Livestock Competition Information
As you may have heard, Ohio 4-H has cancelled all in-person 4-H activities through July 6. At this time, the Ohio State Fair is still making preparations for its junior livestock show to proceed as planned. All 4-H members may enter their livestock project at the Ohio State Fair as long as they are enrolled in the project at the county level, regardless of whether or not they actually showed the animal; this is the typical process for county fairs that occur after the Ohio State Fair. All county 4-H educators will still be able to verify whether or not a 4-H member has enrolled in that project while teleworking. Entry information for the Ohio State Fair’s livestock competitions will be updated online in mid-May. The deadline to enter is June 20.
Livestock animal ownership dates
In order to be more consistent with statewide livestock exhibition ownership rules, the Ohio State Fair has listed animal ownership dates below:
The deadline to enter livestock exhibitions has not changed.
Market animals –
- Market beef – January 1
- Market swine – May 26
- Market lambs – May 26
- Market goats – May 26
- Dairy feeders – May 26
- Market rabbits – June 1
- Market poultry – within 5 days of hatch
Breeding animals – ownership dates have not changed
- Breeding Beef – May 1
- Breeding Swine – June 1
- Breeding Sheep – June 1
- Breeding Goats – June 1
- Breeding Poultry – June 1
- Breeding rabbits – June 1
- Dairy Cattle – June 1
Livestock Competition Information
Online entry helpful hints
- All entries must be submitted online.
- Please allow time to complete the entry process, as the system will shut down at 11:59 p.m. on Saturday, June 20. Entries will be automatically locked out after midnight.
- Late entry forms will be available beginning on Monday, June 22 as a printed, mailed form only. Late entries will not be accepted online. All late entries will have a late fee applied, listed on the form.
- All junior livestock exhibitors must provide their date of birth. Date of birth is not required for open entries.
- Junior 4-H exhibitors must list the county in which the project is registered (in some cases, this is not the same as the county in which you live). You must list your county educator or extension agent as the contact to verify your entry, NOT your 4-H advisor.
- Junior FFA exhibitors must list the county in which the project is registered (in some cases, this is not the same as the county in which you live). You must list your FFA teacher/instructor as the contact to verify your entry.
- Breeding sheep entries may require additional supplemental forms to be submitted no later than July 20 (without penalty). These forms will be available after June 20. They will not be required if the information was provided at the time of entry. You should enter the correct class at the time of entry. However, if you do not know the information for which sheep will be shown, that information can be updated in the supplemental form due July 20.
- Breeding swine entries require additional supplemental forms to be submitted no later than July 20 (without penalty). These forms will be available after June 20. They will not be required if the information was provided at the time of entry. You will enter a temporary category (class 50) and will be required to submit supplemental information later.
- All junior swine exhibitors should include their shirt size.
- All market swine projects must be ractopamine free. Click here to learn more. All market swine exhibitors will be required to bring a completed copy of this affidavit with them.
- Reminder – All exhibitors who win more than $499 in premiums must use this link to visit the Ohio Supplier website. In the past, exhibitors were required to submit Vendor Information Forms and W-9 forms; this new process has been in place for the last couple of years. If not completed, your premium payment cannot be processed. If you have registered using the Ohio Supplier website in previous years and nothing has changed (such as your address or banking information), then it is not necessary to update this information or attempt to register again.
Beef (2020 information)
- Open Division
- Junior Division
Boer Goats (2020 information)
- Open Division
- Junior Division
Cheese (2020 information)
- Open Division
Dairy Cattle (2020 information)
- Open Division
- Junior Division
Dairy Goats (2020 information)
- Open Division
- Junior Division
Dog Show (2020 information)
- Junior Division
Horse Show (2020 information)
- Open Division
- Junior 4-H Horse Division
The only exhibitors eligible to enter prior to June 3 are those who will be in their final year of showing (a birthdate must be provided). Entries will open on June 3 for all other exhibitors to enter.
Judging Teams (2019 information)
Llamas (2020 information)
- Open Division (Junior Open and Senior Open)
- Junior Division (Junior Ohio 4-H and FFA members)
Poultry (2020 information)
- Open Division
- Junior Division
Rabbits (2020 information)
- Open Division
- Junior Division
- Rabbit Quiz Bowl (2019 information)
Sheep (2020 information)
- Open Division
- Junior Division
Swine (2020 information)
- Open Division
- Junior Division
Exhibitor information and supplemental forms (2019)
- 4-H Project Enrollment for showing animals at the Ohio State Fair
- Exhibitor Information
- Health Regulations
- Livestock Tampering
- Ohio Fire Code Information
- Outstanding Market Exhibitor (junior show)
- Skillathon rules (junior show)
- Showmanship (junior show)
- Record Book Contest
- Rules & Regulations
- Forms to be completed by those who receive more than $499 in premium winnings (All exhibitors who win more than $499 in premiums must use this link to visit the new Supplier website using the link above. In the past, exhibitors were required to submit Vendor Information Forms and W-9 forms; this is the new process. If not completed, your premium payment cannot be processed.)
Competition results