Ohio State Fair Market Beef DNA Sample Collection

The Ohio State Fair requires all market beef entered in the 2017 Ohio State Fair to have individual DNA samples taken from each animal that may potentially be entered. These DNA samples must be in the possession of the Ohio State Fair by January 15, 2017.

Click here for a document containing sample collection instructions: final-dna-sample-collection-instructions-2017. Those of you who are not familiar with last year’s procedures may have several questions, but hopefully by having these instructions now will give you a heads up on the requirements. Therefore, please read the attached instructions that will be a part of each sample collection kit and contact Stacey French, Agricultural Department at the Ohio State Fair, if you have any questions. Stacey’s phone number is 614.644.4049 and email is s.french@expo.state.oh.us.

DNA sample collection kits may be picked up either by 4-H professionals, FFA advisors, or the actual individual directly from Stacey French on the OSF fairgrounds. Prior to submission, the nomination envelope for each sample kit remitted must be signed by either the 4-H professional or FFA advisor, depending in which organization the youth is taking the market animal(s).

Also note that those showing at any of the BEST sanctioned shows must have EID tags in their calves prior to the first show in which they exhibit. BEST shows prior to the January 15 deadline to submit samples to OSF include: Heart of It All, November 26-27, Lima; AGR Holiday Classic, December 10-11, Columbus; and Scarlet & Gray Midwest Showdown, January 7-8, Columbus.

Ohio State Fair 4-H Poultry Judging Contest and Avian Bowl Contest Information

The Ohio State Fair 4-H Poultry Judging Contest moved from July 23 to SATURDAY, AUGUST 6, 2016 the same day and location as the Ohio State Fair Avian Bowl Contest.

After much discussion between the State 4-H Office and the Ohio State Fair, they agreed it would be in the best interest of implementing the contest to move it from Saturday, July 23 to Saturday, August 6, 2016. Poultry Judging would be held at the Buckeye Building prior to the Avian Bowl Contest. Team and individuals postmark entry deadline without day-of-contest fee charge will still be Friday, July 8.

Both contests would be during the Junior Fair Poultry Show and allow youth entered in the Poultry Judging Contest to compete during the fair instead of pre-fair. We hope this date change will interest more youth, as the number of contestants are typically small for the amount of planning and time it takes to put on this contest.

Registration for the Poultry Judging Contest will begin at 8:30 a.m. The Avian Bowl Contest will now follow Poultry Judging and will begin at approximately noon. Once we know how many Avian Bowl teams we have, we will let them know a more definite start time.

The date change for Poultry Judging and the time change for Avian Bowl will be posted on the 4-H and OSF websites as well as posted on the 4-H Animal Sciences Facebook page.

For those youth interested in participating in either contest representing Fairfield County, please contact 4-H volunteer, Loretta Sweeney, for more information at Loretta Sweeney lorettasweeney@ameritech.net.

Attention College Students: Work at the Ohio State Fair!

Ohio 4-H Youth Development, is looking for 4-H Educational Assistants to work at the Ohio State Fair from July 15 through August 7, 2016.

4-H Educational Assistants will:

  1. Provide assistance in cleaning and painting of the 4-H area in the Youth Discovery Center prior to the fair’s opening.
  2. Provide assistance to 4-H Assistant Superintendents in helping with set-up and conducting their respective 4-H educational activities/events.
  3. Assist with daily event/activity registration.
  4. Provide information on the Ohio 4-H Youth Development Program to fair visitors.
  5. Assist with awards ceremonies as needed.

Work schedules are flexible and the position requires a commitment of  35 hours/week. Interested students currently enrolled in college should send a resume to Allen Auck, auck.1@osu.edu.  Requires successful completion of a background checks.

Ohio State Fair Skillathon Updates

The following Ohio State Fair animal event rules are now posted on the Ohio 4-H website:

Posted on the Ohio State Fair Skillathon Home page:

Ohio State Fair Skillathon Rules

  • The Dog Skillathon is one day only – Tuesday, August 2
  • There are time changes for the following skillathons: Goat, Sheep, Dog and Poultry
  • Skillathon Excellence Awards are new this year – a great opportunity for youth!

