Skillathon

2021 Skillathon Opportunities

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Youth exhibitors of both the Ohio State Fair and the Hartford Independent Fair have many opportunities to test their knowledge during the Livestock Skillathon Contests this year. Exhibitors will have the opportunity to compete in both virtual and in-person skillathons at the Ohio State Fair. The skillathon contests for the Hartford Fair will return to the normal, in-person format as it has been in the past.

Information for the Ohio State Fair Youth Livestock Skillathons can be found at: https://ohio4h.org/animalsciences/ohio-youth-skillathons. Please pay special attention to the deadlines and schedules of both the virtual and in-person contests. These skillathons are open to all 4-H project age members and FFA members.

A few important notes:

  • Those exhibiting at Ohio State Fair who want to be eligible for Outstanding Market Exhibitor (OME) awards MUST participate at the IN-PERSON skillathons at the state fair
  • Those exhibiting at Ohio State Fair who want to be eligible for Outstanding Breeding Exhibitor (OBE) awards MUST participate in the VIRTUAL skillathons online

Information for the Hartford Fair 4-H and FFA Project Skillathons can be found here. Project skillathons will be held in-person during the times listed in the document. All exhibitors are encouraged to participate.

2021 Hartford Fair Sales Brochure and Skillathon Information

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The 2021 Hartford Fair Livestock Sales Brochure is now available. This document has important information on the Hartford Fair Livestock sales. This document is great to include with your buyer letters so buyers understand the livestock sale and have the correct dates and times.

The schedule for the 2021 Hartford Fair 4-H & FFA Project Skillathons is available.

 

REMINDER: Skillathon Registration Due July 15th

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If you plan to compete in the livestock skillathons for 2020, please remember to register for the state level skillathons by Wednesday, July 15th! There will be no skillathon competitions offered at the Hartford Fair for 2020, so competing in the virtual, state-wide livestock skillathons is your only option for this year.

While Skillathon stations will not be offered in person during the Hartford Fair this year, we ask that you register for the State Skillathons – as we will use those contest scores to recognize Hartford Fair exhibitors during the fair! All youth who intend to complete a skillathon must register online by July 15th, with species skillathons being held on the designated dates / times listed below (all will be completed prior to the Hartford Fair)…

Skillathon Dates (pre-registration required by July 15th):

  • Horse Skillathon:               Thursday, 7/23/2020                      10:00 AM – 6:00 PM
  • Goat Skillathon:                 Friday, 7/24/2020                            10:00 AM – 6:00 PM
  • Dairy Skillathon:                Saturday, 7/25/2020                       10:00 AM – 6:00 PM
  • Sheep Skillathon:              Wednesday, 7/29/2020                 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM
  • Dog Skillathon:                  Monday, 8/3/2020                          10:00 AM – 6:00 PM
  • Poultry Skillathon:            Tuesday, 8/4/2020                          10:00 AM – 6:00 PM
  • Swine Skillathon:               Wednesday, 8/5/2020                   10:00 AM – 6:00 PM
  • Beef Skillathon:                 Thursday, 8/6/2020                        10:00 AM – 6:00 PM
  • Rabbit Skillathon:              Friday, 8/7/2020                               10:00 AM – 6:00 PM

How to Register:

  • Registration is due by JULY 15, 2020.
  • Please register by visiting: www.go.osu.edu/skillathonregistration
  • Please answer all of the survey prompts.
  • All exhibitors with need an email address specific to that exhibitor that can be used as your log-in credential (this is also where the first-time registration will be).
    • For example, a family with 3 children participating must have a unique email address for each child.
    • School email addresses are discouraged, as we have found that some school email systems block external emails generated by the Scarlet site.
    • If the child completed the 2020 QA Test-Out on Scarlet in May, please feel free to use their same email address, as they will already have an account…
  • If you have any questions, please contact 4hanimalscience@osu.edu.

Skillathon Rules:

  • All Skillathons are open to any Ohio 4-H member, age 8 and in the 3rd grade, or 9 years old and older regardless of grade level, to age 18 as of January 1, 2020, and FFA members.
  • You do not have to exhibit a particular species to participate in that species Skillathon.
  • Any specific rules for an individual species will be outlined on the testing site.
  • Skillathons will be delivered through Scarlet, a university-approved distance learning site. You must have access to a mobile device or computer with ability to access the internet.
  • Even though the Skillathons are online this year, each Skillathon must be taken by the youth only without assistance from family or friends.
  • There will be 4 stations in each Skillathon that will make up 4 separate, timed modules. Each station will have a time limit (typically 5 minutes per station).
  • If your child requires any testing accommodations, please contact us in advance at 4hanimalscience@osu.edu and we will work with you to make accommodation arrangements.
  • Results will be posted for each age category, age division, and overall after the Skillathon is completed. Participants will receive an email with a link to view the results.

It’s time to get signed up for Skillathon!

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While Skillathon stations will not be offered in person during the Hartford Fair this year, we ask that you register for the State Skillathons – as we will use those contest scores to recognize Hartford Fair exhibitors during the fair! All youth who intend to complete a skillathon must register online by July 15th, with species skillathons being held on the designated dates / times listed below (all will be completed prior to the Hartford Fair)…

Skillathon Dates (pre-registration required by July 15th):

  • Horse Skillathon:               Thursday, 7/23/2020                      10:00 AM – 6:00 PM
  • Goat Skillathon:                 Friday, 7/24/2020                            10:00 AM – 6:00 PM
  • Dairy Skillathon:                Saturday, 7/25/2020                       10:00 AM – 6:00 PM
  • Sheep Skillathon:              Wednesday, 7/29/2020                 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM
  • Dog Skillathon:                  Monday, 8/3/2020                          10:00 AM – 6:00 PM
  • Poultry Skillathon:            Tuesday, 8/4/2020                          10:00 AM – 6:00 PM
  • Swine Skillathon:               Wednesday, 8/5/2020                   10:00 AM – 6:00 PM
  • Beef Skillathon:                 Thursday, 8/6/2020                        10:00 AM – 6:00 PM
  • Rabbit Skillathon:              Friday, 8/7/2020                               10:00 AM – 6:00 PM

