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OSU Extension

College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences

CFAES

Licking County

Select one of the species topics below to be taken directly to that species information and resources.

Livestock Quality Assurance Materials

General Livestock Resources

Beef & Dairy Cattle

Goat & Sheep

Rabbit & Poultry

Swine

Livestock Quality Assurance Materials

These materials are referenced at the Livestock Quality Assurance programs. Please review the species information that pertains to your projects.

Beef / dairy - livestock requirement summary in packet was updated 3.24.25
Dairy / Dairy Feeder - this packet was distributed at the Quality Assurance Program held at the Dairy Judging Contest on March 8th - livestock requirement summary in packet was updated 3.24.25
Goat - livestock requirement summary in packet was updated 3.24.25
Poultry - livestock requirement summary in packet was updated 3.24.25
Rabbit - livestock requirement summary in packet was updated 3.24.25
Sheep - livestock requirement summary in packet was updated 3.24.25
Swine - livestock requirement summary in packet was updated 3.24.25

 

General Livestock Resources

 

Events:

General Resources and Information:

 

Livestock Quality Assurance:

  • Any Hartford Fair youth exhibitor who has not attended one approved Junior Fair Livestock Quality Assurance training will be ineligible to exhibit livestock (in the areas requiring QA training) during the 2024 Hartford Independent Fair if they are unable to complete a Quality Assurance training by June 1, 2024. To view more information, please review the Hartford Fair Junior Fair Livestock Quality Assurance and Equine Guidelines .

  • YQCA Training Option: If you are not able to attend one of the county Quality Assurance trainings, you can complete your Quality Assurance requirement by completing the YQCA Training.

  • Equine Safety, Training and Education Program (EquiSTEP) is an annual statewide requirement for all youth participating in Ohio 4-H Horse Program activities. EquiSTEP replaces the statewide requirement of reading the Horses, Safety, and You (191R) resource and viewing the Every Time, Every Ride and Horses, Kids, and Ethics videos for youth and their families who are new to the 4-H horse program. Please review the 4-H EquiSTEP requirements and how to complete this requirement by clicking HERE. Deadline to complete this requirement is June 1st.

General Preventative Health Recommendations for Animals

Veterinary Feed Directive (VFD) Fact Sheet for 4-H Youth Livestock Producers and Families

Ohio State Fair Livestock Requirements Brochure - information on the general requirements and guidelines for showing livestock at the Ohio State Fair in JUNIOR classes.

Project Enrollment for 4-H and FFA Members Showing Animals at the Ohio State Fair

Hartford Fair Livestock Drug Use Notification Form (DUNF) and Livestock Exhibition Producer Form Information: Will be available starting a few weeks before fair.

 

Additional Resources:

 

Ohio 4-H Animal Sciences Resource website:  Also, each species has their own Resource page with information that can help 4-H members decide if an animal project is right for them. There is also a home page and state calendar page for each species.  Click on the following individual species for the link to the Resource pages:  Companion, Dog, Rabbit, Dairy, Horse, Poultry, Livestock and Ohio 4-H PetPals.  Also, check out the State 4-H Skillathon website

Saying Thank You:  A lot of respect can be earned or lost by our ability to say thanks.  Thank you notes help our sponsors realize that the award sponsorship really means something to you.  It helps make them more interested in sponsoring next year. For help in writing that thank you note or letter click on the following link:  Thank you flyer

 

Beef & Dairy Cattle

Events:

  • 2025 4-H Dairy Judging Contest - Saturday, March 8, 2025 - Dairy Judging Contest will take place at Layman Dairy Farm: 2868 Lake Fork Rd NE, Utica, OH 43080 and the Quality Assurance Training will follow at Shipley Dairy Farm: 9309 Reynolds Road, Newark, OH 43055 - 10:00 am - Only Licking County 4-H Members who plan to be enrolled in a 4-H Dairy or Dairy Feeder Project during 2025 will be allowed to participate.
  • 2024 DairyPalooza - Saturday, April 20, 2024 - Mahoning County at the Canfield Fairgrounds - Registration required
  • 2025 Dairy Feeder Clinic and Preview Show - Saturday, June 7, 2025 - Hartford Fairgrounds. Clinic starts at 11:30am with show starting at 12:30pm.

General Resources and Information:

Breeding Beef ID Submission Instructions for FairEntry - Due May 15, 2025

2025 Hartford Fair and State Fair Market Steer/Heifer Updates - NOTE: Weigh in date: Saturday, DECEMBER 7, 2024: 8:00am to 10:00am.

  • If bringing animals to the Market Steer/Heifer weigh-in, please complete the following registration survey for EACH animal that you plan to tag and weigh-in: go.osu.edu/2025HartfordWeighIn . Registration MUST be completed by NOON on Friday, December 6, 2024.

2025 Hartford Jr Fair Dairy Feeder Steer Information Handout

Best Management Practices for Feeder Calf 4-H Projects

 

Goat & Sheep

Events:

General Resources and Information:

2025 Market Lamb Pre-Registration Form - Due May 15, 2025 by noon: Complete one registration form per animal. May tag up to 6 market lambs.

