Ohio State Fair Updates

If you are planning to exhibit livestock or participate in the dog shows at the Ohio State Fair, please review the information below to ensure you are aware of changes and updates for the 2024 Ohio State Fair.

General:

  • Exhibitors MUST be enrolled in the project they want to exhibit at the state fair, even if the county doesn’t offer it at fair (i.e., swine breeding).
  • All Junior Exhibitors must enter their projects online, details available on the OSF website.
    • No late market or breeding (new 2024) entries

Ownership deadlines changed:

MARKET ANIMALS –

  • Market beef – January 1
  • Market swine – May 23
  • Market lambs – May 23
  • Market goats – May 1
  • Dairy feeders – June 1
  • Market rabbits – June 1
  • Market poultry – within 5 days of hatch

BREEDING ANIMALS –

  • Breeding Beef – May 22
  • Breeding Swine – May 22
  • Breeding Sheep – May 22
  • Breeding Goats – May 16
  • Breeding Poultry – May 31
  • Breeding rabbits – May 31
  • Dairy Cattle – May 22

BEEF Department

  • All cattle must arrive with 840 EID in place
    • 15-digit number starting with 840
    • Breeding can use tattoo as SECONDARY ID
  • BVD testing required for all cattle
    • exception of Commercial Cattle
    • One test good for lifetime
  • BEEF BREEDING
    • Crossbred breeding heifers will be required to submit a DNA packet with 840 EID tag information, reach out to Andi Hershey for packets (a.hershey@expo.ohio.gov )
    • Due Date: Postmarked by June 1st

DOG Department

  • Show starts, June 17th

SWINE Department:

  • The Jr Swine Show requires ALL hogs to have:
    • 840 tag
    • Premise ID
  • To exhibit breeding swine, must be enrolled in the project at the county level

2024 Livestock Requirements Summary

The 2024 Hartford Junior Fair Livestock Requirements Summary is now available. This document has all of the pertinent dates and information for all livestock projects. Please review it carefully to ensure you know all deadlines and requirements for your livestock project.

Photos from the Fair

We were fortunate to have several photographers who worked throughout the fair to document the Junior Fair shows and events. Check out their links below to view and purchase pictures!

Equine:

Kylee Williams was our photographer for equine events during the Hartford Fair. You can find all photos posted online HERE. Just choose the Hartford Fair link at the top of the page and then select the event in which you are interested! MANY THANKS to Don and Marcie Williams for sponsoring one digital image per equine exhibitor – exhibitors are reminded to reach out to Kylee directly to select your chosen image.

Livestock:

Halee Ann Photography was our photographers for livestock events during the Hartford Fair. You can find all of the photos she and her colleagues took posted online HERE. The galleries are organized by species and then by show/event.

Royalty:

Karen Keller Photography took photos during the King and Queen Contest, including the introduction of our Commodity Royalty and our Prince and Princess of the Day participants. You can find all of her photos posted online HERE.

 

Livestock Skillathon Contests at the Hartford Fair

Junior fair exhibitors! Please remember that there are livestock skillathon contests throughout the week at the fair. All junior fair exhibitors are encouraged to participate. You do not need to show a specific species to participate in that species skillathon; they are open to all! The skillathon competitions are a great way to show your knowledge! See the full schedule of skillathon competitions below or click HERE.

REMINDER: Hartford Fair Entry Information

All Hartford Fair entries must be completed through the FairEntry portal this year. Please follow the Hartford Fair Entry Instructions when making your entries. Entry deadline is Monday, June 26, 2023.

Please note:

  • The Hartford Fair Entry Portal can be found by visiting: http://hartfordfair.fairentry.com

  • Please be sure to review the Hartford Fair Premium Book to ensure you know which Classes and Lots you will be making entries for before you start that process.
  • All 4-H families must use their 4-HOnline Credentials to log into FairEntry. If a member creates a new account in FairEntry, they will be unable to make entries in Junior Fair Departments as those departments require them to be enrolled in the appropriate 4-H project in order to make entries.

  • All FFA members will make their entries through their FFA advisor.

  • Please make sure that you add all entries to each exhibitor in your family before you submit the entries and continue to the payment portal.

  • The process for submitting a photo for an exhibitor fair ID as well as exhibitor gate admission will be sent out once entries close. You will not submit an exhibitor photo when making entries, that will be a separate process.
  • This is a new process and we know that there will be errors or glitches that will need solved. Please reach out to us if you run into an issue, and please have patience as we work through any glitches.

