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College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences

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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.

2024 Dairy Calendar of Events

  • Enroll in 4-H through 4-H Online by April 1 (note: clubs may set an earlier deadline)
  • April 20 - Ohio 4-H DairyPalooza - Ohio's premiere 4-H Dairy Event - 9 a.m. - 4 p.m. Canfield Fairgrounds in Mahoning County
  • June 1 - Obtain and care for your dairy animal(s) on or before June 1st
  • 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
  • June 12 - Wayne County 4-H Dairy Clinic at 6 p.m. at the Wayne County Fair Coliseum. 
  • June 13-14 - Mill Wheel Dairy Show Clinic starting at 10 a.m. each day. Registration is $20 per person or $40 per family. To register click on this link: Mill Wheel Dairy Show Registration Form
  • Last Chance Quality Assurance Training at 6 p.m. July 23 at Fisher Auditorium. A $25 fee will be charged for this training.
  • Skillathon Interviews - Skillathon will be offered from 6-9 p.m. July 10 and 6-9 p.m. Aug. 7 at the Wayne County Fair Event Center. Check our Skillathon page for more information.
  • Outstanding Exhibitor Interviews -  Skillathon, 5-9 pm at the Event Center
  • Aug. 1 - Fair Entries Due - Make all Junior Fair Class Entries by 11:59 pm at waynejrfair.fairentry.com
  • Sept. 7 - Dairy Cattle may begin arriving at the fairgrounds
  • Sept. 7 - Dairy Cattle Check-In, 4 - 10 p.m. in the Coliseum, All Dairy Cattle must be in place by 10 p.m.
  • Sept. 9 - Dairy Judging Contest, Registration opens at 8 a.m., Contest begins at 8:30 am in the Event Center
  • Sept. 10 - Dairy Holstein Show, 9 a.m. in the Coliseum
  • Sept. 10 - Dairy Colored Breeds Show, 1 p.m. in the Coliseum
  • Sept. 11 - Dairy Showmanship Show, 10:30 a.m. in the Coliseum
  • Sept. 11 - Dairy Products Auction, 9 a.m. in the Coliseum
  • Sept. 12 - Dairy released from fairgrounds at 10 p.m.

Dairy Project Books

Dairy Project Guidelines and Forms

Dairy Animal ID Requirements

2024 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

  • Mill Wheel 4-H Dairy Show Clinic Registration Required 
  • July 13 & 14 Wayne County Fairgrounds at 10:00am. 
  • Dairy Clinic Registration Form
  • Contact Lisa Gress for more information 330-231-0284

DairyPalooza - Ohio's Premiere 4-h Dairy Event

  • This year's Ohio 4-H DairyPalooza is scheduled for Saturday April 20, 2024 at the Canfield Fairgrounds. Click the link below to view the DairyPalooza website and look for more details to be shared about registration later this spring.
  • Ohio 4-H DairyPalooza Website
  • 2024 Registration Form 

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 October 4th.  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

  • 2022 Pre-Fair Letter / Reminders (will be available in August)
  • 2023 Dairy Show Book (will be available at fair-time)
  • 2023 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)
  • Our 2024 Dairy Committee is made up of the following individuals: Liz Besancon, Todd Brennstuhl, Michele Lahmers, Heather Oros-Yoder, David Durstine, Abbey Werstler, Amanda Raber, Lisa Gress, Mark Ostarchvic, Jackie Pittman, Scott Sprunger, Kelsey Bowers (FFA), Laurie Sidle (OSU Extension), Tanya Marty (Senior Fair Board), and Junior Fair Board members Lillian Boreman, Reis Durstine, Mallory Kendle, Carissa Pittman, and Brandon Raifsnider.

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