A simple, handwritten thank you note goes a long way to express gratitude for time, service, sponsorship, donation, etc. “A lot of respect can be earned or lost by our ability to say thanks”. We want to make a positive impact! We do encourage a handwritten note versus a typed one. Write as neatly as possible in blue or black ink!

Need a refresher on formatting? No problem.

1. Begin with a greeting, like “Dear Mr. Jones,” or “Dear Insert Organization Here”.
2. Express appreciation and why the thank you note is being written. Be specific. Don’t be afraid to go into detail about how the item/gift will be used.

Example 1: “Thank you for serving as a class sponsor for the 2023 Portage County Jr. Fair Dairy Show. The duffle bag I received for first place is very much appreciated and will travel with me to future 4-H events! “

Example 2: “Thank you so much for purchasing my 4-H market rabbit at the 2023 Portage County Livestock Sale. The Portage County Fair has been a highlight of my summer since joining 4-H six year ago. The money received will be placed in a savings account to help pay for college. Thank you for your support of the Portage County 4-H Program and my 4-H project.“

3. Express appreciation/acknowledge generosity again. “Thank you again for your support of Portage County 4-H and the Portage County Jr. Fair. Your kindness is greatly appreciated.” -OR- Thank you again for your generosity and for supporting the 2023 Portage County Jr. Fair. I hope to see you again next year!”
4. Closing: “Sincerely, _______”. Make sure the youth member signs their name.

Other Tips:

• Encourage youth to be prompt in getting the thank you mailed- a suggestion is two weeks or less from the date the award, monetary gift, etc. was received.
• Make sure the nature of the thank you is positive! We do not want to criticize or express the desire for a different or additional gift.  
• Personalize it: add a photo to the thank you, thank the buyer/donor the following year on a poster above the animal or exhibit, etc. Counties may already have buyer/donor appreciation gifts (i.e. goodie bag, etc).
• Make sure the youth member has the correct address for the individual/business.
• Do not assume everyone is a professional at writing thank yous! Go over formatting at a club meeting, committee meeting, or QA event. It’s also helpful to provide additional resources to families and/or advisors.

Tips adapted from Ashlee Meardith, Trumbull County

A complete listing of all Jr Fair Market Livestock buyers can be found at the link below:

2023 Exhibitor Thank You’s – ALL

The document lists the exhibitors in alphabetical order, with all their buyer and their addresses grouped along with them. Every exhibitor selling their animal(s) at the Junior Fair livestock sales MUST write a “Thank you” note to the buyer(s). Every auction participant must submit a thank you note before they receive their auction check (the Sale Committee sends the checks to exhibitors as soon as payments for purchases exceed the total of checks to be written and the Thank You notes/letters have been properly submitted).

The Thank You Notes/Letters must be submitted to the fair office NOT THE EXTENSION OFFICE.

  This “Thank you” note is to be delivered to the Fair  Office IN A STAMPED, SEALED AND COMPLETELY ADDRESSED ENVELOP WITH JR. FAIR EXHIBITORS NAME WRITTEN IN THE RETURN ADDRESS! 

A complete listing of all Jr Fair Market Livestock buyers can be found at the link below:

2022 Exhibitor Thank You’s – All

The document lists the exhibitors in alphabetical order, with all their buyer and their addresses grouped along with them. Every exhibitor selling their animal(s) at the Junior Fair livestock sales MUST write a “Thank you” note to the buyer(s). Every auction participant must submit a thank you note before they receive their auction check (the Sale Committee sends the checks to exhibitors as soon as payments for purchases exceed the total of checks to be written and the Thank You notes/letters have been properly submitted).

The Thank You Notes/Letters must be submitted to the fair office NOT THE EXTENSION OFFICE.

  This “Thank you” note is to be delivered to the Fair  Office IN A STAMPED, SEALED AND COMPLETELY ADDRESSED ENVELOP WITH JR. FAIR EXHIBITORS NAME WRITTEN IN THE RETURN ADDRESS! 

A complete listing of all Jr Fair Market Livestock buyers can be found at the link below:

2021 Hog Buyers

All Sale Buyers 2021

The document lists the exhibitors in alphabetical order, with all their buyer and their addresses grouped along with them. Every exhibitor selling their animal(s) at the Junior Fair livestock sales MUST write a “Thank you” note to the buyer(s). Every auction participant must submit a thank you note before they receive their auction check (the Sale Committee sends the checks to exhibitors as soon as payments for purchases exceed the total of checks to be written and the Thank You notes/letters have been properly submitted).

The Thank You Notes/Letters must be submitted to the fair office NOT THE EXTENSION OFFICE.

