Month: March 2025

Seeking Participants and Mentors for Our Greatest Showmen – Jr. Fair Program for Youth with Disabilities or who Receive Mental Health Services

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  • Our Greatest Showmen is a Muskingum County Junior Fair program where individuals ages 8-21 who have disabilities or receive mental health services can show a livestock animal at the  Muskingum County Fair.
  • Participants will be mentored by current Junior Fair exhibitors from 4-H and FFA who are willing to share their knowledge and experience. Animals will be provided to Our Greatest Showmen exhibitors. 2025 species participating are: beef, dairy, goat, rabbit, poultry, sheep. Horses and swine are not part of the show this year, but may be in the future.

 

Registration Deadline

May 15

  • Complete the Showmen Registration Form (non 4-H members or 4-H members on a Winning 4-H Plan who are not enrolled in the livestock project area they select): go.osu.edu/muskogs
  • Complete the Mentor Registration Form (current Junior Fair Exhibitors): go.osu.edu/ogsmentor

 

Mentors and Showmen are encouraged to connect with each other leading up to the fair for a visit to the location where the Mentor’s animal is housed.

 

Our Greatest Showmen Livestock Show

August 15, 9 a.m.

Muskingum County Fairgrounds Coliseum, 1300 Pershing Road, Zanesville

  • 4-H volunteers who are a part of the Our Greatest Showmen Committee will hold an orientation for Showmen.
  • The show will take place during the intermission of the Junior Fair Showman of Showmen contest. Animals used for this show will be the same animals shown during the Showman of Showmen contest – they will NOT be the Mentor’s animals.
  • An admission ticket will be provided to each Showman and family members are encouraged to take advantage of the Pepsi free day gate admission.
  • Other awards will be presented the day of the contest.

 

2025 Blue Ribbon Presenting Sponsor

Secure Title Services Logo

Questions?  Call the Extension Office at 740-454-0144 or e-mail Jamie McConnell, 4-H Educator at mcconnell.210@osu.edu.

Campership Application Now Available! Due April 15

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Camperships and multiple child discounts are provided by FruhQuip, Park National Bank and other local donors.

If you know someone who would be willing to support the campership program, please contact Jamie (mcconnell.210@osu.edu).

Clubs can provide members with scholarships from club funds, as long as every age-eligible youth has the opportunity for a scholarship. If you would like to do this in your club, you would pay the Extension Office directly once youth are registered for camp based on the amount per youth you communicate with Jamie. Reach out if you have questions about this.

Deadline is April 15! Complete it online: Campership Application

Muskingum County 4-H Junior Camp Dates for Campers: June 10-13 @ 4-H Camp Ohio
June 10: Staggered morning check-in (between 10 and 11:00 a.m.)

June 13: Staggered morning check-out (between 10 and 11:00 a.m.)

Campership Guidelines
Camperships (scholarships to assist youth in paying camp fees) are available to Muskingum County 4-H members through donations from local sponsors. Junior Camp is open to youth age 8 and in the third grade to age 13 as of January 1, 2024.
Application Process:
  1. Complete one form for each youth. All information must be complete to be considered for a campership. An incomplete form will not be considered.
  2. Late applications will not be considered.
  3. Campership funds will only be awarded for the individual named on the application. Awarded camperships must be used for this year’s camp.
  4. Camperships are for families with financial need, where children would not be able to attend camp without scholarship support. This includes families with multiple children who may be unable to send all siblings to camp due to cost, members from low-socio economic homes and families who have extenuating financial circumstances.
  5. Muskingum County 4-H Junior Camp Fee Schedule
    • Single Child Rate – $225 per camper, only one camper in the family
    • Multiple Child Rate – $175 per camper, more than one camper in the family
    • Campership Rate – $125 per camper, any camper awarded a scholarship
  6. Youth awarded a scholarship will still be required to reserve a spot through the camp pre-registration process (begins April 21) AND complete camper registration by May 8.
  7. County 4-H staff will review applications. All information on the application will be kept confidential. Notice of camperships will be sent via e-mail. In the event the child will not be registering for camp, please notify us as soon as possible so that the scholarship may be awarded to another applicant.
  8. Muskingum County 4-H must pay 4-H Camp Ohio for all campers who register for camp. If a child registers for camp and does not attend, he/she may not be eligible for scholarship assistance in the future.

Ohio 4-H Event Youth Assistant Position – Application due May 15

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  • What: 4-H Event Youth Assistant (4HEYA)
  • Who: Individuals age 13-18 (as of January 1 of the year of application) and have at least 1 year prior 4-H experience.
  • Timeframe: Apply by May 15, selection, training, service to OSF, and evaluation. Complete responsibilities by August 31, 2025.
  • Requirements (in addition to application/selection process):
    • Training – Must attend one of the options for training (July 10 or July 15)
      • Please note: individuals MUST attend one of the training options. This is not negotiable. If you know you are unable to attend a training option before applying, it is best to wait another year before applying to serve in this capacity.
    • Events – Must work a minimum of 3 events at the Ohio State Fair; may work more if desired
  • Program Fee: $25/person (paid at https://go.osu.edu/4HEYA25);
  • Teens Receive:
    • 4HEYA Polo & Nametag
    • State Fair admission, parking ticket, and meal ticket(s)
    • Optional State Fair housing in the Rhodes Center (if desired)
    • Experience of working events at the Ohio State Fair
    • Opportunity to enhance leadership skills and be involved in the State 4-H program
  • What about the Teen Leadership Council? YES, these members may apply for 4HEYA AND TLC this year, if desired. TLC applications will be available in June and will be due the Friday following the Ohio State fair. Their term is September 1, 2025-August 31, 2026. Current TLC members are not eligible to apply for 4HEYA, as they are already fulfilling obligations at the Ohio State Fair.
  • Questions? Contact Frances (foos.61@osu.edu) or Sara (Deakin.5@osu.edu)

