Events

2026 Ohio State ATI Invitational Dairy Cattle Judging Contest

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You are invited to participate in the annual Ohio State ATI Invitational Dairy Cattle Judging Contest. This year’s contest will be held on Saturday, February 28, 2026, at the OARDC Krauss Dairy, located at 2250 Oil City Road, (between Dover Road and Secrest Road), Wooster, Ohio.

With the contest being held at Krauss Dairy, contestants will be divided into 6 rotating groups. Contestants will judge the live animal classes from the animal alleys with the animals being restrained in tie-stalls or walking in a group pen. Contestants will need to wear appropriate clothing to be in close contact with animals. Schools/clubs are expected to provide plastic boots for their contestants. Coaches/advisors may be asked to help with the contest as a ring or group leader.

Registration will be in the Krauss Dairy office and/or breakroom. Only coaches/advisors should come into the Krauss Dairy office/breakroom to register their contestants. There is minimal heat in the facilities at Krauss Dairy – dress appropriately for the weather. Coaches and advisors may want to bring a portable chair as seating will not be provided.

Contest Schedule: 8:15 to 9:15 am Registration at Krauss Dairy (2250 Oil City Road, Wooster, OH)

  • 9:15 am Contest begins as registration is completed.
  • 11:30 am Contest ends – followed by official placings.

Parking is available at Krauss Dairy on the north side of the dairy complex around the hay, silage, and equipment storage barns/areas. Students from the ATI Dairy Club will be assisting with parking – please follow their directions.

FFA chapters and 4-H clubs can enter as many individuals on a “team” as desired. The scores for the top three individuals from each “team” will become the official team score.

Entry fees are $10.00/contestant (cash or check) and are due at the time of registration. Make checks payable to: The Ohio State ATI Dairy Club.

Rules for the contest are listed below in the accompanying document. The contest will be scored by Tom Oglesby (Ohio FFA CDE coordinator). The Ohio FFA computerized scan form will be used to score the contest. An example of the form is in this document. Results will be posted at www.judgingcard.com as soon as possible after scoring.

In the event of cancellation, notification will be posted on the Ohio State ATI website: http://ati.osu.edu/

Full details and a map to the facility can be found here: 2026 Ohio State ATI Invitational Dairy Cattle Judging Contest

If you have any questions, please contact Mrs. Haley Campbell: 330-462-6321 or campbell.2708@osu.edu

 

 

Registration open for the Aquaculture Challenge

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You’re invited to participate in this year’s Aquaculture Challenge! The Aquaculture Challenge is a competitive science and business competition hosted by the Great Lakes Sea Grant Network and Lake Superior State University (LSSU). It is open to all schools, homeschool groups and individuals, and education non-profits. The challenge has a middle school division (6th – 8th grade) and a high school division (9th-12th grade).

During the challenge teams of students can choose one or more categories to compete in:

  1. Design Challenge: Design and build an aquaponics system of any size
  2. Monitor Challenge: Monitor the chemical and biological portions of an aquaponics system with extra points for organized data, automated monitoring, and automated system adjustments based on collected data.
  3. Business Challenge: Generate a business plan that targets aquaculture industry issues and proposes solutions.
  4. Outreach Challenge: Plan, facilitate, and execute an aquaculture focused outreach project in your local community.

Teams can work on the challenge as part of a class or as an after-school activity. Multiple teams can register per school, and teams can also register as part of after school clubs or other academic related organizations. This competition is open to all interested individuals regardless of location (although stipends are only available to those in Great Lakes states).

Teams can submit for awards for each category they compete in plus a cumulative award.

Teams are supported with online resources, training over Zoom, a small team stipend ($150 for those in Great Lakes states), and a liaison (Sea Grant/LSSU) who helps guide the team during the season.

The registration deadline is January 14, 2026, with competition running from late January through early April. Student teams will submit videos showcasing their accomplishments, as well as supporting materials online. The deadline for submissions is April 24, 2026.  A virtual awards ceremony will be held on May 7th, 2026.

