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Fairfield County Jr. Fair Beef Breeding Possession Date & Identification 

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For all those Junior Fair Youth with Beef Breeding Project please be aware of the  possession date.

* Beef Breeding possession is July 1st . All beef breeding animals exhibited must have been completely and full owned and in the complete possession and continual care of the exhibitor on and after the designated date.

* Registered Beef Breeding Identification: All registered breeding beef will submit the following by July 15th to OSU Extension Office: EID 840 Tag and/or Tattoo Number as well as DNA hair sample for each animal.

* If an animal currently has an EID 840 tag in place, this tag will be used as the official fair identification.

* Registration Number is required at the time of fair entry and by August 23rd , 2024 (FairEntry Deadline).

* If breed registration is not completed by fair entry deadline, the animal will show as a crossbred.

* Crossbred Beef Breeding Identification: All crossbred breeding beef will submit the following by July 15th to OSU Extension Office: EID 840 Tag as well as DNA hair sample for each animal.

* If an animal currently has an EID 840 tag in place, this tag will be used as the official fair identification.

* If needed, crossbred heifer exhibitors will be able to pick-up 840 EID tags from OSU Extension (which are provided by the Senior Fair).

Junior Fair News –  Plans for tagging Market Lambs, Goats, Hogs and Dairy Beef Feeders in 2024 Announced

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The time for tagging and weigh-in of Fairfield County’s dairy beef feeders, market lambs, market goats and market hogs is upon us. Based on the success of the tagging and weigh-in process that has been utilized in recent years, this year will be conducted in a similar fashion at the fairgrounds with only a few modifications.

This year’s check-in/weigh-in for dairy beef feeders, market lambs, market goats and market hogs will happen at the Fairgrounds on Saturday, June 29. The exception is that MQP goats will be weighed-in on May 18.

New this year, in advance of the check-in/weighing process youth will be required to tag their own market animals with an EID 840 tag (unless the animal already has an 840 EID tag). Visual numbered tags will not be provided or required this year but are optional and encouraged for all species. 

EID tags and taggers for any market animals that do not already have an EID tag may be secured from the OSU Extension office during the normal office hours of 7:30 a.m.-4 p.m. Monday through Friday. In order that the proper tags and taggers are ready for pick-up when requested, exhibitors are asked to log-in to https://go.osu.edu/fcmarkettags and make tag requests beginning now through June 24, 2024. Youth participating in Goat MQP should request their tags by May 15.

Junior Fair Beef Weigh-In a Success!! 

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If participation in the Saturday, March 9 beef weigh-in is any indication, interest in the Junior beef project remains strong in Fairfield County. Fifty six (56) 4-H and FFA youth weighed in a total of 89 market beef steers and heifers in anticipation of the 2024 Jr. Market Beef and Beef Performance and Carcass Quality shows, happening before and during the Fairfield County Fair. Also, this year, 5 youth weighed in 7 dairy beef animals in preparation for finishing them for the new Finished Dairy Beef project.

In summary, sixty youth weighed in a total of 96 beef feeder calves as their 2024 projects. Of those, 69 head were beef steers, 20 were market beef heifers. and 7 were dairy beef. Of the 89 beef steers and heifers, 51 were bred, born and raised (BBR) here in Fairfield County.

The average weight of the 89 beef calves was 766 pounds. The 69 beef steers averaged 793 pounds and 20 heifers weighed an average of 647 pounds.

Seven dairy beef steers weighed in at an average weight of 838 pounds.

Participation in market beef projects has grown steadily since 2014 when only 35 youth participated by weighing and tagging calves at the March weigh-in.  Special thanks to Fairfield Cattle Company for allowing the use of their facilities for the annual weigh-in.

NEW CLASS in the Jr. Fair  SHEEP SHOW at the Fairfield Co. Fair  –  Homegrown Market Lamb Division (new for 2024)

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To be eligible, entries must be born from a ewe owned by the exhibitor prior to January 1st of the current year and raised at the 4-H/FFA member’s immediate family property or family property that adjoins the exhibitor’s residence (i.e. grandparents, aunt/uncle) in Fairfield County. Proof of ownership of the ewe will be in the form of registration papers, farm Scrapie tag, or Scrapie tag with an accompanying bill of sale.

Cole Rowley, Fairfield Union FFA

Entry must be one of the exhibitor’s junior fair market lamb projects. Lambs must be born after January 1st of the current year.

The market lamb selected to be shown in the homegrown market lamb show will be included in the general market classes.

