These instructions are for Van Wert County, OHIO only. Please contact your local Extension Office for details on your own county’s judging.
CAN I USE MY OLD BOOK?
No. The new packet is designed to have everything you need, and judges will only be familiarized with that format. Bringing an old book will result in your transferring the information to a new book at judging before you can be interviewed, or no score.
I TAKE A RABBIT PROJECT. WHAT BOOK DO I NEED?
You will need to take the market project book, and the breeding book. There are things such as Pedigree Records, and Breeding records that will need to be recorded, but your feed can be the same as the market book if you feed them together.
HOW MANY MARKET/BREEDING PROJECTS CAN I HAVE IN ONE BOOK?
You may only circle one of the project areas per book. Example: If you take a Market Beef Steer, and a Dairy Beef Feeder, you will need two books. Or if you have a dairy heifer and a dairy cow, you will need two books. This is a change from the past, but the correct way to keep records for your books.
ARE ANY OF THE PAGES OPTIONAL FOR MY CHILD? THEY ARE ONLY A FIRST YEAR?
No. All pages are mandatory, but judges take into account their age when judging books. If your child is unable to fill out their own book, please contact Heather for an accommodation Winning Plan Request form to allow you to scribe for them. Filling the book out for your child is noticeable and not acceptable practice.
HOW MUCH ARE THE BOOKS?
The books are $2.00 each from the Extension Office. Advisors will ask you how many you need or if you wish to print your own and will order them with the other project books. They come stapled down the side like a book, and hole punched to be put in a binder. If you wish you are permitted to download the book online, but we find the $2.00 is worth it instead of fighting with your printer.
WHAT IF I AM GOING TO THE OHIO STATE FAIR WITH MY LIVESTOCK?
You will need to fill out a packet for our livestock judging, and a book for the Ohio State Fair. Just fill out the packet and transfer the information to the book.
HOW WILL MY BOOK BE SCORED? WHEN WILL MY BOOK BE SCORED?
Your book will be scored based on the criteria listed on page 3 of both books. The judge has the right to deduct points for incomplete records. Books should be completed as far as possible, and note that the Profit Loss Statement is projected, not final and must be completed. Books will be scored Monday, July 31 at Vantage Career Center. Appointment times will be available from 3:00pm-6:50pm that evening.
DO WE NEED TO COMPLETE A SKILLATHON? HOW DO WE PREPARE?
Starting in 2017 skillathon is a mandatory requirement. All youth will be expected to complete a skillathon. To prepare for this, we have free study packets at the office for each species. Clubs can also check out the skillathon kits (but they cannot be checked out one week prior to Livestock Judging or Black Inc. Judging).
WHY SHOULD WE HAVE TO COMPLETE SKILLATHON?
New in 2017 we are adding an “Outstanding Livestock Exhibitor Program” where factors such as your market/breeding class placing, showmanship placing, skillathon, and project interview will all be taken into account. Our goal is to showcase those youth by denoting them on the sale program. We are currently working to include FFA with this program. We also believe that in order to fully engage in your livestock project that you should know basic things such as body parts, meat cuts, breeds, etc.
I CAN’T MAKE IT TO JUDGING BECAUSE WE ARE NOT GOING TO BE IN TOWN! WHAT DO I DO?
You will need to speak with your Club Advisor, and set up a time for their book to be judged. They will be following the same guidelines as the judging on July 31. Make up skillathon will be on Monday, August 14, 2017 from 3:00-6:50pm at the Extension Office. If needed we can also do make up interviews at this time but will be limited to the amount of youth we can judge.
WHAT KIND OF QUESTIONS WILL THE JUDGE ASK? HOW CAN I PREPARE MY CHILD?
Judges will ask questions about the records in the book, such as the following:
- Tell me about your animal.
- What do you feed your animal?
- Describe your animal’s pen/cage.
- What was the most surprising expense for your project?
- Point out information on the feed tag (based on the questions below the feed tag).
- Did you have to treat your animal with any medicine? What did you learn from that?
- Can you tell me what rate of gain is?
- What was your favorite part of your project? Least favorite?
- What was the most important thing you learned?
Judges will most likely not ask every single one of these questions, and may ask a variation of the questions above. If you feel your child may struggle with interaction with one of our judges and requires accommodation, please contact Heather to complete a Winning Plan Request.
ARE THERE STILL RESOURCE GUIDES FOR PURCHASE?
Yes, but only for the following species: rabbits ($10.50), dairy ($13.00), goats ($17.00), llama and alpaca ($12.00), sheep ($22.00), and swine ($15.50). These books are a one-time purchase per species and most likely would only need one per family to share. It is a good investment especially if you are just starting to learn about your animal.
Additional suggestions for supplements can be found in the 2017 Ohio 4-H Family Guide.
CAN MY CLUB ADVISOR GRADE OUR ENTIRE CLUB’S LIVESTOCK PROJECT BOOKS?
That decision is to be made by the club advisor. They are not obligated to judge the entire club (only asked to do make up or find someone to do make up). If they choose to grade the entire club they will need to check out the skillathon kits to complete skillathons as well. Skillathon kits cannot be checked out one week prior to livestock judging, or one week prior to Black Inc. in order for us to prepare for those judgings.
Download Links (books are available for purchase $2.00 each if you don’t wish to print)
