Hello! The news below was printed and shared in each Club’s Pre-Fair Check In Packet but we wanted to make sure it was posted where all could find it.

One piece of news, that was not in the orginal announcements posted below is the decision made to cancel the 2023 Speciality Goat Show scheduled for Sunday, July 9th. This was a tough decision but based on the EXTREMELY low exhibition registrations, the decision was made to cancel for 2023. We will be looking at options for 2024.

2023 Lawrence County Fair Announcements

The Lawrence County Fair will begin on Saturday, July 8^th and go through Saturday, July 15^th. This is an exciting time for our 4-H and FFA members and families.

We hope each of our members are working hard to complete their projects and preparing them for exhibition. This is very important time to ensure you are checking out the 4-H Guidebook & the Livestock Exhibition Rules; these two documents help you to be aware of expectations, rules, and set you up for success.

Attached you will find the Lawrence County 4-H & FFA Fair Schedule with lots planned! Please note, we will now be utilizing the old food booth building for events originally planned for the 4-H Breezeway.

To kick off our week, we will be having a 4-H Horse Show on Friday, July 7^th at 6:00pm at LCHA.

Saturday, July 8^th:

• Our Beef, Sheep, Goats, Chickens, & Rabbits are required to be on the grounds between 8:00 – 10:00am for weigh in. All beef breeding, beef feeders, sheep breeding projects being housed on the grounds for the duration of the week must also report for check-in during this time. DUNF Form links will be provided the morning of – please be sure to complete while you wait in line to weigh in.
• We will also be hosting our Livestock Skillathon from 1:00 – 5:00pm inside the old 4-H Food Booth Building next to the grandstands. All market livestock exhibitors must complete skillathon to be eligible to show and sale. Bonus points will be given for completed project book.
• 4-H Club Beautification Projects – please note if your club is working on a club booth, a welcome display around the grounds, a flower pot, trash can, picnic table you can find the guidelines for judging inside the guidebook. These should be set up from 2:00 – 8:00pm on Saturday or 9:00 – 12:00pm on Sunday. Deadline to check in your club projects in Sunday at noon. Please note – it is your responsibility to care for any live plants during this time and also your responsibility to remove your displays by Saturday, July 15^th at 10:00pm.

Sunday, July 9^th

• Market Hogs must be on the grounds between 8:00 – 10:00am to be weighed in on Sunday. DUNF Form links will be provided the morning of – please be sure to complete while you wait in line to weigh in. Hogs will not be slap tattooed at time of weigh in, instead those consigned to the livestock sale will be slap tattooed by livestock committee members on Friday, immediately following drop slip load out.
• The 4-H Walking parade is scheduled for line up at 12:30pm to begin at 1:00pm. Please be sure our office has received your club script absolutely no later than noon on Sunday, to ensure we can share it as you walk in front of the grandstands.
• Shooting Sports Project Judging – please note, the slight time change, 700 level projects (especially archery) please report for judging at 3:30pm. Safe Use of Guns and Basic Archery – please continue to report at the 4:00pm scheduled time.

Sunday – Thursday Livestock Exhibition & Show Announcements

• Again, be sure you are checking out the rules, check out the dress code, and plan to report to your shows at least 30 minutes prior to the start. In each of our market shows, the classes are placed top to bottom. Then, for the final drive to name our champions and top 10 placings; we pull all first places into the ring to name the champion. Once Grand Champion is selected we pull 2^nd place into the ring from that class, to name reserve, and we continue until a full top 10 placings is selected. So, please be sure to stay for the duration of your shows.
• Also, it is expected livestock exhibitors:
  • Provide clean, fresh water at least twice a day
  • Feed your animals twice a day
  • Keep your pen and aisle way clean. Always keeping the barn cleaner than you found it!
  • Ensure your animal is happy and healthy
  • Conduct yourself according to the 4-H Code of Conduct
  • Be kind and helpful to others
• The barns will close at midnight, there are no generators allowed, and all aisle ways must be clear of fans, corn hole boards, etc. at all times.

Wednesday – Thursday 4-H Project Judging Announcements

• All 4-H members planning to be judged should have reserved your time slot for project judging. But have no fear, if you forgot – you may still show up at project judging, however you will be worked around those that have an interview scheduled. Call our office to get added to the interview schedule.
• Check out our guide book for project judging expectations.
• Members will check in at the tent outside of the 4-H Expo Center the day of judging.
• Any 1^st place member whose project is eligible for State Fair, must register for State Fair by the Friday, 3:00pm, July 14^th if they are interested in going. After Friday at 3:00pm, state fair eligible projects will be open to any Top 3 exhibitor to sign up!

