Author: Bruce Zimmer

Jr Fair Royalty Applications Due – July 10

Waterford Community, Washington County, and Barlow Independent Fairs are seeking youth to apply for: Jr Princess, Prince, Queen, King, Dairy Princess, Horse Princess

  • Applications must be RECEIVED at the Extension Office by July 10, 2024
  • Interviews, Public Speaking, and Crowning: Monday, August 12, 2024 at The First Presbyterian Church on 4th Street, Marietta (Time TBA)

REQUIREMENTS:

  • A member of a Junior Fair youth organization in Washington County.
  • Candidates must be a Junior Fair Exhibitor at a Washington County Fair.
  • Queen 16  – 19 as of January 1, King candidates: 16-19 years of age as of January 1, 2024. Princess, Prince, Dairy Princess, and Horse Princess candidates: 12-15 years of age as of January 1, 2024.
  • Contestants may not be married, nor have been married, nor borne or fathered a child, or be with child.
  • Has not previously served as Junior Fair King or Junior Fair Queen of Washington County.
  • Prince, Junior Princess and Dairy Princess, Horse Princess may not run consecutive years for the same title.

Entry fee is $30.00.   Make checks payable to “Washington County 4-H Committee/Royalty”

All schools, youth organizations and civic organizations are invited to encourage candidates to enter the contest. Eligible Junior Fair organizations include 4-H, Girl Scouts, Boy Scouts, FCCLA, and FFA.

Application: Royalty Contest Application 2024

Preparing for Livestock Skillathon

2024 Washington County Skillathon – Saturday, July 20, Jr Fair Building, Washington Co Fairgrounds

Schedule: Last Name A – E: 8:30 – 9:30      Last Name F – L: 9:30 – 10:30    Last Name M – Z: 10:30 – 11:30

Projects Included: Hogs, Beef, Dairy Feeder Steers, Goats, Lambs, Poultry, Dairy, Rabbit(Except pet rabbit), Horse (except horseless horse)                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 

  • All 4-H & FFA market livestock, dairy, fancy, breeding and horse project members are required to participate in the skillathon for each of their projects to remain in good standing and to exhibit, show and/or sell at any of our three fairs in the county.
  • All youth (4-H & FFA) MUST participate in the skillathons for each project in order to be eligible to exhibit show and/or sell at the Waterford Community Fair, Washington County Fair, or Barlow Independent Fair
  • Each skillathon will have age divisions: Junior (ages 8-11); Intermediate (ages 12-14); Senior (ages 15 & over). All ages will be as of January 1st of the current year.
  • Livestock project members can purchase a copy of the project resource guides from the OSU Extension Office. All FFA chapters have copies of the 4-H Resource guides.   This Study Guide will serve as the Source of Study Materials for exhibitors.
  • Any Skillathon information not found in you resource handbook can be downloaded from https://go.osu.edu/washjudging or picked up from the OSU Extension Office
  • Skillathon Make-Up Date: August 5 – RSVP required with $20 registration fee. Sign up here to reserve your spot: https://go.osu.edu/skillathonmakeup
  • Make-up Skillathon participants will not be eligible for premier exhibitor.

Complete Study Guide: 2024 Skillathon Study Guide

Link to Additional Study Sheets: https://washington.osu.edu/node/409

Barlow Tag-in – July 13

Required Tag‐in for Market Dairy Goats and Feeder Calves will be Saturday, July 13 at the Barlow Fairgrounds
8 am to 10 am.

Market Dairy Goats (does & wethers) must have a Scrapie tag in place by tag-in on July 13.

ALL FEEDER CALVES MUST BE TIED and will be TAGGED ON THE TRAILER. NO CHUTE WILL BE SET UP.

Trash Can Painting Contest

Trash cans should include your group’s name and the year 2024. Trash cans will be judged on creativity, neatness, and overall appearance. This contest is open to all 4-H Clubs, FFA and Girl Scout and Boy Scout Troops.

Washington County Fair:  Go to Washington County Fair Grounds and pick up a trash can to paint. When the can is completed, please make sure you bring it, along with a completed entry form, to the Junior Fair Office by 9:00pm, Thursday, August 29

Barlow Independent Fair:  Go to the Barlow Fairgrounds and pick up a trash can.  Painted cans should be dropped off at the Lad & Lassie Building on Tuesday, September 24 by 8:00 pm with the completed entry form.

Forms can be printed here: County & Barlow Trash Can Contest form

Time to Reserve Your 4-H, FFA, & Scout Booth Space

Reservation form due August 1

  •     Waterford Fair  8 Ft. Booth
  •     County Fair  10 Ft. Center Booth with sides OR 8 Ft. of Floor Space along wall without sides
  •     Barlow Fair  6 Ft. Wall Booth OR  6 Ft. Floor Space (no sides)

4-H Club Advisors can find the reservation form here: 2024 Booth Reservation and Judging Form

All 4-H Club are required to have a booth for 2024

It’s Almost Time for Project Judging

Project Book:

  • All members are required to purchase a project book for their project they have enrolled in for the current 4-H year and must bring the completed book to project judging.