Registering a team is simple and free: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScv_9jEkBq81fBSjxo_ncIQVOIluJr-jwEz2OE33D-Y9jhEFQ/viewform

More Information:

Feel free to share this with others who may be interested.

To learn more about the challenge or get some questions answered, there will be two informal Q&A sessions where interested educators or students can attend to ask questions about the challenge. These Q&A sessions will be over Zoom on the following dates (Zoom links embedded):

Coach Q&A/Information Sessions NEW Schedule. Each session will start with a 10-minute presentation followed by 50 minutes of Q&A time where coaches can pop in to ask questions. Attendance for the full hour is NOT required, and coaches can hop on anytime during the full hour to get questions answered.

1.      December 19th, 2025, 12:30pm eastern / 11:30am central, https://msu.zoom.us/j/94522501807?pwd=BEHex5Jaia1tY7bmZ69glPJ9C4Hl7G.1 

2.     January 8th, 2026, 4pm eastern / 3pm central,
https://msu.zoom.us/j/95360546694?pwd=uAFea9YcZppwiTuBsPjRop0uuhVBdW.1

In Ohio, contact Nicole Wright, Aquaculture Extension Specialist, Ohio Sea Grant: wright.1128@osu.edu, 330-202-3594.

Shooting Sports Winter Workshop

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Registration is now open for the Shooting Sports Winter Workshop! Join Ohio 4-H Shooting Sports February 20-22 at 4-H Camp Ohio for an exciting and educational experience. To secure your spot, visit the link below and clock the red register button. Don’t wait— registration closed January 15 at 5:00pm. Learn more by visiting the Ohio 4-H Shooting Sports Instructor (State) Training Workshops webpage!

Please note:

  • Participants must be an APPROVED volunteer in 4-HOnline. If you are interested but have not yet gone through the Licking County 4-H Volunteer process, please plan to submit your advisor application by January 1, 2026 and then plan to attend the spring training in April.
  • If you are already an approved volunteer and plan to either renew an existing certification or to add a new certification, please let Lisa know of your plans to attend and which discipline in which you will be participating.

SAVE THE DATE: Ohio 4-H Conference

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Mark your calendar for the 2026 Ohio 4-H Conference, held March 21, 2025, at the Greater Columbus Convention Center, where 4-H volunteers and teens (ages 13 and up) from across the state will come together for a day of learning, connection, and inspiration. With a wide variety of educational sessions designed for all interests and experience levels, this event is a chance to grow, share ideas, and strengthen Ohio 4-H programs. Registration will open by the first week of January and must be completed through your county office—don’t miss this opportunity to help make the best better! Learn more at the Ohio 4-H Conference webpage.

 

 

National 4-H Animal Science Career Night

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National 4-H Animal Science Career Night!

  • December 18, 2025
  • 7–8pm EST
  • FREE for youth in grades 7–13 (ages 12–19)

Join us for an exciting evening with two incredible guest speakers from the animal science industry! Hear real-world career insights, ask questions, and explore future pathways in animal science.

Featured Speakers:

  • Mr. Jack Ward – Executive Vice President, American Hereford Association
  • Mr. Sam Cohen – Zoological Supervisor, Busch Gardens (Tampa, FL)

Register by December 17, 2025 at 11:59pm EST at this REGISTRATION LINK.

Questions? Contact: mb2173@njaes.rutgers.edu

SAVE THE DATE: Adventure Training at 4-H Camp Ohio

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4-H Camp Ohio will hold their annual Adventure Training on May 2, 2026. This program is designed to train volunteers to lead the various Adventure Programs at 4-H Camp Ohio.

Adventure Tower – Must be 18 years or older.

  • Zipline
  • Climbing Wall
  • Rappelling

Flying Squirrel – Must be 18 years or older.

High Ropes – Must be 18 years or older.

Team Challenge – Must be 15 years or older.