Thursday, July 13^th

• A couple fun announcements:
  • 11:00 – 2:00pm – rides will be open for 4-H members and pizza will be served. Members must have their arm bands on and their food ticket!
  • 2:00 – 5:00pm – Ohio 4-H is bringing the mobile design bus for our members to explore! This will take place of the 4-H Experience It Project Exploration listed on the schedule at the 4-H Shelter. Instead, come check out the Mobile Design Bus for STEM activities near the large animal barn.
  • Spice of Life 4-H Livestock Costume Contest, Thursday, July 13th at 5:30pm: 4-H Livestock Members – grab your 4-H & FFA livestock animal being exhibited at the junior fair & dress up for a costume contest! Spice of Life will be awarding the Top 3 Overall with cash prizes! Come join in on the fun – all species are welcome!
  • Lawrence County Farm Bureau will be sponsoring the Pee Wee Showmanship at 4:00pm. They are asking those interested in participating be signed up by 1:00pm on Wednesday. Visit the large animal barn announcement board for signups!
  • Immediately following the Old Timer Show, will be a barn dance and games, Producers Inc. has sponsored the event and we are excited to add some fun entertainment for our youth!

Friday, July 14^th

• Senior & Junior Showman of Showmen is scheduled for Friday morning. Junior and Senior Overall Showman winners for each market division are invited to participate. Guidelines can be found in the livestock rules.
• Our 4-H Project Silent Auction is scheduled for 1:00 – 2:30pm. All first place life skills projects, who have something handmade, created by the exhibitor, are welcome to put the item in the auction. Auction items must be in place by 12:30pm at the 4-H Expo Center.
• All members and volunteers are invited to the showcase at 3:00pm. Scholarship Winners, Style Show, Overall Winners, Skillathon Awards, Volunteer Recognition, and Senior Salute will happen during this time! We are asking each club to donate two dozen cookies to share at this event!

Saturday, July 15^th

• Our livestock sale is scheduled for 10:00am. Sale order is goats, hogs, steers, lambs, rabbits, chickens. All animals will sale in the large animal barn. Please have yourself and nimal presentable following the Junior Fair dress code. Also, please remember – exhibitors may only take one animal through the sale ring. All animals going through the sale ring are terminal. Exhibitors do have the option to drop their animal from the sale for private treaty or to take home. But all animals going through the sale ring are terminal. Please see the fair schedule for drop slip deadlines. Also, we encourage members to place Thank you signs above their stalls; first year members – welcome buyers and returning members thanking their 2022 buyers. If you need a list of your buyers, please contact our office! Reminder, checks will not be mailed until after buyers have paid and no earlier than August 4^th!

This is lots of friendly reminders, where most can be found in already existing information, but where can you find this information and other important announcements throughout the week:

• Download the 4-H Now App. Then search Lawrence 4-H. Its so easy to navigate and find the information you are looking for!
• Visit our website at lawrence.osu.edu or our blog at u.osu.edu/lawrence4H
• Check us out on facebook, @lawrence4H
• Check your email. The email you provided in 4-HOnline.

Need something during Fair Week:

• Stop by the office during the fair – we are located on the fairgrounds under the grandstand the week of the fair; beginning July 7^th.
• Call us at 740-533-4322, our skype phones will be on and we can receive your call from our cell phones. Please be sure to leave a message. Or E-mail us at 171@osu.edu or Matney.30@osu.edu – these will be checked periodically.

We look forward to a great week with our 4-H families, volunteers, and members! It’s always one of my most favorite weeks and I hope it is for you too!

Thank you all for everything each of you do – members, parents, volunteers, and supporters all help to make fair week successful and it couldn’t be done without you! Please remember this can be a stressful time for many, everyone is busy trying to make it the best week for so many. Let’s be sure to show each other a little grace and kindness & remember this is about making the memories, the friendships that will last a lifetime, and the life skills to build our youth and the future of 4-H, Lawrence County, and beyond!

We are 25 days from the start of the 2023 Lawrence County Fair & we are so excited.

Taking a 4-H Project to the fair? Planning to participate in 4-H Club Beautification Projects? Wondering about rules & expectations? Please, please, please read the 4-H Guidebook and the Junior Fair Rules

Also be sure to download the 4-H Now App, in your phone’s App Store. Then search for Lawrence County 4-H! The APP is user friendly and has all of our most recent information, events, and registrations & more!

June 15th Deadline Day for the Following: 

• 4-H Project Judging Interview Sign Ups
  • Natural Resources, STEM, Animal Science Projects, Wednesday, July 12th at the Lawrence County Fair. Please rsvp by June 15 for your interview time at: Wednesday Judging RSVP 
  • Leadership & Citizenship, Creative Arts & Leisure, Money Management, Healthy Living, Home Living, Self-Determined Projects, Thursday, July 13th at the Lawrence County Fair. Please rsvp by June 15 for your interview time at: Thursday Judging RSVP 
  • Food & Clothing Projects will be judged pre-fair, June 22nd, 4:30 – 7:30pm at Resurrection Hope United Methodist Church in Ironton. Did you miss the June 1 interview registration deadline? Call the Extension Office, 740-533-4322 to reserve your spot. We will also take walk-in’s day of, but you will be worked in around rsvp’s!
• Breeding Animal Identification Form: All exhibitors planning to take a breeding project, non-market animal, to the fair – must complete their ID Form. Forms are due by June 15 and can be found at:  Lawrence County Breeding ID Form

Lawrence County 4-H Dog Obedience Judging: Judging will take place this Thursday, June 15th at 6:30pm at the Lawrence County Courthouse Lawn.