2025 Market GOAT Pre-Registration Form - Due May 15, 2025 by noon: Complete one registration form per animal. May tag up to 6 market goats.

National Scrapie Eradication Program:  Animal Identification and Recordkeeping Guide for Sheep and Goats

4-H Goat Projects:  Choosing Your Goat Project when Exhibiting at the Hartford Fair & Enrolling in 4-H Online - updated 3/9/22

Goat Scrapie ID Flyer - 2019 information on the national update.

Sheep Scrapie ID Flyer - 2019 information on the national update.

Link to video for how to trim a pygmy goat for shows: Grooming a African Pygmy Goat for a Show (Part 2).

Link to video for fitting a boer goat for shows: Fitting Boer Goats for A Show.

2023 Shepherds Lead Contest Form: PDF | Fillable PDF

2023 Lamb Cookoff Form: PDF | Fillable PDF

 

Rabbit & Poultry

Events:

  • 2025 Youth Rabbit and Poultry Clinic & Fun Show - Saturday, June 14, 2025 - Hartford Fairgrounds: B. Carr Pavilion
  • Rabbit Tattooing/Registration and Poultry Banding:
    • Breeding Poultry, Senior Breeding Rabbits, and Market Turkeys: Saturday, May 4, 2024 from 10am-2pm - Hartford Fairgrounds - Rabbit Registration Form  - This form should be printed and filled out before bringing your rabbit(s) to registration.
    • Market Poultry, Market Rabbits, and Junior Breeding Rabbits: Saturday, July 13, 2024 - from 10am-2pm - Hartford Fairgrounds - Rabbit Registration Form  - This form should be printed and filled out before bringing your rabbit(s) to registration.

General Resources and Information:

Join the Licking County 4-H Rabbit and Poultry Committee

2025 Hartford Junior Fair Turkey Pool Order Form - Due by 4:00pm on March 7, 2025.  Mail order form with payment to: OSU Extension - Licking County Office, 771 E. Main Street, Suite 103, Newark, OH  43055

2025 Hartford Junior Fair Meat Chicken Order Form - Due by 4:00pm on Friday, April 18, 2025.  Mail or drop off order form with payment to:  OSU Extension - Licking County Office, 771 E. Main Street, Suite 103, Newark, OH  43055.

2025 Hartford Jr. Fair Meat Duck Pool Order Form -  Due by 4:00pm on Friday, April 18, 2025.  Mail or drop off order form with payment to:  OSU Extension - Licking County Office, 771, E. Main Street, Suite 103, Newark, OH  43055.

2025 Bred and Raised Market Rabbit ID Form - Rule and regulations for the bred and raised class at the Hartford Fair. ID form must be returned to the fairgrounds with signatures and appropriate photos by May 17, 2025.

Hartford Fair Poultry Classes - Information on choosing the correct poultry class at the Hartford Fair.

Caring for Your Birds at the Fair

Poultry Resource Handout for Ohio 4-H

Ohio Livestock Care Standards for Poultry - Resource for layers, broilers, and turkeys.

Poultry Virus Info Handout

Poultry Resources Webpage  (Ohio 4-H State Website)  -  Also posted is a collection of articles called Basic Information About Chickens (143 pages).

2025 Guidelines to the 4-H Rabbit Projects - These guidelines offer a description of the purpose of each rabbit project and also list the fair tattoo/registration days.

Rabbit Registration Form - This form should be printed and filled out before bringing your rabbit(s) to registration on July 10, 2021.

Rabbit Basics for the Beginner - Click here for Fact Sheet

2025 Hartford Fair Rabbit Department Update

Poultry Resources for Ohio 4-H

Getting Started with Poultry Resources - Includes Showing Tips and Skillathon Material for Chickens, Turkeys, Ducks and Geese.

Resources/videos on showing market poultry can be found here: https://www.ohiopoultry.org/Backyard-Flocks/index.cfm#marketPoultry

  • PREPARING POULTRY FOR SHOW DAY WITH OHIO 4-H’ERS

  • ASSESSING A MARKET BIRD'S MUSCLE CONFORMATION

  • LEARNING BASIC POULTRY HANDLING TECHNIQUES

Extra pages for Poultry Project: 

Swine

Events:

General Resources and Information:

Swine Tagging Form - Due May 15, 2025 to th Hartford Fairgrounds - this form must be completed by ALL junior fair swine exhibitors. Exhibitors must also submit the appropriate photos through the Animal ID process in FairEntry. See instructions below.

Swine Housing Form - Due May 15, 2025 to the Hartford Fairgrounds - this form is for 4-H/FFA exhibtors who will house their projects on property other than where they reside, or house their animals in facilities that their parents or guardians do not own.

Market Hog Photo Submission Instructions for FairEntry - Due May 15, 2025

Minimizing Influenza Transmission during Exhibitions - Checklist for Protecting Guests, Exhibitors, an Pigs

Measures to Minimize Influenza Transmission at Swine Exhibitions

Swine Health Recommendations