This page will provide county-specific information for the following projects:
Beef Dairy Llama & Alpaca Sheep Swine
117B Beef Breeding 122 Dairy Heifer   198 Market Lamb 139 Market Hog
117BF Beef Feeder 126 Dairy Cow   199 Sheep Breeding 140 Swine Breeding
117DF Dairy Beef Feeder        
117M Market Beef        

 

Beef

Market Beef Tag-In

Any member wishing to exhibit a market beef animal at the 2023 Tuscarawas County Fair must have an animal tagged-in. Exhibitors from 2022 have been notified. A copy of the letter can be obtained here. Market beef tag-in will be December 10 from 9:00 a.m. to noon in the Main Show Arena at the Tuscarawas County Fairgrounds. For those with unavoidable scheduling conflicts, we have set aside December 12 from 6 to 7 p.m. You must pre-register for the 12th by calling the Extension office by December 9 (when leaving a voice mail state your name, phone number, and number of animals you'll be bringing). If arrangements are not made by December 9, you will not be permitted to tag-in or exhibit.

Members showing at any of the BEST sanctioned shows must have EID tags in their calves prior to the first show in which they exhibit. BEST shows prior to the January 15 deadline to submit samples to OSF include:

  • AGR Holiday Classic, December 9-11, Columbus
  • Scarlet & Gray Midwest Showdown, January 6-8, Columbus

Reminders:

  1. Dairy market beef will only be permitted to be shown from the six recognized dairy breeds: Ayrshire, Brown Swiss, Guernsey, Holstein, Jersey, and Milking Shorthorn, No other dairy market beef will be permitted to be tagged in and exhibited. In order to have a grand and reserve champion, there must be a minimum of five (5).
  2. Tuscarawas County Bred and Fed is Tuscarawas County Bred, Born, and Fed. Calves must be conceived, born, and raised in Tuscarawas County. You must enter in this class when completing your online fair entry.
  3. Market Heifer Class – Youth may choose to exhibit a heifer instead of a steer as their market beef project (effective 2020). All the same weight limits and rules for the steers would still apply. Heifers show in a separate class but show for overall champion market beef. Once a heifer is tagged in as a market beef animal at fair, she is not permitted to be switched to beef breeding. Only one market beef animal is permitted to be exhibited. There must be a minimum of five (5) market heifers to make a class.
  4. Possession Deadline – Once a market beef animal is tagged in under a 4-H or FFA member’s name for the Tuscarawas County Fair, that animal is only permitted to be shown under that member’s name. In the event the owner is not able to exhibit the animal, the animal may be exhibited by another Junior Fair exhibitor but only if it’s in the owner’s name. Not adhering to this rule will result in the member not being permitted to exhibit their animal at the 2023 Tuscarawas County Fair. (Updated 11/15/2022.)

Here are the 2023 tag-in procedures/guidelines:

  1. Tag-in at the December date is required for all 4-H and FFA market beef and dairy market beef shown and sold at the 2023 Tuscarawas County Fair. There is no make up date. In case of inclement weather, please listen to WJER or WTUZ for more information.
  1. You may tag in one primary and a back-up for a total of two animals 2 animals with one being eligible to exhibit at the Tuscarawas County Fair, or if you have a brother/sister or half-brother/sister or unrelated children (with at least one parent residing in the home) and who are members of a Tuscarawas County 4-H club and reside in the same household who have also weighed in an animal, you may at the time of weigh-in designate a back-up animal that may be shown by:
    1. you or any of the above-mentioned individuals
    2. at the time of tag-in those individuals (siblings) eligible to exhibit the back-up animal must be so named at weigh-in. (Example: If there are 2 [or more] members in your family and they weigh in 1 animal per child, the extra animal can be used as a back-up for any of the children, BUT MUST BE NAMED AT TAG-IN.)
  1. CASTRATED CALVES ONLY! It is suggested that you obtain a slip from your vet to verify the procedure if you had it done just prior to tag-in.
  1. CALF MUST BE WEARING A HALTER AND BE HALTER BROKE! Animals will be dismissed that do not have a halter on in the trailer and when taken through the scales. Calves MUST be halter broke!
  2. The OhioState Fair Beef Department adopted in 2015 new protocols for identifying market beef animals. These protocols include the use of an electronic identification (EID) ear tag that has a unique 15-digit number and a DNA sample submitted for all market beef animals that exhibitors plan to enter in the 2023 Ohio State Fair Junior Market Beef Show.

The DNA collection will be in the form of a hair sample received by the Ohio State Fair by January 15, 2023, to meet the ownership deadlines for market beef animals. Along with the DNA hair submission, each market animal's 15-digit EID tag must also be included on the DNA packets, which will be available at tag-in.

You are responsible for making a State Fair entry. You are eligible to show in Open Class but must follow entry procedures in the Ohio State Fair Handbook. Obtain entry information from the Ohio State Fair web site (http://www.ohiostatefair.com).

