at 2021 Fairfield County Junior Fair for all beef, dairy, goat, poultry, rabbit (except Pet Rabbits), sheep, swine, dog, horse, alpaca/llama projects. This requirement is included on page 14 of the 2021 4-H Member Handbook. Fairfield County Skillathons may include (but are not limited to) animal anatomy/body parts, breeding and reproduction, feeds and nutrition, current events, diseases and animal health, equipment ID, feed ID, Quality Assurance, breeds, marketing, meats, and recordkeeping.

Here are options to meet this county requirement:

1. Participate in the Fairfield County Skillathon event to be held September 11th and 12th at the Fairfield County Fairgrounds. Details will be forthcoming…but save the dates now.
  • Fairfield County youth interested in competing for any Fairfield County Premier Exhibitor Award must complete the Skillathon in each respective specie they play to compete in.
  • Example: Exhibitor wishes to compete for Swine Premier Exhibitor Award and Poultry Premier Exhibitor Award must complete both the swine and poultry Fairfield County Skillathons on either September 11th or 12th.
2. Participate in the Ohio State Fair Virtual Skillathon.
  • Youth do not have to be exhibitors in the OSF to participate.
  • Registration is due June 14th by visiting: www.go.osu.edu/skillathonregistration
  • Youth do not have to be exhibitors at the OSF to participate.
  • OSF Youth participating in the Outstanding Breeding Exhibitor must register and complete the OSF Virtual Skillathon to be eligible for this award.
  • Exhibitors must have their own unique email address to create a log-in to access the online skillathon.
3. Participate in the Ohio State Fair In-Person Skillathon.
4. None of these options work? Exhibitors can schedule to take a written test with the Fairfield County Senior Fair Office.
 
Details including dates for both virtual/in-person options on the two options from the Ohio State Fair can be found here: https://ohio4h.org/animalsciences/ohio-youth-skillathons
please let Leslie Cooksey (cooksey.25@osu.edu) know if you have additional questions.

Ohio Youth Skillathons (Virtual and In-Person Sessions)

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Ohio Youth Skillathon information for VIRTUAL and IN-PERSON sessions is now online at: https://ohio4h.org/animalsciences/ohio-youth-skillathons

VIRTUAL Skillathon Registration is due by JUNE 14th, 2021!

A few important notes:

  • Those exhibiting at OSF and want to be eligible for Outstanding Market Exhibitor (OME) awards MUST participate at the IN-PERSON skillathons at the state fair
  • Those exhibiting at OSF and want to be eligible for Outstanding Breeding Exhibitor (OBE) awards MUST participate in the VIRTUAL skillathons online

Countywide Quality Assurance Opportunity: Thursday, June 10th (registration is required)

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Countywide Quality Assurance opportunity: Thursday, June 10th at 7:00 p.m. at the Ed Sands Building at the Fairfield County Fairgrounds. Registration is required and will be limited to 50 participants. Register here: https://osu.az1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_0P19iWcND165rpQ

For more information about 2021 Quality Assurance options, click here.

4-H Pledge and Creed Speaking Event: Registration deadline extended through June 7th

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Speak out and get involved! Improve your public speaking skills and raise awareness of health and safety topics. The Fairfield County Health & Safety Speaking Event will be Wednesday, June 9th, 2021 starting at 1:00 p.m. at the Ag Center. Any 4-H or Cloverbud member can participate. The following events will take place:

  • Junior and Senior Individual Health & Safety Speaking Events
  • Health & Safety Speaking Team Event
  • 4-H Creed Speaking Event
  • 4-H Pledge Speaking Event (Cloverbuds Only)

Earn a chance to also participate in the Ohio State Fair with the Health & Safety events!

Registration HAS BEEN EXTENDED THROUGH June 7th at 4:00 p.m. by calling the Extension Office at 740-653-5419. For questions, contact Leslie Cooksey at cooksey.25@osu.edu.

Summer Project Judging: Location Change and Style Revue Update

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4-H Summer Project Judging is scheduled for July 12th through July 15th, 2021. Please note that we will be changing the location of judging this year and it will now take place in the Ed Sands Building at the Fairfield County Fairgrounds. This is different than what was printed in the 4-H Member Handbook and 4-H Project Guidelines. Please be sure that you review the 4-H Member Handbook and 4-H Project Guidelines as you complete your projects and prepare for judging. Scheduling of appointments for summer projects will be open soon.

Another change that we will be making this year is for the Style Revue. There will not be a formal style revue taking place during the evening of July 15th. In lieu of the in-person evening event, members will be modeling their projects to be recorded and narrated by Fashion and Nutrition Board Members and videos shared virtually at a later date. Details will be shared soon with clothing/sewing members.

If you cannot make it to your judging day, late judging is available by appointment for Tuesday, July 27th. Members participating in late judging will earn a grade and will not be eligible for awards. To schedule an appointment for late judging on July 27th, call 740-653-5419.

Ohio State Fair 4-H Avian Bowl Contest

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A link to the 2021 Ohio State Fair 4-H Poultry Judging Contest Rules and Ohio State Fair 4-H Avian Contest Rules are posted on the Poultry Calendar of Events page at https://ohio4h.org/animalsciences/poultry/poultry-calendar-events  or www.poultry.osu.edu. The postmark deadline for entries for both the Poultry Judging Contest and Avian Bowl is Friday, June 25, 2021. Both contests will be held at the Department of Animal Sciences on The Ohio State University Campus on Saturday, July 17, 2021.

Feel free to share with youth/volunteers interested in either event. 😊  However, we also want to share the following information.

Please be aware that although the state of Ohio is currently scheduled to lift several COVID-19 restrictions at the beginning of June, The Ohio State University, and therefore Ohio 4-H, may still mandate restrictions.

  • For the 2021 Avian Bowl and Poultry Judging Contests, unless announced otherwise, everyone (contestants, volunteers, advisors, family members, officials, etc.) will be required to wear a mask when in the contest rooms or walking around the building (to/from contest rooms, to/from the restroom, etc.).  All teams will have assigned areas to maintain social distancing where they may take their masks off when seated in their assigned area.
  • Failure to abide by these guidelines will result in the disqualification of the entire team.

We may also restrict the number of individuals allowed into the building per team (i.e. only 6 individuals per team (including the contestants, coach, and any family members).  This will depend on the number of teams per age division that register for the contest.  This information will be updated and emailed to coaches after registration is closed.