Extension Office Closed: Academic Winter Recess

 

The Ohio State University will be closed Dec. 24- Jan.1. We look forward to spending time with our family and friends and observing the university’s winter academic recess. Thanks to our community partners, volunteers, and 4-H members for a great 2025. We look forward to connecting with you in early 2026!

Steer Tagging & ROG Weigh-In: January 3rd

 

ALL Dairy Steers, Market Steers, Commercial Steers and Born & Raised Steers must be ear tagged to be eligible to be shown at the 2026 Fulton County Fair.

 

The Fulton County Steer Tag-In Day will be held on Saturday, January 3, 2026 at the Fulton County Fairgrounds—Steer Barn, 10:00-11:00 AM.  This is a mandatory tag-in for all steers, even if the exhibitor cannot be present. Please complete the Steer ID card (at the very bottom of this post) prior to arriving at the Tag-In. Be sure that the Steer ID card comes with your steer if you cannot attend. Exhibitors will pay $2.00 per animal to cover the cost of the EID tag. All animals must be haltered in order to be tagged.

 

There is only one exemption to this mandatory ruling. Any steer that was tagged as a feeder calf for the 2025 Fulton County Junior Fair does not need to come to the tag-in on January 3, 2026 unless ownership has changed to a different family or they wish to participate in the Rate of Gain contest (see more information below), in which the animal will need to be weighed. However, these steers must have an ID card completed with the ID tag number and returned to the Extension Office or to the Tag-In Day by January 3rd.

Examples of the exemption:

My daughter exhibited a feeder calf at the 2025 Fulton County Junior Fair. The calf was tagged. My daughter wants to bring the steer to the 2026 Fulton County Fair. Does the steer need to come to the January 3rd Tag-In Day? NO, unless they want to participate in the Rate of Gain contest (see more information below). However, we do need a newly completed ID card with the 15-digit EID tag number delivered to the Tag-In Day or to the Extension Office before January 3rd.

 

My son bought a steer from a family that tagged and exhibited the steer as a feeder calf at the 2025 Fulton County Junior Fair. Do we have to bring the steer to the January 3rd Tag-In Day? YES, ownership of the steer has changed outside of the family and new ownership must be established by having the steer at the Tag-In Day on January 3rd.

 

Each exhibitor will be allowed to tag two steers for each project. Example: An exhibitor could tag-in two Born & Raised Steers, two Market Steers, two Commercial Steers, and/or two Dairy Steers. Also, all Born & Raised Steers must have been identified and tagged by Fulton County Junior Fair 2025 as a feeder calf in order to show as a Born and Raised Steer at the 2026 fair.  Born and Raised Steer exhibitors must complete the attached “Born & Raised Market Beef Steer Application” and turn in at tag in or to the Extension Office before January 3rd for the animal to have Born & Raised eligibility for this class at the fair. Failure to submit the form will cause the animal to be shown in the beef steer class. They must also complete the ID card.

 

RATE OF GAIN CONTEST

Director in charge: Phil Herring

Steers for this contest MUST be weighed in at the Steer Tag-In day at the Fulton County Fairgrounds in the steer barn on January 3rd.

The Junior Exhibitors steers for the upcoming Fair will be the project for this. There will be 2 divisions for the contest:

1. Born & Raised Market, Market Beef, Commercial Steers

2. Dairy Steers

Guidelines: This class of steers, Born & Raised market, Market Beef, Commercial and Dairy, has been established to help youth gain feedlot type experience, feeding cattle, and financial management.

Judging Requirements: All steers for this project will be required to be shown at the Fair to be eligible for awards. Bring completed Project Book to the Interview Judging.

Fair Exhibit: Steers will be required to be displayed at the Fulton County Fair.

Questions may be directed to Phil Herring (419-704-6939).

 

Steer ID Card

Born & Raised Market Beef Steer Application

Extension Publishing—Two new STEM Titles! 

ICYMI—Extension Publishing released two amazing new STEM titles last year! Have you heard about Microscope Mysteries and Missions in Microgravity? Microscope Mysteries (489) gives intermediate-level learners the opportunity to view the hidden worlds a microscope reveals. They learn how microscopes work and use the origami-inspired paper microscope, Foldscope, to explore the tiny worlds around them. The project includes opportunities for microscopic observation and data recording about matter, plants, soil, and pond life. Learn more about the Foldscope at foldscope.com/pages/our-story. 

Young Engineers in Space: Missions in Microgravity encourages intermediate-level learners interested in the physical and biological sciences to explore how conditions in space differ from those on Earth. Youth discover how researching these differences help us improve life on Earth and reach for the stars! 

Microscope Mysteries and Young Engineers in Space: Missions in Microgravity are available from your county professionals and extensionpubs.osu.edu. 

National 4-H Week—October 5-11 

Join us in celebrating National 4-H Week! On Monday, October 6, wear green to help paint the nation green in support of 4-H. Then on Thursday, October 9, share your 4-H story or recognize someone making a difference as we celebrate 4-H For Good!  

Still Project Judging Information Coming Soon!

2025 Fulton County Still Project Judging: July 7-8, 2025

This year we will be having a new Still Project Judging process. With this being the first year with the updated system in place, we are currently working on finalizing the link to have members sign up for a time slot for their projects judged and that information will be sent out by the end of next week (June 23-27.) This information will also be posted on the Still Project Judging page on this blog. We apologize for this inconvenience, but we appreciate your patience and understanding as we navigate this new process!

Welcome our 4-H Summer Student Assistant…Joanne Hite!

We are excited to announce that we have a new office colleague for the summer! This week we welcomed Joanne (Josie) Hite as our 4-H Summer Student Assistant! 🍀
She just completed her freshman year at Central Michigan University where she is majoring in media arts with a minor in journalism. The 4-H program has always been a huge part of her life, so Joanne is excited to continue her involvement in Fulton County!
Please help us welcome Joanne! 🍀

Ohio 4-H Spark EXPO

Ohio 4-H Spark EXPO is back! From June 11-14, 2025, students who have completed 8th or 9th grade by the end of the 2024-2025 school year are invited to explore exciting career pathways, engage in hands-on learning experiences, and discover new passions at The Ohio State University College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences. This immersive experience connects youth with industry professionals, faculty, and peers to spark their interests and inspire future career goals.

Don’t miss out on this incredible opportunity to learn, grow, and explore!

Learn more: go.osu.edu/4hsparkexpo