To register to attend the training, please visit the Ohio 4-H Camp website.

SAVE THE DATE: 2026 Ohio Youth Institute

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Ohio 4-H is excited to share information about the 2026 Ohio Youth Institute (OYI)—a signature youth leadership and global learning opportunity offered in partnership with the World Food Prize Foundation and The Ohio State University. OYI helps young people explore real-world solutions to food insecurity while strengthening their research, communication, critical thinking, and civic engagement skills.

The 2026 Ohio Youth Institute will take place on:

April 13, 2026

The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio

About the Opportunity

High school students (grades 9–12) who participate will:

  • Research a global challenge impacting food security
  • Develop and submit a 3–5-page Global Challenge Paper
  • Present their findings at OYI to peers and experts
  • Be recognized as a Borlaug Scholar

Paper submission and registration deadline: April 1, 2026. More information can be found at: http://worldfoodprize.org/ohio

Fall Paper Clover Campaign at Tractor Supply Company

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Tractor Supply Company (TSC) is once again hosting their Paper Clover Campaign in all locations. The campaign runs from November 28th through December 14th. Make donations at any of the four Licking County TSC Stores. 80% of the funds raised at each store will stay in Licking County’s program to support 4-H leadership and scholarship opportunities. The monies raised helps Licking County 4-H send youth to state camps and national trips.

Heath: 2035 Hebron Rd., Heath, OH 43056

Johnstown: 659 W Coshocton St., Johnstown, OH 43031

Newark: 315 Deo Dr., Newark, OH 43055

Pataskala: 11309 Broad St SW, Pataskala, OH 43062

REMINDER: 2025 4-H Achievement Night

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We are excited to recognize our members and advisors at the annual Licking County 4-H Achievement Night on Thursday, November 20, 2025 at C-TEC. Refreshments will be served starting at 6:00pm and the program will begin at 6:30pm. We are thrilled to recognize individuals who fall into the list below. While we look forward to recognizing these youth and volunteers, please know that everyone is welcome to attend this event, even if you are not getting recognized. Come cheer on your fellow 4-H members and club advisors. If you plan to attend please RSVP by visiting http://go.osu.edu/4HBanquet. Once there you will complete a very quick and simple survey that will help us gauge the number of people who will be attending. Please RSVP by Wednesday, November 19, 2025.

Areas/Groups Being Recognized:

  • Ohio State Fair Junior Fair Livestock & Skillathon Winners
  • Ohio State Fair Still Project Awards: Clock Trophy, Honorable Mention, Outstanding of the Day
  • Dairy Judging Contest Award Winners
  • 4-H Band Leadership
  • Commodity Royalty Representatives
  • Licking County Teen Leadership: Camp Counselors, Hartford Fair Junior Fair Board, Food & Fashion Board, 4-H CARTEENS
  • Ohio 4-H Teen Leadership: Teen Leadership Council, Ohio 4-H Event Youth Assistant
  • 4-H Achievement Record Awards: Project Area Awards, State and National Trip Recipients, and Scholarship Recipients
  • “I Dare You” Award Recipients
  • Honor Clubs
  • Club Charter for New Clubs
  • Licking County 4-H Committee
  • Licking County 4-H Advisors
  • 4-H Volunteers: Quality Assurance Instructors, Hartford Fair Senior Fair Board, 4-H Camp Volunteers, Skill-a-thon Facilitators, Project Interview Judges
  • Friend of 4-H Announcement

REMINDER: 2026 National 4-H Conference Delegate Opportunity!

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Applications are now open for Ohio 4-H members (ages 15–18 as of January 1, 2026) to represent our state at the 2026 National 4-H Conference in Washington, D.C., held April 9–15. This prestigious event focuses on civic engagement, civic education, and personal development, bringing together youth from across the country to connect, learn, and lead. Interested members must complete the online application by December 1. More details and application link can be found here: https://go.osu.edu/N4HC.