8:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m., SATURDAY, DECEMBER 12th at the Lorain County Fairgrounds, Wellington. This is a MANDATORY weigh-in and ear tagging for all calves that 4-H and FFA members plan to show as finished market steers at the 2016 Lorain County Fair.
This mandatory weigh-in includes DAIRY STEERS AND MODERN BEEF STEERS. Steer Club lottery calves are not included in the Dec. 12th weigh-in since they will have been weighed and tagged at their distribution prior to that date. Steers will be tagged in both ears at tagging to minimize loss of tags. If a steer pulls a tag out of its ear, please contact the Jr. Fair Coordinator at 440-647-2781 as soon as possible with the tag numbers and exhibitor’s name.
Modern Beef steers and any exhibitor that will be attending the AGR Holiday Classic in Columbus on December 12th will have an alternate tagging date of November 7th from 9:00-10:00a.m. (Lorain County Fairgrounds). If any other exhibitor has a known conflict with the 12th and need to have their halter broke calves tagged in on the November 7th date they MUST contact the Sr. Fair Board office and talk with Sherry Nickles.
IMPORTANT… Members may tag steers as a family for all immediate family members as long as the animals are housed at the same facility.
STATE FAIR ENTRY PROCESS FOR MARKET BEEF!!!
2016 Ohio State Fair requires DNA Submission and Electronic Identification for
All Market Beef Animals!
The Ohio State Fair Beef Department has adopted protocols for identifying market beef animals beginning with the 2016 Fair. 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 2016 Ohio State Fair Junior Market Beef show.
The DNA collection will be in the form of a hair sample that must be received by the Ohio State Fair by January 15, 2016 to meet the ownership deadlines for market beef animals. All exhibitors will have to obtain a DNA packet to complete and submit this sample. These packets with full instructions may be obtained in one of two ways:
· Any Ohio Cattlemen’s Association (OCA) BEST sanctioned show prior to the January 15 deadline.
· Contact Stacey French at the Ohio State Fair by calling 614-644-4049 or by emailing at: s.french@expo.state.oh.us
Any market beef animal that is expected to be shown at the Ohio State Fair that has a pre-existing EID tag, such as an RFID tag, will not need to have an additional EID tag placed in the animal’s ear for State Fair purposes. For example, if the calf was purchased from a breeder that already included a 15-digit RFID tag in the animal, or if the animal has been to an OCA BEST show where an EID tag was placed in its ear, a new tag is not needed. The animal’s existing 15-digit identification number will also serve as the animal’s Ohio State Fair identification number. Exhibitors not shown at an OCA BEST sanctioned show should contact Stacey French (information above) for an EID tag.
Once the packet is completed and sealed per instructions in the packet, the member must bring that packet into the office (if a 4-H project) to have an Extension Staff sign, or if an FFA project, it is taken to their FFA instructor to sign, and then the member must mail it to Stacey French to address provided in packet to be received no later than January 15, 2016.