Homegrown market lamb class will be held separately – before the general market lamb show, and only one lamb per exhibitor will be permitted to show in this class.

The top five (5) places will be selected and receive an award. The Champion Homegrown Market Lamb selected will sell 6th in the overall sale order (unless it places either Grand or Reserve Grand Champion in the general market lamb show or the exhibitor is selected as the Sheep Premier Exhibitor).

Exhibitors must complete the Homegrown Market Lamb Intent Form (http://go.osu.edu/homegrownmktlamb) as soon as possible following the birth of their Homegrown Market Lamb(s). This will notify the Sheep Committee to make a farm visit within two weeks of lambing.

All entries must agree to a market lamb committee member(s) entering their barn/housing unit for visual inspection of animals. Failure to do so will lead to immediate disqualification.  Homegrown Market Lamb(s) must take part in June weigh-in at the fairgrounds. No exceptions.

 

New Purebred Market Hog Division Set for 2024 Fairfield County Fair

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Junior Fair Market Hog exhibitors may show purebred market animals, both barrows and gilts, in the market show and will have a minimum of one division.  Barrows and gilts declared for the purebred division will need to show a valid pedigree in the exhibitor’s name and meet the respective breed characteristics to show as a purebred, otherwise the animal will show in the respective crossbred division.  This new division will encourage exhibitors who are interested in raising and showing purebreds to have a special division at the Fairfield County Fair.  Please be aware eligible market  weight limits for the market hog show are 225 to 295 lbs.  For more details, contact Junior Fair Director, Doug Shell at 740-404-1505.         

 

MQP Contests Entry Deadline closes on April 15… Note, some MQP dates have changed! 

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MORE NEWS For Fairfield County Junior Fair Exhibitors 

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

Entries for the 2024 Fairfield County Jr. Fair Goat, Swine, and Lamb MQP programs are now being accepted. All MQP entries will be accepted on-line and are due on or before April 15.

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

Goats for the MQP contest must be owned by May 18, 2024 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 25, 2024.

Lambs for the MQP contest must be owned by June 29, 2024 and will be weighed at the Fairgrounds on that date. After 64 days on feed the MQP lambs will be brought back to the Fairgrounds for the conclusion of the contest on September 1, 2024.

Barrows or – new for this year – gilts for MQP must be owned by June 29, 2024 and will be weighed this year at the Fairgrounds on that date. After 71 days on feed the barrows will return to the Fairgrounds for the contest conclusion on September 8, 2024.

Applications for any of these contests must be received on-line by April 15, 2024. Find more details about MQP and links to each of the application portals here: https://go.osu.edu/mqp

Check out the new finished Dairy Beef Steer opportunity for Junior Fair Youth!

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Find all the details of the 2024 finished Dairy Beef Steer here!  

Fairfield County 4-H and FFA youth now have an additional opportunity to raise and market a meat animal project for the 2024 Fair in the form of the ‘finished’ Dairy Beef Steer project. Dairy Beef Steers must be owned and in the possession of the youth by weigh-in on March 9, 2024, and weigh a minimum of 1100 pounds at weigh-in at the Fair on Saturday, October 5. Each youth entering and showing an eligible finished Dairy Beef Steer will earn one sale slot in the 2024 Junior Fair Livestock Sale. For all the details check out: https://u.osu.edu/fairfield4h/2024/01/24/finished-dairy-beef-steer-project-is-approved-for-2024/

Want to know more about the Barn Quilts on the Art Hall…

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Take a minute to listen into this interview with Lancaster High School Art Students Daisy Spencer and Ezra Frye about their creations.  Daisy’s quilt is in memory of her late grandmother and Daisy’s love of all things pastels.  Ezra’s creation is speaks  to her love of Rising Park.

Celebrating Good Kids doing Good Things on the 88.9FM Saturday Morning Farm Page!!

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For more details on the Lancaster High School Art Department Barn Quilt Project check out the link below!

https://sites.google.com/lcsschools.net/barnquilts/home/lancaster-high-school

Jackson, Ollie and Noah Bloom Carroll Art Students share their passion for the Barn Quilt Project!!

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Be sure to listen into the 88.9FM Saturday Morning Farm Page Interview with Bloom Carroll Art Students about their Barn Quilt Projects!!

Celebrating Good Kids doing Good Things in the NEW YEAR on the 88.9FM WLRY Saturday Morning Farm Page!

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For details on the Bloom Carroll Barn Quilts click on the link below!!

https://sites.google.com/lcsschools.net/barnquilts/home/bloom-carroll-high-school