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 2020 Tuscarawas County Fair must have an animal weighed-in. Exhibitors from 2019 have been notified. A copy of the letter can be obtained here. Market beef tag-in will be December 14 from 9:00 a.m. to noon in the Show Arena at the Tuscarawas County Fairgrounds. For those with unavoidable scheduling conflicts, we have set aside December 16 from 6 to 7 p.m. you must pre-register for the 16th by calling the Extension office by December 11. If arrangements are not made by December 11, you will not be permitted to tag-in or exhibit.
NEW for 2020:
Market Heifer Class – Effective for 2020, youth may choose to exhibit a heifer instead of a steer as their market beef project. All the same weight limits and rules for the steers would still apply and are outlined in this letter. Heifers will show in a separate class but would 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.
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 not permitted to be shown by any other person or under another name. Not adhering to this rule will result in the member not being permitted to exhibit their animal the 2020 Tuscarawas County Fair.
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 2020 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, 2020, 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 weigh-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.
Click here for the Ohio State Fair DNA sample collection instructions.
Dairy
The Junior Dairy Committee pays for all dairy project and resource books. Members enrolled in projects #122 and #126 will be required to pick up their books (including #127R Dairy Resource Handbook, if necessary) at the Dairy Quality Assurance session (date to be announced). These publications will not be available for ordering on the 2020 4-H Project Books and Resources Order Form. Resource books can be shared among siblings. First-year members must have the resource handbook.
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 Senior Fair Board has announced their decision to ban exhibitors from feeding hogs ractopamine.
The Ohio State Fair has also announced they will be going ractopamine free as well.
Hog Hair Length Requirement
Dr. Tony Forshey, Ohio Department of Agriculture State Veterinarian, has provided the following important information for all hog exhibitors. Please read this information. Should you have any questions, please contact the Kiersten Heckel.
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Hogs must have hair over their entire body with the exception of the ears and tail.
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All hair on the hog must be a minimum ½” in length.
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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.
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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.
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Do not clip your hog at all, there is no need and the risk is too great.
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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. Dr. Forshey, State Veterinarian, has made it clear that any hog with hair less than 1/2-inch in length will be required to leave the fairgrounds. In addition, Dr. Forshey recommends that exhibitors not purchase a hog that has already been clipped. Click here for more information.
Changes Made in the Market Hog ID Process
Members enrolled in #139 Market Hog must have animals tagged and in their care by June 15, 2020. New for 2020: Instead of DNA, two tags will be used - a county tag and an EID (electronic identification) tag. Both tags 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; a replacement county tag can be provided at no charge. 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 both tags fall out and you do not report it, your hog could be disqualified.