STILL PROJECT MEMBERS:

  • When you make your entries, you will need to know whether your club has decided to do a club booth in the 4-H Center. If you are unsure, please ask your advisor before completing entries.
  • You will need to select JR CLUBS SCHOOLS. You will then select 118.JB: 4-H INDIVIDUAL. If your club is having a club booth, you will select 01: INDVIDUAL EXHIBITS (CLUB BOOTH). If your club is not having a club booth, you will need to display your project in the Miscellaneous Booth. If that is the case, you will need to select 02: INDVIDUAL EXHIBITS (MISC BOOTH). Repeat these steps to add additional entries for still projects until you have the number of still projects entries that matches the number of still projects you plan to display in the booth.
  • If your club is doing a group project, please be sure to include that project in your number of entries. For example, if you are doing 409 Sew Fun, 492 Cake Decorating, and 091G Discover 4-H Group Project, you would make three Individual Still Project entries. You will NOT list your specific project names anywhere.

Commercial Cattle Show at the Ohio State Fair

Commercial Cattle Show

Saturday, July 29, 2023 Ohio State Fair

Deadline for entries is July 21

 

WHAT IS THE COMMERCIAL CATTLE SHOW?

  • The Commercial Cattle Show is an exhibition in which cattle are shown in a pens of three.
  • Cattle will be evaluated on a live and carcass basis.
  • Cattle will be shown in three groups: Native Beef, Beef on Dairy, and Dairy.
  • They must also be penned by sex.

 

WHO CAN PARTICIPATE?

  • Any exhibitor who has involvement with cattle may participate.
  • There will be a junior and an open division.
  • Youth under the age of 21 and organized youth groups are invited to participate in the junior division.
  • All junior cattle will also be eligible to participate in the open division.

 

HOW DO I PARTICIPATE?

 

IMPORTANT CHANGES From prior years

  • Additional divisions
  • Beef x Dairy
  • Dairy
  • Shorter duration

– Cattle can arrive on Thursday, July 27.

– All cattle must be in place by Friday evening, July 28. Cattle will weigh Saturday morning and show Saturday afternoon.

  • Options for UPI collection points to transport cattle to the Ohio State Fair.

• Possible collection points include Eaton and Bucyrus. Additional sponsorships for 2023 and increased premiums.

LAST CHANCE: Quality Assurance Due June 1st!

Hartford Fair Junior Fair Livestock Exhibitors! This is your reminder that you must complete a Quality Assurance Training by June 1st. If you have not met this requirement, please make sure you have plans to complete this requirement before midnight on June 1st or you will no longer be eligible to show in any junior fair livestock classes at either the Hartford Fair or the Ohio State Fair. NO EXCEPTIONS WILL BE MADE!

  • If the 4-H member has DROPPED THE PROJECT, please just let us know and we will remove it from their enrollment record – and that will take them off the list to attend a QA training.
  • If you ALREADY COMPLETED A TRAINING, and our records are incorrect, please reach out to Lisa so that we can make that correction. Simply provide details regarding the training date / location that you attended, and we will work to verify that attendance.
  • If you STILL NEED TO ATTEND a Livestock Quality Assurance training, you have TWO OPTIONS:
    • OPTION #1 – Attend Quality Assurance training being held in another county… Delaware County will offer a training June 1st. There are additional counties that will also be offering trainings in the upcoming days, but you will need to seek those out yourself. You are responsible for reaching out to their respective Extension Offices in order to verify time, location, etc.
    • Option #2 – YQCA National Training ($12 per person). You must follow the instructions posted online at https://yqcaprogram.org, complete payment, and then they will grant you access to the training modules and exam. If you would appreciate step-by-step instructions, please know that you can find those on our website HERE. This training can be completed any time of day, until June 1st at 11:59 p.m.  Once complete, please forward a copy of your certificate to mccutcheon.46@osu.edu. Please note that it is critical that you forward a copy of your certificate of completion, as we not be notified in any other way that you have completed the training.  A Piece of Advice: The training and exam must be completed prior to 11:59 p.m. on June 1st, not just be underway. When your training is complete, your certificate is date and time – stamped in the system… Please don’t wait until the last minute to attempt this training – it takes approximately an hour to complete the training, and the payment process takes time in advance of you being granted access to start the training (sometimes as much as 24 hours).

Please be sure that you have a plan in place for completing this requirement and that you communicate with us once it has been completed.

