FFA

Quality Assurance Trainings

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Save the dates for Hartford Fair Livestock Quality Assurance (QA) Trainings! 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.

SPECIAL NOTES:

  • 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.

Youth Dairy Judging Clinic

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Are you looking for a warm place to practice Dairy judging before the Spring Dairy Expo contest? Come to the 2023 Ohio 4-H Dairy Judging Clinic on Saturday, March 11, 2023. The event will take place from 10:00am through 1:00pm at the OSU Animal Sciences Building (2029 Fyffe Court, Columbus, OH 43210).

  • 9:45-10:00am: Sign in
  • 10:00- 10:30am: Parts of the cow and team reasons games with Buckeye Bessy
  • 10:30- 11:00am: Hands on live cow comparison and team reasons
  • 11:00 -12:00am: 2 Live Jersey cow classes with questions and discussion
  • 12:00 -1:00pm: Try your hand – reasons practice for those that would like to give a set of reasons

PLEASE Note:  There will be no Registration fee for this clinic but there will also be no lunch.  Please plan to eat before or after the clinic on your own this year.  There is a parking fee to park in the Animal Science parking lot, please be sure you find the parking meter at the northwest corner of the lot and enter through the back door on the northwest side of the building.

Ohio 4-H Virtual Livestock Judging Contest

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How would you like to participate in a judging contest and gain judging experience from your phone? The contest began on Thursday via Facebook. Each week a class will be posted on the Ohio State – 4-H Animal Sciences Facebook page with a link to fill out your information and placing selections. It is open to participants of all ages and states. The species will include cattle, swine, sheep, and goats.

The rules are simple:

  • It is 100% FREE
  • Participate each week before results are posted
  • The contest is open to all ages
  • Results will be posted at the beginning of each week
  • The contest will run for 6 weeks

Division champions will be selected and are divided as follows:

  • Novice (0-7)
  • Junior (8-11)
  • Intermediate (12-14)
  • Senior (15-18)
  • Advanced (19+)
Check out judgingpro.com for additional species and resources.

Participate every week for a chance to be named the Ohio 4-H Animal Sciences Virtual Judging Champion!

All About Sheep and Goats Webinars

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All members taking sheep and goat projects are encouraged to participate in three Zoom webinars during the month of February that focus on sheep and goat well-being. These Zoom sessions are free to attend and will feature a variety experts. Click HERE for more information and Zoom login information.

  • Thursday, February 2, 2023 – 6:00-7:30pm: Sheep and Goat Nutrition
  • Wednesday, February 8, 2023 – 6:00-7:30pm: Sheep and Goat Health
  • Thursday, February 23, 2023 – 6:00-7:30pm: Sheep and Goat Handling and Welfare

Ohio Dairy Goat Association Doe Chain

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The Ohio Dairy Goat Association has a program called Doe Chain. In this program, a breeder will donate a doe kid to a youth. The youth will then exhibit the doe and after three years the youth will donate a doe to the program in order to continue the Doe Chain. To find out more about this program and to apply, please check out the ODGA Youth Doe Chain Packet.

Stock The Trailer Contest Results

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In case you’ve been wondering…

The Hartford Fair placed THIRD in their region of 14 counties, behind Guernsey and Muskingum Counties, in Farm Credit’s 2022 Stock the Trailer contest! Hartford Fair families and guests contributed 8,214 pounds of food for the Food Pantry Network of Licking County! Across Ohio, 70 counties participated, collecting more than 200,000 lbs of food for local food pantries! In recognition of their third place finish, the Hartford Fair received $1,500 from Farm Credit!

Be prepared to step up your game in 2023 – we’re shooting for FIRST place!

Junior Fair Board Members Present in Indianapolis

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Representatives of the Hartford Fair’s Junior and Senior Fair Boards – along with Licking County Extension staff members, traveled to Indianapolis November 27-28 to present a program during the International Association of Fairs and Expositions (IAFE). They spoke about the importance of creating a strong partnership between teen and adult board members. Their presentation was on Sunday afternoon at 2:30 p.m. before an audience of approximately 135 adult fair managers and board members from throughout the world!

Following their presentation, they enjoyed dinner together and toured the drive-through lights display at the Indiana State Fairgrounds. Along the way home, Junior Fair Board members enjoyed a tour of the OSU Adventure Central facility in Dayton and lunch at the infamous Young’s Dairy in Yellow Springs.

Junior Fair Board presenters included Travis Allen, Madison Hoover, Hannah Lucas, Cassie Orr, Abby Paxton and Autumn Wampler. Senior Fair Board presenters included Rod Arter and Roger Smith. OSU Extension staff included Adrienne Anderson and Lisa McCutcheon.

MANY THANKS to the Hartford Senior Fair Board who financially supported the trip to allow Junior Fair Board members to attend!

BONUS: The presentation crew has been invited to present at the Indiana Association of Fairs and Festivals Convention in January 2023!