2025 Horse Education Program Details, Required for All Youth in a Horse Project – Due June 1

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All youth enrolled in a horse project (except Project #173 Horseless Horse) must complete a Horse Education Program, even if they do not plan to exhibit at the fair.

Youth must complete Ohio 4-H’s EquiSTEP program.

The online course is housed on ScarletCanvas and is run by the State 4-H Office. Access the course once it is available: go.osu.edu/equistep2025.

  • Each member must sign up for the course with a unique e-mail address.
  • Select ‘Modules’ to see the 5 steps.
  • Watch the video(s) that correspond with each step.
  • Complete the quiz associated with the training. You need to score at least a 7 out of 10 to pass the training.
  • After scoring at least a 7 out of 10 on the quiz, complete the Certificate of Completion/Course Evaluation Survey. Both you and your county 4-H professional will be emailed a certificate that notes you have completed the EquiSTEP training.

All Muskingum County Youth must have EquiSTEP Certification by June 1.

Please pay close attention to the dates and plan accordingly.

2025 Livestock Quality Assurance Options – Due June 1

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Livestock Quality Assurance (QA) Certification is required for all youth exhibiting a market animal, dairy cow or dairy goat project at the Muskingum County Fair.

Certification can be obtained in one of three ways:

1) QA program provided by OSU Extension.

NEW THIS YEAR! There are two possible start times on each program date: 6:00 p.m. & 7:15 p.m. Exhibitors will participate in four stations facilitated by QA volunteers. The program will take just over an hour to complete.

Program Dates

Veteran’s Building, Fairgrounds

April 7, 6:00 p.m. & 7:15 p.m.

April 22, 6:00 p.m. & 7:15 p.m.

April 30, 6:00 p.m. & 7:15 p.m.

  • Parent/guardian attendance is not required but is encouraged—especially for younger members and members on Winning 4-H Plans.
  • Plan to arrive early, as youth will not receive credit for attending if they arrive more than 5 minutes after the program starts. Youth must complete and submit the attendance card at the end to receive credit.

 

2) YQCA Online Course

The online module completed must be for the correct 4-H age. Only the YQCA courses currently meet ODA standards. BQA, PQA, BEST and other online programs do not meet this requirement. The cost is $12 per youth.

Program details: go.osu.edu/yqca

 

If youth complete YQCA, they need to forward the completion certificate to muskingum4h@osu.edu.

3) Test-Out

All youth 12-14 years of age (4-H age) may take a QA test designed for their age group. If they pass the test with a score of 70% or greater, the youth will be certified in QA until they turn 15 years old.

All youth 15-18 years of age (4-H age) may take a QA test designed for their age group. If they pass the test with a score of 70% or greater, the youth will be certified in QA for the remainder of their Junior Fair years.

Youth will either take the Large Animal (Beef, Dairy, Goat, Sheep, Swine) test or Small Animal (Poultry, Rabbit) test. QA certification is good for all animal projects taken no matter which test is passed.

Youth are only permitted to take one test per calendar year. If a youth does not pass the QA test, they will be required to attend a QA program to gain certification.

A study guide is available online at: go.osu.edu/qastudyguide.

 

QA Test-Out Dates

Participants MUST pre-register no later than the day before the test-out: go.osu.edu/muskqatestout

April 7, 4:30-5:30 p.m., Veteran’s Building

April 22, 4:30-5:30 p.m., Veteran’s Building

  • Youth may arrive to take the test anytime in the testing window, but must submit the test by the end time.
  • Youth complete the test at their own pace. It is 50 questions multiple choice.

All Muskingum County Youth must have QA Certification by June 1.

Please pay close attention to the dates and plan accordingly.

Junior Fair Poultry Committee Youth Representative Opportunity! Deadline March 14

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New this year! The Muskingum County Poultry Committee would like to extend membership to any interested youth involved with junior fair. We are looking for energetic youth that are passionate about the poultry and the fair to bring a youth perspective to the table!

Youth members must be currently involved in FFA, 4-H, Girl Scouts, Scouts, or Grange.

Youth do not have to have taken a poultry project before, or plan to in the future.

 

Responsibilities

– Attend poultry committee meetings (4 meetings total held in March, May, July, September)

– Participate in discussion regarding various projects, improvements, activities, etc.

– Attend and assist various events before, during, and after the fair. Including but not limited to: shows, check-in, sale, contests, and barn set up.

If you have any questions regarding this new opportunity, please reach out to Samantha Ramsey at 740.624.2685

Deadline to apply is March 14!

Application