Ohio State Fair Skillathons are open to any 4-H members. You do not need to be exhibiting an animal at the Ohio State Fair to participate in skillathons. For more information, contact Leslie Cooksey at cooksey.25@osu.edu.

Ohio State Fair 4-H Livestock Judging Contest

The following Ohio State Fair animal event rules are now posted on the Ohio 4-H website:

Posted on specific species Calendar of Events pages:

Ohio State Fair 4-H General Livestock Judging Contest and Entry Form

  • Entry Deadline – July 15 postmark without penalty
  • Contest Date – July 29
  • No changes from last year

If you are interested in participating at the Ohio State Fair 4-H Livestock Judging Contest, you must contact Fairfield County 4-H Volunteer, Trey Miller, at tmill09@me.com.

Ohio State Fair Poultry Judging Contest

The following Ohio State Fair animal event rules are now posted on the Ohio 4-H website:

Posted on specific species Calendar of Events pages:

Ohio State Fair 4-H Poultry Judging Contest and Entry Form

  • Entry Deadline – July 8 postmark without penalty
  • Contest Date – July 23
  • Entry procedure changed from 2014 contest
  • Juniors have the option of giving oral reasons; it is not required. Awards will be given to the top 10 highest scoring individuals who elect to give oral reasons.

If interested in participating in the Ohio State Fair Poultry Judging Contest, contact Fairfield County 4-H Volunteer, Loretta Sweeney, at lorettasweeney@ameritech.net.

Ohio State Fair Avian Bowl Contest Information

The following Ohio State Fair animal event rules are now posted on the Ohio 4-H website:

Posted on specific species Calendar of Events pages:

Ohio State Fair Avian Bowl Contest Rules and Entry Form

  • Entry Deadline – July 8 postmark
  • Contest Date – August 6
  • Major changes from 2015 contest: (1) Teams of 2 or 3 are permitted provided they are not a part of cross-county teams; (2) Contest procedure and scoring is more aligned with the National Avian Bowl Contest; (3) Questions must come from the National Avian Bowl Manual revised in 2016.

If interested in participating in the Avian Bowl Contest, contact Fairfield County 4-H Volunteer, Loretta Sweeney, at lorettasweeney@ameritech.net.

Ohio State Fair Arts Information

Greetings from the Ohio State Fair Arts!  I wanted to share with you all the arts opportunities we are offering Ohio youth this year and hope you will encourage your groups/members to enter. 2016 information can be found online at www.ohiostatefair.com for the Youth Arts Exhibition and competition information for Creative Arts (Culinary and Handcrafted).  The Youth Arts Exhibition is open to Ohio youth in grades 1-12 and the Creative Arts competitions are open to youth ages 11 and up unless noted on the competition page.  Information and entry information can be found at the following links and deadline to enter is June 20, 2016.  All entries and artwork images (if required) are accepted online.

Youth Arts:          http://ohiostatefair.com/youth-arts/

Creative Arts Culinary & Baking: http://ohiostatefair.com/culinary/

Creative Arts Handcrafted:            http://ohiostatefair.com/creative-arts/

The Youth Arts Exhibition is a juried exhibition whereby jurors pre-select the work to be included in the exhibition.  The number of pieces accepted into the exhibition varies but on average is around 250-300 pieces.  Selected works are then eligible for awards which jurors select on site.  All Creative Arts competition entries, however, are accepted, judged and displayed.  This year Creative and Youth Arts will be featured in the new Cardinal Hall building!

Thank you for sharing the Ohio State Fair arts opportunities with your youth groups.  If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me. I look forward to seeing you at the Fair!

 

Best,

Sandy Libertini

Arts Director, Ohio State Fair

(614) 579-5743

July 27-August 7, 2016

www.ohiostatefair.com

 

Ohio State Fair Scholarships due 3/1/2016

The Ohio State Fair Scholarship applications must be postmarked by Tuesday, March 1 this year! This is 3½ months earlier than in past years. Scholarships are available for junior fair livestock and non-livestock exhibitors. A total of $29,250 worth of scholarships will be awarded to qualified applicants.

Information is posted at http://www.ohio4h.org/statewide-programs/animal-sciences/ on the various species calendar of events pages.