Lawrence County Ohio Fair Pageants Applications are due June 16th! Applications are available on our App – under Junior Fair Information! Questions should be directed to Jessi Newman, Pageant Advisor.

Lawrence County 4-H Horse Clinic: The Horse Clinic has been rescheduled for June 23rd, at LCHA, 6:30pm – must be a registered Lawrence County 4-H Horse Member to participate!

The Lawrence County 4-H Junior Fair Schedule is ready & available, check it out here. Ready to start planning for some of the Fair events:

• Livestock Skillathon, Saturday – July 8th from 1:00 – 5:00pm. We have updated the study guide to offer some more detailed guidance – please visit: Lawrence County 4-H Skillathon Study to prepare! This is mandatory for all livestock exhibitors! To help with organization, we ask members to report at the following times:
  • 1:00 – 1:30pm: Andis Cornhuskers, Arabia All-Stars, Backroad Haybalers, Barnbusters, Copperheads
  • 1:30 – 2:00pm: Country Cousins & Kids, Decatur Buckles & Boots, Dog Fork Haymakers, Farm Buddies
  • 2:00 – 2:30pm: Farm Hands, Five-Mile Frontiersmen, FFA, Getaway Go-Getters
  • 2:30 – 3:00pm: Gingham & Denim, Greasy Ridge Gang
  • 3:00 – 3:30pm: Hilltop Crops & Critters, Kitts Hill Willing Workers, Lawrence County Scottown Farmer & Farmerettes
  • 4:00 – 4:30pm: Over Yonder, Power Ranchers, Rabbiteers
  • 4:30 – 5:00pm: Ranch Hands, Rome Guys & Gals, Silver Spurs, Starlite, Teen Leaders 4-H Club, The Country Clan
• 4-H Club Booth, Beautification, Parade Sign Up: Club Advisors, please sign up by July 1: Club Sign Up Form. The theme this year is 4-H and Me in 2023!
• The Ohio 4-H Mobile Design Lab Bus will be visiting on Thursday, July 13th, 2:00 – 5:00pm with special activities for our youth interested in STEM! Please make plans to stop by!
• 4-H Free Ride & Lunch Day will be Thursday, July 13th from 11:00 – 2:00pm. 4-H members – plan ahead to join us on Thursday from 11:00 – 2:00pm! The Lawrence County Senior Fairboard has scheduled the rides to be open to 4-H members only! Also, Judge Christen Finley & Commissioner Mike Finley will be sponsoring a 4-H pizza party for members during this time! 4-H Ride & lunch passes will be distributed to 4-H Club Advisors at Pre-Fair Check-In. 4-H arm bands must be on to ride & receive lunch!
• Spice of Life 4-H Livestock Costume Contest, Thursday, July 13th at 5:30pm: 4-H Livestock Members – grab your 4-H & FFA livestock animal being exhibited at the junior fair & dress up for a costume contest! Spice of Life will be awarding the Top 3 Overall with cash prizes! Come join in on the fun – all species are welcome!
• 4-H Showcase & Cookie Celebration, Friday, July 14th, 3:00pm: we will be doing our 4-H Showcase and are asking each club to bring 2 dozen cookies to contribute to the celebration! You may drop off in the Extension Office or 4-H Expo Center anytime during the week! During the showcase we will be recognizing the style show, scholarship winners, overall project winners, volunteer years of service, skillathon awards, our 4-H seniors, present the Silent auction items! Volunteers: if you are being recognized this year for a special year of service – you will be receiving a personal invite in the mail this week!
• 4-H Cloverbud Events:
  • Sunday, July 9th – Cloverbud Rodeo & Barn Tour, Large Animal Barn at 1:00pm
  • Tuesday, July 11th – Cloverbud Show & Tell Parade & Interviews, Large Animal Barn at 1:00pm, Interviews at 2:00pm – Cloverbud’s bring a favorite item from home you want to share with others – this could be your favorite stuffed animal, something representing your favorite hobby, an activity or craft you did at a 4-H event, whatever you wish – be creative! However, no live animals are not permitted.
  • Thursday, July 13th – Cloverbud Carnival at the 4-H Shelter, 1:00pm
  • Cloverbud Corner – Inside the Breezeway we will have a Cloverbud Corner, if you would like to display a 1/2 sized poster or a small item representing something you learned or experienced during the 4-H year, you may do so in the 4-H Breezeway. Items will be collected immediately following the Cloverbud Interviews until 4:00pm. They will be displayed until Saturday, July 15th. Please pick up your items on Saturday if you wish to keep them!
• 4-H Club Pre-Fair Check-In: Tuesday, June 27th, 8:00 – 4:30pm. Advisors – please plan to stop by and pick up your passes! Rosters with meeting attendance must be turned in to receive passes. Members must have completed their 5 meeting requirement by July 1 to recieve their pass.