Things To Consider Before Taking A Goat Project

Think about how much space is required to house goats.  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 goats 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?  Goat projects are very rewarding but are also time-intensive and can become expensive 4-H projects.

2025 Goat Calendar of Events

• April 1st - Enroll in 4-H through 4-H Online (note: clubs may set an earlier deadline)
• April 5 Hammer Time Clinic & Quality Assurance Training 10am-12:30pm at Wayne County Fairgrounds
• April 10 Quality Assurance Training at 6:00PM at Fisher Auditorium
• May 6th Quality Assurance Training at 6:00PM-7:00PM at Fisher Auditorium
• June 1st - Obtain and care for your project animal(s) on or before June 1st
• June 1st - 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 1st.  Help sheets are available at wayne.osu.edu/help. Exhibitors will use Full Scrapie Tags as their official Fair Identification again this year.
• June 3rd Quality Assurance Training at 6:00PM -7:00PM at the Event Center at the Wayne County Fairgrounds 
  • Goat Clinic - 7:00pm Coliseum, Wayne County Fairgrounds
  • Market Goat Rate of Gain Weigh-In starts at 6:30pm  
• June 10th Quality Assurance Training at 6:00PM-7:00PM at the Event Center at the Wayne County Fairgrounds 
• July 8th OME/OBE Exam - 5-9pm at the Event Center, Wayne County Fairgrounds
• July 9th - Skillathon Interview Judging - The first night of Skillathon Interviews - 6:00 - 9:00pm, Event Center, Wayne County Fairgrounds.
• July 22nd - L​​​​​ast chance Quality Assurance at Secrest Arboretum (a fee will be charged for the last chance Quality Assurance). 
• July 23rd - Quality Assurance Training must be completed
• August 1st - Jr. Fair Class Entries Due - Make all Junior Fair Class Entries at waynejrfair.fairentry.com - NO additions/changes/corrections after August 1st
• August 4th - Dairy Goat Butterfat Collection - 6:00-7:00 pm at the Sheep and Goat Arena. 
• August 5th OME/OBE Exam - 5-9pm at the Event Center, Wayne County Fairgrounds
• August 6th - Skillathon Interview Judging - The final Skillathon Interview night - 6:00pm - 9:00pm, Event Center, Wayne County Fairgrounds.
• Pre-Fair Goat Youth, Parent's, and Advisors Informational Meeting - September 3rd at 6:00pm at the Goat/Sheep Arena, Wayne County Fairgrounds
• September 4th - Goat Check-In - 5:00 pm- 8:00 pm, Goat / Sheep Arena
• September 5th - Goat Check-In - 9:00 am - 8:00 pm, Goat / Sheep Arena
• September 6th - Market Goat & Dairy Market Goat Show & Showmanship - 8:00 am, Goat / Sheep Arena
• September 9th - Dairy Goat & Showmanship Show - 8:00 am, Goat / Sheep Arena
• September 9th - Pygmy Goat Obstacle Course Classes 1:00 pm, Goat / Sheep Arena
• September 10th - Pygmy Goat Show - 8:00 am, Goat / Sheep Arena
• September 10th - Market Goat Auction - 1:00 pm, Event Center

Goat Project Books

• The books listed below can be ordered through your 4-H club advisor, purchased directly from the Wayne County Extension Office, or ordered online at extensionpubs.osu.edu
• Goat Resource Handbook (135R) - This resource handbook contains essential information for all members taking a goat project, starting with breeds, ending with careers, and including everything in between. Purchase only once. An excellent resource for skillathons. Use with 135 Goat Project and Record Book.
• Goat Project and Record Book (135) - Complete this required project and record book every year a market, dairy, or specialty goat project is taken. Expanded quality assurance and animal records sections help you learn how to care for and manage your animal or herd. Use with 135R Goat Resource Handbook.

Goat Project Guidelines and Forms

• 2025 Wayne County 4-H Goat Project Guidelines - published annually, this document provides an overview of the most important things youth and parents should know about taking a dairy project including important dates, deadlines, animal ID and Junior Fair information.  This document is usually updated each November or December with information for the new year.
• 2025 Goat Calendar of Events
• 2025 Goat Exhibitor Spring Letter
• 2025 Wayne County Bred, Born, and Raised Goat Form
• Highest Butterfat Form
• Questions about goat projects can be directed to your club advisor, Diane Johnson at the Extension Office, or by contacting Goat Committee Chair Marie Marty. 

Goat Animal ID Requirements

2025 Goat Animal ID Help Sheet - overview of how to enter Goat Animal ID in 4-HOnline and lists which fields and forms are required and which are optional.

Goat Clinic

The Goat Committee is holding a clinic on June 3, 2025 at 7:00pm in the Coliseum, Wayne County Fairgrounds.

Goat Carcass contest

• Goat Carcass Contest Rules
• Goat Carcass Letter
• August 23rd- Carcass Goat and Lamb Live Show- 9am Goat/Sheep Arena
• August 27th- Carcass Goat and Lamb Results Show- 6pm at 3D Meats, Dalton
• Results

Goat Outstanding Exhibitor Awards Program

• 2025 Outstanding Goat Exhibitor Award Criteria
• 2025 Outstanding Goat Exhibitor Approved Events

Goat 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 including final market auction price and calculating their profit or loss for those taking market projects.  Youth wishing to have their record books judged should turn them in to the Extension Office by September 26th.  Awards are presented at the Fall 4-H Recognition Banquet.
• Goat Outstanding Record Book Award Rubric

Goat Junior Fair Information

• 2024 Pre-Fair Letter / Reminders
• 2024 Market Goat Show Book
• 2024 Dairy Goat Show Book
• 2024 Pygmy Goat Show Book
• 2024 Market Goat Sale Order

Goat Committee

• The Wayne County 4-H / FFA / Jr. Fair Goat Action committee is responsible for planning, organizing, and carrying out the Goat program in consultation with and under the authority of OSU Extension and the Wayne County Agricultural Society (Senior Fair Board)
• Our 2025 Goat Committee is made up of the following individuals: Marie Marty, Jennifer Norman (JFB Goat Advisor), Kailynn Wickens, Dianna Pindell, Heather Stoll, Jenna Flinner, Marcy Warren, Paige Sugg (JFB Goat Advisor), Kathy Fortune,  Brandon Sugg, Heather Tegtmeier (FFA), Philip Hagan, Sarah Edington, Dave Stahl and Mack Donley (Senior Fair Board), Diane Johnson (OSU Extension) and Junior Fair Board members Greenly Burns, Addyson Connelly, Mika Jagger, Addilynn Musser, Anderson Musser, Callum Myers, Savannah Peppard, Sara Pindell, Madicyn Rupp, Lucas Shiplett, Makenna Stansfield, Noah Stoll, Addison Troyer, and Kennedy Wolf.

Wayne County 4-H Goat Facebook Group

• Be sure to join our Wayne County 4-H Goat Facebook Group where we share reminders, announcements, and other educational content related to the 4-H Goat program.  Check us out on Facebook at: https://www.facebook.com/groups/3384661801562329