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Wayne County

Wayne County 4-H Dairy Department

Things To Consider Before Taking a Dairy Project

Think about how much space is required to house a Dairy Heifer Calf or Dairy Cow.  Do you have enough physical space and the proper shelter?  Are you aware of feed costs and and have you budgeted for them?  Are you prepared to invest the money and time involved in caring for, grooming, and walking a heifer and/or cow to train them to be ready for the fair? Are the youth and parent(s), guardian(s), or other adult helper(s) prepared to make the time and financial commitment?  Dairy projects are very rewarding but are also among the most time-intensive and expensive 4-H projects.

2026 Dairy Calendar of Events

  • Enroll in 4-H through 4-H Online by April 1 (note: clubs may set an earlier deadline)
  • April 18 - Ohio 4-H DairyPalooza - Ohio's premiere 4-H Dairy Event - The Wayne County Dairy Committee pays the registration fee for any Wayne County dairy project member attending the Palooza.
  • June 1 - Obtain and care for your dairy animal(s) on or before June 1
  • June 1 - Complete Animal ID for all possible animals (including family back-ups) that you could possibly enter in the fair through 4-HOnline on or before June 1.  Help sheets are available at wayne.osu.edu/help
  • TBD - Wayne County 4-H Dairy Clinic 
  • Last Chance Quality Assurance Training at 6-7 p.m. July 21 at Fisher Auditorium. A $25 fee will be charged for this training.
  • Skillathon Interviews - Skillathon will be offered from 6-9 p.m. July 8, July 9 and Aug. 5 from 6-9 p.m. at the Wayne County Fair Event Center. Check our Skillathon page for more information.
  • Outstanding Exhibitor Exams -  July 7 and August 4, 5-9 p.m. at the Event Center
  • Aug. 1 - Fair Entries Due - Make all Junior Fair Class Entries by 11:59 pm at waynejrfair.fairentry.com
  • Sept. 11 - Dairy Cattle may begin arriving at the fairgrounds
  • Sept. 11 - Dairy Cattle Check-In, 4 - 10 p.m. in the Coliseum, All Dairy Cattle must be in place by 10 p.m.
  • Sept. 13  - Dairy Judging Contest, Registration opens at 8:30 a.m., Contest begins at 9 a.m. in the Event Center
  • Sept. 16 - Dairy Holstein Show, 9 a.m. in the Coliseum
  • Sept. 15 - Dairy Colored Breeds Show, 1 p.m. in the Coliseum 
  • Sept. 16 - Dairy Showmanship Show, 10:30 a.m. in the Coliseum
  • Sept. 16 - Dairy Products Auction, 9 a.m. in the Coliseum
  • Sept. 17 - Dairy released from fairgrounds at 10 p.m.

Dairy Project Books

Dairy Project Guidelines and Forms

Dairy Animal ID Requirements

2026 Dairy Animal ID Help Sheet - overview of how to enter Dairy Animal ID in 4-HOnline and lists which fields and forms are required and which are optional.

Dairy Clinic / Educational Resources

  • The Wayne County Dairy Committee will hold its clinic for dairy project members at 7 p.m. July 18 at the Wayne County Fairgrounds.

DairyPalooza - Ohio's Premiere 4-h Dairy Event

Dairy Outstanding Exhibitor Awards Program

Dairy Outstanding Record Book Awards

  • The Outstanding Record Book Awards are designed to recognize youth that take time to thoroughly complete their records books adding in details and financial, feed, and health records from throughout the entire project and calculating their profit or loss for the year. Youth wishing to have their record books judged should turn them in to the Extension Office by Oct. 4.  Awards are presented at the fall 4-H Recognition Banquet.
  • Dairy Cow Outstanding Record Book Rubric
  • Dairy Heifer Outstanding Record Book Rubric

Dairy Junior Fair Information

 

  • 2026 Dairy Show Book (will be available at fair-time)
  • 2026 Dairy Products Auction Program (will be available at fair-time)

Dairy Committee

  • The Wayne County 4-H / FFA / Jr. Fair Dairy Action committee is responsible for planning, organizing, and carrying out the Dairy program in consultation with and under the authority of OSU Extension and the Wayne County Agricultural Society (Senior Fair Board)
  • The 2026 Dairy Committee is made up of the following individuals: Liz Besancon, David Durstine, Ed Gill, Amanda Raber, Lisa Gress, Tim Gunkelman, Mark Ostarchvic, Jackie Pittman, Scott Sprunger (chairman), Jake Sundberg, Abbey Werstler, Leah Allen (FFA), Laurie Sidle (OSU Extension), Christie Aylsworth (Senior Fair Board Liaison), Tanya Marty (Senior Fair Board), and Junior Fair Board members Lillian Boreman, Carter Foxx, Lena Durstine, Reis Durstine (superintendent), Bethany Gasser, Mallory Kendle and Matthew Taylor.

State 4-h Dairy WEbpage

  • Check out what all the Ohio 4-H Dairy Program offers including information about the State Fair Dairy Show.

Wayne County 4-H Dairy Facebook Group