How to Register:

  • Registration is due by JULY 15, 2020.
  • Please register by visiting: www.go.osu.edu/skillathonregistration
  • Please answer all of the survey prompts.
  • All exhibitors with need an email address specific to that exhibitor that can be used as your log-in credential (this is also where the first-time registration will be).
    • For example, a family with 3 children participating must have a unique email address for each child.
    • School email addresses are discouraged, as we have found that some school email systems block external emails generated by the Scarlet site.
    • If the child completed the 2020 QA Test-Out on Scarlet in May, please feel free to use their same email address, as they will already have an account…
  • If you have any questions, please contact 4hanimalscience@osu.edu.

Skillathon Rules:

  • All Skillathons are open to any Ohio 4-H member, age 8 and in the 3rd grade, or 9 years old and older regardless of grade level, to age 18 as of January 1, 2020, and FFA members.
  • You do not have to exhibit a particular species to participate in that species Skillathon.
  • Any specific rules for an individual species will be outlined on the testing site.
  • Skillathons will be delivered through Scarlet, a university-approved distance learning site. You must have access to a mobile device or computer with ability to access the internet.
  • Even though the Skillathons are online this year, each Skillathon must be taken by the youth only without assistance from family or friends.
  • There will be 4 stations in each Skillathon that will make up 4 separate, timed modules. Each station will have a time limit (typically 5 minutes per station).
  • If your child requires any testing accommodations, please contact us in advance at 4hanimalscience@osu.edu and we will work with you to make accommodation arrangements.
  • Results will be posted for each age category, age division, and overall after the Skillathon is completed. Participants will receive an email with a link to view the results.

Plans are incomplete at this time regarding whether or not livestock project books will be collected and graded, or project interviews held, during the Hartford Fair – and it may indeed vary by species. Additional details will be shared once more information is known.

2020 Hartford Fair Schedule

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The 2020 Hartford Fair livestock schedule has been posted here. Please note that the schedule is being updated and changed as needed. Please check the date in the lower right-hand corner of the page to ensure you are looking at the most up-to-date calendar.

2019 Hartford Fair 4-H & FFA Project Skillathon & Interview Judging Schedule

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The 2019 Hartford Fair 4-H and FFA project skillathon and interview judging schedule can be found here. Please check this schedule for correct dates, times and locations as not all of the information on skillathons in the Hartford Fair Premium book are correct. Please make sure that you know the correct skillathon schedule so that you don’t miss out on an opportunity to participate.

2019 Ohio State Fair Skillathons

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4-H and FFA youth can show what they know about 9 different animal species through 10 skillathon events during the Ohio State Fair (see the schedule below). Skillathons are free, registration is the day of the event (an adult must accompany the youth), youth can come anytime between the hours listed, and youth do not have to be a state fair exhibitor or be enrolled in an animal project in order to complete. Youth vying for the Outstanding Market Exhibitor (OME) award for goat, sheep, poultry, swine, and beef must participate in the Skillathon, showmanship, and live animal show in order to qualify. Rules, study resources (including the station topics for each species), and other information are available at: go.osu.edu/osfskillathons

2019 Fair Skillathon & Interview Judging Schedule

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The 2019 Fair Skillathon & Interview Judging Schedule is now available on the website. There have been some changes to some of the project areas, so please be sure to check your project’s time and location carefully. All members are encouraged to participate in the skilllathons at the fair. It’s a great way to show off what you know!

Ohio 4-H State Skillathon Team

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Do you have youth who are interested in being on the Ohio 4-H State Skillathon Team?

There will be an information session on January 20th, 2019 (2:00 – 4:00 PM) located at the Animal Sciences Building (2029 Fyffe Rd, Columbus, OH 43210) for those interested in an opportunity to be chosen to represent Ohio during the National 4-H Livestock Skillathon Contest in Louisville in November.

We encourage everyone who is interested to attend the January session to ask any questions, etc. If you could please RSVP to Elizabeth Share (contact information below) with your intentions to be at the first session on Sunday, January 20th it would be appreciated. Please respond by January 16th, 2019.

Starting in January, practice sessions will be conducted to work on individual and team activities on Sunday afternoons (2:00 – 4:00 PM) located at the Animal Sciences Building (2029 Fyffe Rd, Columbus, OH 43210).
• Sunday, January 20th (informational, parents are welcome to attend)
• Sunday, February 17th
• Sunday, March 17th
• Sunday, April 14th
• Sunday, May 19th
• July – OSF skillathons
• Sunday, August 18th
• Sunday, September 8th
• Sunday, September 22nd (Mock Contest and selection of team)
• Additional practices in Oct/Nov for team members

The practices in Sept/Oct/Nov are mandatory and you must be able to attend the mock contest to be eligible for the team.

Elizabeth Share, MS
Extension Specialist, 4-H/Youth Development
614-292-0589 Office
share.8@osu.edu

Ohio State Fair

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Best of luck to all of our members competing at with their projects at the Ohio State Fair! We will have members competing with livestock, equine, canine and still projects at the Ohio State Fair this year. We are so proud of all of our members.

For canine and still project results, please go to: https://ohio4h.org/ohiostatefair/2018-results. Results should be posted by 11 am the day following the judging. Click on the judging day to see the list of results for that day.

For livestock and equine results, please go to: https://ohiostatefair.com/competition-results/