  1. Please help us notify anyone who did not exhibit a market beef in 2022 but will be taking a market beef in 2023. They must bring their animal(s) to tag-in.

Additional market project reminders:

  1. All market livestock exhibitors must attend a Quality Assurance (QA) Seminar in 2023 (dates TBD). 4-H advisors will also be aware of the dates. QA dates will be announced here.
  1. Begin record keeping as soon as you get your calf for the 2023 year. Complete guidelines will be available online.
  1. A Junior Fair exhibitor may only exhibit at the county fair a total of five (5) animals regardless of small or large but may only receive two sale-generating checks. An exhibitor may receive a fair premium on three (3) total projects.
  2. The following steps must be complete to exhibit a market beef at the county fair:
    1. Animal tagged and weighed in on December 10 (or 12), 2022.
    2. Enrollment turned in by April 14, 2023.
    3. Member’s attendance recorded at a QA meeting.
    4. Member must be in good standing with the enrolled club.
    5. Member attends Interview Judging and receives a Bronze or higher.
    6. Member turns in a completed fair entry by the deadline.
    7. Animal brought to the county fair by assigned time in good health condition.
    8. DUNF is complete, accurate, and animal is drug residue free.
    9. Animal must be properly cared for during the county fair, including bedding and feed.

Contact Kiersten if you have any questions concerning the requirements or with your project.

Ohio State Fair DNA Sample Collection

The Ohio State Fair Beef Department adopted in 2015 new protocols for identifying market beef animals. These protocols include the use of an electronic identification (EID) ear tag that has a unique 15-digit number and a DNA sample that will be submitted for all market beef animals that exhibitors plan to enter in the 2023 Ohio State Fair Junior Market Beef Show.

The Ohio State Fair Requires all market beef entered in the 2023 Ohio State Fair to have individual DNA samples taken from each animal that may potentially be entered. These DNA samples must be in the possession of the Ohio State Fair by January 15, 2023 (this is not a postmark date!). DNA Sample Kits will be available at beef tag-in. Please contact Andi Hershey with any questions pertaining to the DNA sampling process. A Tuscarawas County Extension professional will need to sign the collection envelope (FFA advisor will sign for FFA members) and 4-H members are responsible for mailing sample(s) to the Ohio State Fair.

You are responsible for making a State Fair entry. You are eligible to show in Open Class but must follow entry procedures in the Ohio State Fair Handbook. Obtain entry information from the Ohio State Fair web site.

Click here for the 2023 Ohio State Fair DNA Sample Collection and Ohio State Fair Nomination Protocol Document.

 

Dairy

 

 

Llama & Alpaca

 

Sheep

Scrapie Tag Requirements - All Sheep

USDA Sheep Requirements Fact Sheet - explaining the national scrapie eradication program - for the following sheep projects: 198 and 199. Contact Kiersten with any questions.

Swine

The Ohio Department of Agriculture has provided the following important information for all hog exhibitors. Please read this information. Should you have any questions, please contact the Kiersten Heckel.

  • Hogs must have hair over their entire body with the exception of the ears and tail.

  • All hair on the hog must be a minimum ½” in length.

  • DO NOT PURCHASE A HOG THAT HAS BEEN CLIPPED as there are no guarantees that the hair will grow back long enough in the ensuing months.

  • Be extra careful if purchasing a Hampshire or Duroc (Duroc especially) as these breeds are prone to being born hairless.  Do not buy a hog of either breed that has been clipped as the chances of it growing enough hair is greatly diminished.

  • Do not clip your hog at all, there is no need and the risk is too great.

  • The fact that a hog was born without hair or hair of an insufficient length will not be a valid excuse, these hogs will be denied entry to the fair.

Enforcement of Market Hog Hair Rule

The Tuscarawas County Sr. Fair Board will strictly enforce the 1/2-inch hair rule on all market hogs at the Tuscarawas County Fair. It has been made clear that any hog with hair less than 1/2-inch in length will be required to leave the fairgrounds. In addition, ODA recommends that exhibitors not purchase a hog that has already been clipped. Click here for more information.

Market Hog ID Process

Members enrolled in #139 Market Hog must have animals tagged and in their care by June 15, 2023. Members must use the EID tags provided by the Market Livestock Committee. Tag must be placed in the ears and visible in the pictures. All photos need to be 2-inches x 3-inches (wallet size).

Replacement Tags: If your hog loses a tag before the fair, the Market Livestock Committee will provide a replacement EID tag for $3 (exact amount only). Replacement tags can be purchased and picked up at the Extension office. The member will need to complete and submit a new Project Registration Form with photos. If a tag falls out, you must contact the OSU Extension office as soon as possible. If the tag falls out and you do not report it, your hog could be disqualified.