Market & MQP lamb tagging and weigh-in is July 16, 2022; Schedule your time!

Schedule a time today for having your market lamb tagged for the Fair.

After experiencing a largely successful “scheduled” tag-in for the market and MQP lambs in 2021, that process will be implemented again in 2022.

Youth who plan to tag-in market lambs for the ‘live’ show at the Fair in October, and/or weigh in lambs for the Muscle Quality & Performance (MQP) contest are asked to complete a brief survey on or before July 2 in preparation for this year’s July 16 tagging day. The on-line survey will ask each family with any 4-H or FFA members planning to exhibit market or MQP lambs in 2022 for the following information:

  • Family Name
  • Email
  • Phone
  • Number of lambs being tagged by the entire family
  • Scrapie tag number for each lamb
  • Ewe or Wether
  • List each immediate family member (youth), including their club or chapter, who might show the lambs being tagged
  • Where will the lambs be housed
  • Select a time for tagging/weighing between 8 a.m. and 10:15 a.m. on July 16, 2022

Note that for 2022 there is a tagging rule update. As defined by Continue reading

Market Beef Weigh-in is still on as scheduled for Saturday, March 12

At this time weigh-in is proceeding as planned.

After carefully considering the weather forecast and consulting with Sr Fair Board members the decision has been made to proceed as planned. Should conditions become worse than currently forecast and it’s deemed unsafe or unfit to proceed, you will receive an email as soon as that decision is made.

In the meantime while proceeding as planned, in the morning if you wake to conditions in your part of the county that cause concerns for coming to weigh-in, please call or text Stan Smith at 614-570-0593. If you are delayed, please contact him. Please know that arrangements can be made to work through any weather related challenges that may come up. If you deem it may be unsafe to proceed to weigh-in from your part of the county, please don’t hesitate to call.

Thanks for your cooperation, and above all, stay safe!

Fairfield County Market Beef Tagging, Weighing, and DNA Sample Collection Procedure for 2022

Again this year families will tag their market beef calves at home prior to weighing them in at Fairfield Cattle Company on March 12.

NOTE: During the Sr. Fair Board meeting on Tuesday, February 15, 2022, the process for having specific calves assigned to specific youth within the immediate family was changed. Families no longer need to designate at this time which immediate family member will be exhibiting which calf. More detail and explanation of this new rule can be found in the first NOTE under number 5) below.

The time for Fairfield County’s market beef tagging and weigh-in is upon us. Based on the success of the tagging and weigh-in process that was utilized last year, this year will be conducted in a similar fashion with only a few modifications.

Youth will be required to tag their own market beef animals with a visual tag and must submit a hair follicle DNA sample prior to, or at weigh-in which will begin at 8:30 a.m. on March 12, 2022. Due to a Nationwide shortage of 840 RFID tags, EID tags will not be required this year.

In advance of March 12, families with market beef projects will also be required to reserve weigh-in time, and only those directly involved in transporting and weighing-in calves should plan to attend . . . please, no spectators! The goal is to reduce congregation at weigh-in and minimize the transfer of paperwork. Specifically, the step-by-step process includes . . .

1) The deadline for ownership and possession of a market beef project in Fairfield County remains March 1.

2) Youth/families planning to weigh/tag-in market steers and market heifers for the 2022 Fair must Continue reading

We’re back with a FULL Fair, have you entered the Open Class competitions!

Entry deadline is September 23

We’re back with a FULL Fair in 2021 and this 171st edition promises to be the best one ever!

The purpose of our Fair is and always has been to promote the improvement of agriculture and horticulture by providing competitions that rewarded the owners of the best livestock, grain, vegetables and other products of the home and farm. Knowing that, this year features the return of the entire list of Open Class competitions. Entries are now being accepted so get them in soon and don’t be left out.

The entry process is a little different this year. First, there are no printed Fair books. However, you can find the book on-line in this blog site and also on the Fair’s website at Continue reading

Home Grown; Market Rabbit and Market Goat Wether, Forms Due May 1st

Market Goat Exhibitors: All 4-H/FFA members planning to enter into the Home Grown Market Wether class at the fair must submit a form by May 1st. NEW FOR 2021, this form must be submitted online. Click here: http://go.osu.edu/2021hgwether.

Market Rabbit Exhibitors: All 4-H/FFA members planning to enter into the Home Grown Market Rabbit Fryer or Roaster class at the fair must submit a form by May 1st. NEW FOR 2021, this form must be submitted online. Click here: http://go.osu.edu/2021hgrabbit.

Sr. Fair Board Meeting Postponed

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Due to the inclement weather, the regular monthly meeting of the Fairfield County Sr. Fair Board has been postponed one week to Tuesday, February 23 at 7:30 p.m.

A message from the Ohio Fair Managers Association about Fairs in 2021

Looking forward to 2021, this was the message in response to the Governor’s veto of SB 375 from the Ohio Fair Managers Association (OFMA):

While the Ohio Fair Managers Association is disappointed in Governor DeWine’s decision to veto SB 375, we remain optimistic that thoughtful conversations will continue about how the 2021 fair season will proceed.

The Ohio legislature demonstrated their commitment to 2021 fair season by passing SB 375 expeditiously and we thank them. We also take Governor DeWine at his word when he says in the veto message that it is essential to work with the General Assembly and the fair boards on a plan to move forward.

The Governor was correct in his veto message that he and the legislature have worked to provide financial relief to county fairs to help us weather this storm. We certainly appreciate that support and lifeline, but is not going to be sustainable for our long term financial survival. The OFMA looks forward to continuing discussions on how to have safe, full fairs for the 2021 season. We know our communities value these events that are steeped in tradition and OFMA remains commitment to advocating on their behalf.