  This “Thank you” note is to be delivered to the Fair  Office IN A STAMPED, SEALED AND COMPLETELY ADDRESSED ENVELOP WITH JR. FAIR EXHIBITORS NAME WRITTEN IN THE RETURN ADDRESS! 

Since OSU has suspended face-to-face meetings until July 6^th, and with the current stay-at-home orders, our Jr. Fair livestock tag-in will be completed through the below google docs for May 16^th. The DEADLINE is May 16^th by 8pm for this virtual tag-in. Please note, a picture of your animals identification scrapie tag (goat and sheep), or ear notch (swine) along with a side view of animal is needed as well as personal information for this virtual tag-in. If you have any questions, please contact your advisor, a committee member for your respective animal, or Emma George – Jr. Fair Coordinator. Please go to the link for more information.

Market Goat Tag-In: www.go.osu.edu/goattag2020   
For questions contact Rhonda Procaccio – rhopro9@gmail.com

Market Sheep Tag-In: www.go.osu.edu/sheeptag2020
For questions contact Patty Shircliff – pas1013@yahoo.com, or Chuck Campbell charles750@centurylink.net

Market Swine Tag-In: www.go.osu.edu/swinetag2020  
For questions contact Ryan Kisamore – rkisamore.4@gmail.com

Jr. Fair Coordinator – Emma George – egeorge@randolphfair.com

A complete listing of all Jr Fair Market Livestock buyers can be found at the link below:

2019 Swine Buyer Addresses

2019 Small Animal, Goat, Lamb, and Beef

The document lists the exhibitors in alphabetical order, with all their buyer and their addresses grouped along with them. Every exhibitor selling their animal(s) at the Junior Fair livestock sales MUST write a “Thank you” note to the buyer(s). Every auction participant must submit a thank you note before they receive their auction check (the Sale Committee sends the checks to exhibitors as soon as payments for purchases exceed the total of checks to be written and the Thank You notes/letters have been properly submitted).

The Thank You Notes/Letters must be submitted to the fair office NOT THE EXTENSION OFFICE.

  This “Thank you” note is to be delivered to the Fair  Office IN A STAMPED, SEALED AND COMPLETELY ADDRESSED ENVELOP WITH JR. FAIR EXHIBITORS NAME WRITTEN IN THE RETURN ADDRESS! The note itself must be brought in to the Fair Office to be checked off before mailing.

A complete listing of all Jr Fair Market Livestock buyers can be found at the link below:

2018 Buyers List

The document lists the exhibitors in alphabetical order, with all their buyer and their addresses grouped along with them. Every exhibitor selling their animal(s) at the Junior Fair livestock sales MUST write a “Thank you” note to the buyer(s). Every auction participant must submit a thank you note before they receive their auction check (the Sale Committee sends the checks to exhibitors as soon as payments for purchases exceed the total of checks to be written and the Thank You notes/letters have been properly submitted).

The Thank You Notes/Letters must be submitted to the fair office NOT THE EXTENSION OFFICE.

  This “Thank you” note is to be delivered to the Fair  Office IN A STAMPED, SEALED AND COMPLETELY ADDRESSED ENVELOP WITH JR. FAIR EXHIBITORS NAME WRITTEN IN THE RETURN ADDRESS! The note itself must be brought in to the Fair Office to be checked off before mailing.

A complete listing of all Jr Fair Market Livestock buyers can be found at the link below:

2017  Buyers by exhibitors

The document lists the exhibitors in alphabetical order, with all their buyer and their addresses grouped along with them. Every exhibitor selling their animal(s) at the Junior Fair livestock sales MUST write a “Thank you” note to the buyer(s). Every auction participant must submit a thank you note before they receive their auction check (the Sale Committee sends the checks to exhibitors as soon as payments for purchases exceed the total of checks to be written and the Thank You notes/letters have been properly submitted).

The Thank You Notes/Letters must be submitted to the fair office NOT THE EXTENSION OFFICE.

A complete listing of all Jr Fair Market Livestock buyers can be found at the link below:

2016 Buyer Thank You List

The document lists the exhibitors in alphabetical order, with all their buyer and their addresses grouped along with them. Every exhibitor selling their animal(s) at the Junior Fair livestock sales MUST write a “Thank you” note to the buyer(s). Every auction participant must submit a thank you note before they receive their auction check (the Sale Committee sends the checks to exhibitors as soon as payments for purchases exceed the total of checks to be written and the Thank You notes/letters have been properly submitted).

The Thank You Notes/Letters must be submitted to the fair office NOT THE EXTENSION OFFICE.