2023 Quality Assurance Requirement Due Soon!

Hartford Fair Junior Fair Livestock Exhibitors! This is your reminder that you must complete a Quality Assurance Training by June 1st. All members who had not completed this requirement as of May 16th should have received an email from Lisa McCutcheon reminding you of this requirement and sharing your options. Please make sure you have plans to complete this requirement before midnight on June 1st or you will no longer be eligible to show in any junior fair livestock classes at either the Hartford Fair or the Ohio State Fair. NO EXCEPTIONS WILL BE MADE!

  • If the 4-H member has DROPPED THE PROJECT, please just let us know and we will remove it from their enrollment record – and that will take them off the list to attend a QA training.
  • If you ALREADY COMPLETED A TRAINING, and our records are incorrect, please reach out to Lisa so that we can make that correction. Simply provide details regarding the training date / location that you attended, and we will work to verify that attendance.
  • If you STILL NEED TO ATTEND a Livestock Quality Assurance training, you have TWO OPTIONS:
    • OPTION #1 – Attend Quality Assurance training being held in another county… Delaware County will offer a training June 1st. There are additional counties that will also be offering trainings in the upcoming days, but you will need to seek those out yourself. You are responsible for reaching out to their respective Extension Offices in order to verify time, location, etc.
    • Option #2 – YQCA National Training ($12 per person). You must follow the instructions posted online at https://yqcaprogram.org, complete payment, and then they will grant you access to the training modules and exam. If you would appreciate step-by-step instructions, please know that you can find those on our website HERE. This training can be completed any time of day, until June 1st at 11:59 p.m.  Once complete, please forward a copy of your certificate to mccutcheon.46@osu.edu. Please note that it is critical that you forward a copy of your certificate of completion, as we not be notified in any other way that you have completed the training.  A Piece of Advice: The training and exam must be completed prior to 11:59 p.m. on June 1st, not just be underway. When your training is complete, your certificate is date and time – stamped in the system… Please don’t wait until the last minute to attempt this training – it takes approximately an hour to complete the training, and the payment process takes time in advance of you being granted access to start the training (sometimes as much as 24 hours).

Please be sure that you have a plan in place for completing this requirement and that you communicate with us once it has been completed.

2023 Quality Assurance Training at Northridge High School

Any junior fair exhibitor that plans to show livestock at either the Hartford Fair or Ohio State Fair MUST complete an approved QA training by June 1, 2023 in order to be eligible to show in 2023. We are excited to return to holding QA trainings IN PERSON this year. Please review the Junior Fair Livestock Quality Assurance Guidelines for all requirements and a list of approved trainings. Please ensure you have a plan to either attend an in-person training or complete the online YQCA module BEFORE June 1, 2023.

Our LAST county-wide program will take place on Saturday, May 13, 2023 at 6:30pm at Northridge High School.

SPECIAL NOTES:

  • Photos for fair IDs will NOT be taken at QA programs in 2023. We will have a new process this year where members will be able to upload a photo themselves instead of having photos taken by fair staff. More details on that to come at a later date!
  • There will NOT be a Horse Safety and Ethics training option during the QA trainings. ALL horse members will be required to complete the online EquiSTEP training module. More details can be found HERE.
  • Only Licking County 4-H/FFA Quality Assurance Programs will address program changes and updated for the Hartford Fair. If you choose to attend another QA program or complete the YQCA online module, please ensure that you are watching for updates through the Licking County Extension and Hartford Fair websites and that you check in with your advisor(s) for updates and changes as well.

Quality Assurance Training at Utica High School

Any junior fair exhibitor that plans to show livestock at either the Hartford Fair or Ohio State Fair MUST complete an approved QA training by June 1, 2023 in order to be eligible to show in 2023. We are excited to return to holding QA trainings IN PERSON this year. Please review the Junior Fair Livestock Quality Assurance Guidelines for all requirements and a list of approved trainings. Please ensure you have a plan to either attend an in-person training or complete the online YQCA module BEFORE June 1, 2023.

Our next county-wide program will take place on Monday, May 1, 2023 at 6:30pm at Utica High School.

SPECIAL NOTES:

  • Photos for fair IDs will NOT be taken at QA programs in 2023. We will have a new process this year where members will be able to upload a photo themselves instead of having photos taken by fair staff. More details on that to come at a later date!
  • There will NOT be a Horse Safety and Ethics training option during the QA trainings. ALL horse members will be required to complete the online EquiSTEP training module. More details can be found HERE.
  • Only Licking County 4-H/FFA Quality Assurance Programs will address program changes and updated for the Hartford Fair. If you choose to attend another QA program or complete the YQCA online module, please ensure that you are watching for updates through the Licking County Extension and Hartford Fair websites and that you check in with your advisor(s) for updates and changes as well.