Attend Project Judging:

  • Attend Judging at the Washington County Junior Fair Building on the fairgrounds July 11, 2024 starting a 6:00 pm
  • Refer to 2024 Schedule (time to arrive) to be posted in early July
  • Makeup Judging will be held on Monday, August 5 starting at 6:00 pm in the Jr Fair Building for members not available to attend Project Judging. Signup here to reserve your spot for makeup judging: https://go.osu.edu/judgingmakeup
  • All Project Judging must be completed on the day of the event or on make-up day.
  • $8 Voucher – all members that attend Project Judging on July 11 will receive one $8 voucher from the 4-H Advisory Committee. The voucher can be redeemed at the OSU Extension toward the purchase of 4-H Project Books or applied toward 4-H Camp Registration. One voucher per member.

Project  Requirements:               

  • Bring project book with all required pages completed to judging.
  • Refer to the 4-H Project Requirements at https://go.osu.edu/washjudging
  • Arrive 15 minutes before your scheduled time to register / check in
  • Bring Educational displays, scrapbook, portfolio, visual aids or props

Project Judging Dress Code:

  • The goal of participating in project interviews is to help 4-H members prepare for future interview situations. With that in mind, members should dress as if they were attending a job or college interview. • General appearance should be neat and clean • No t-shirts with inappropriate language or graphics • Jeans or long pants are preferred • Skirts/shorts should reach at least the mid-thigh. • No low-cut tops or visible undergarments • Hats should not be worn during the interview. Examples of appropriate dress: button-down shirts, polos, dressy tops, 4-H club t-shirts, nice jeans, capris, skirts.

Registration Process:

  • Arrive 15 minutes before your scheduled time to register / check in
  • Check in at registration table where volunteers will assist you in filling out the top of your score sheet
  • Be sure to write legibly on your score sheet and include name, age, club project name, and project number.

Judging Process and Score Sheet: 

  • Check-in with the judge’s secretary at your interview area and wait to be called for your 5-10 minute interview
  • If you have more than one please tell the judge’s secretary
  • When you meet the judge, provide them with your score sheet
  • The judge will keep your score sheet
  • Your score sheet will be filed in a club packet and given to your club advisor for distribution
  • Project judging results will be posted by 4:00 pm on July 12, 2024 at washington.osu.edu
  • Ribbons will be distributed at the fairs in the Club packets.

Ohio State Fair Selection:

  • A member attending the July 11, 2024 judging event and scoring a superior (90-100) on their project will be considered for State Fair eligibility. The only exception is that members who cannot attend judging due to another 4-H activity, such as Leadership Camp or Shooting Sports Camp, may have their interview pre-recorded and shown to the judge to be eligible for State Fair participation. If a selected member cannot attend state fair the alternate will be notified and given the opportunity to compete at State Fair.

Ohio State Fair Packets

Beginning Thursday, July 18 state fair packets will be ready for pickup. Packets will include state fair information, your scoresheet, and ticket. OSU Extension Office hours are 8 am to 4 pm at 1115 Gilman Ave, Marietta

What Happens at Fair?:

  • Clubs will determine which fair they will display a booth. Members are encouraged to display their projects in their club booth and will receive a premium from the fair.

Ohio State Fair Dog Show Results

Congratulations to Evie Wells, member of the SL Homemaker & LS Boys 4-H Club! She won Third Place in Beginner Novice A at the Ohio State Fair Dog Show. The show was held during June due to construction on the Ohio State Fairgrounds.

Nice job Evie!

4-H Public Speaking Contest – July 9

County 4-H Public Speaking Contest – July 9 –  9:00 am at OSU Extension Office

  • Public Speaking Incentives for 4-H Members! The 4-H Advisory Committee will award a $6 voucher to each member participating. One award per member. Each participant will be entered in a drawing for a cash award sponsored by Bob and Peg Byers.
  • Entry Form due July 3: Entry Form 2024 – County 4-H Public Speaking Contest

The following events are offered to 4-H members (not Cloverbuds):

  • 4-H Demonstration & Illustrated Talk without Technology Contest (Junior Division – ages 8-10)
  • 4-H Demonstration & Illustrated Talk with or without Technology Contest (Intermediate Division – ages 11-13 and Senior Division – ages 14 & up)
  • 4-H Pledge Contest
  • 4-H Creed Contest
  • 4-H Marketing Contest – thank you card, holiday card, 4-H Infomercial Promoting 4-H (items due to Extension Office July 3)