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 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.

2026 Goat Calendar of Events

• April 1st - Enroll in 4-H through 4-H Online (note: clubs may set an earlier deadline)
• April 7 - Quality Assurance Training at 6:00 PM at Fisher Auditorium
• April 11 - Hammer Time Clinic & Quality Assurance Training 10 am-12:30 pm at Wayne County Fairgrounds
• May 7 - Quality Assurance Training at 6:00 -7:00 PM at Fisher Auditorium
• June 1 - Obtain and care for your project 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 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 2 - Quality Assurance Training at 6:00 -7:00 PM at the Event Center at the Wayne County Fairgrounds 
  • Goat Clinic - 7:00 pm Coliseum, Wayne County Fairgrounds
  • Market Goat Rate of Gain Weigh-In starts at 6:30 pm  
• June 9 - Quality Assurance Training at 6:00 - 7:00 PM at the Event Center at the Wayne County Fairgrounds 
• July 7 - OME/OBE Exam - 5-9 pm at the Event Center, Wayne County Fairgrounds
• July 8 - Skillathon Judging - The first night of Skillathon Interviews - 6:00 - 9:00 pm, Event Center, Wayne County Fairgrounds.
• July 9 - Skillathon Judging - The first night of Skillathon Interviews - 6:00 - 9:00 pm, Event Center, Wayne County Fairgrounds.
• July 21 - Last chance Quality Assurance at Fisher Auditorium (a $25 fee will be charged for the last chance Quality Assurance). 
• July 29 - Quality Assurance Training must be completed
• August 1 - Jr. Fair Class Entries Due - Make all Junior Fair Class Entries at waynejrfair.fairentry.com - NO additions/changes/corrections after August 1st
• August 3 - Dairy Goat Butterfat Collection - 6:00-7:00 pm at the Junior Fairboard Office. 
• August 4 OME/OBE Exam - 5-9 pm at the Event Center, Wayne County Fairgrounds
• August 5 - Skillathon Judging - The final Skillathon Interview night - 6:00 - 9:00 pm, Event Center, Wayne County Fairgrounds.
• August 29 - Goat/Lamb Carcass Live Show - Sheep/Goat Arena check-in 8 - 8:45 am, Show starts at 9:00 am
• September 2 - Goat /Lamb Carcass Hanging Results Show - 3D Meats at 6:00 pm
• September 9 - Pre-Fair Goat Youth, Parents, and Advisors Informational Meeting - 6:00 pm at the Goat/Sheep Arena, Wayne County Fairgrounds
• September 10 - Goat Check-In - 5:00 pm- 8:00 pm, Goat / Sheep Arena
• September 11 - Goat Check-In - 9:00 am - 8:00 pm, Goat / Sheep Arena
• September 12 - Market Goat & Dairy Market Goat Show & Showmanship - 8:00 am, Goat / Sheep Arena
• September 15 - Dairy Goat & Showmanship Show - 8:00 am, Goat / Sheep Arena
• September 15 - Pygmy Goat Obstacle Course Classes 1:00 pm, Goat / Sheep Arena
• September 16 - Pygmy Goat Show - 8:00 am, Goat / Sheep Arena
• September 16 - 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

• 2026 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.
• 2026 Goat Calendar of Events
• 2026 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 Paige Sugg. 

Goat Animal ID Requirements

2026 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 2, 2026, at 7:00 pm in the Coliseum, Wayne County Fairgrounds.

Goat Carcass contest

• Goat Carcass Contest Rules
• 2026 Goat & Lamb Carcass Letter
• August 29 - Carcass Goat and Lamb Live Show- 9 am Goat/Sheep Arena
• September 2 - Carcass Goat and Lamb Results Show- 6 pm at 3D Meats, Dalton
• Results

Goat Outstanding Exhibitor Awards Program

• 2026 Outstanding Goat Exhibitor Award Criteria

Goat Outstanding Record Book Awards

• The Outstanding Record Book Awards are designed to recognize youth who take time to thoroughly complete their record 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 October 2.  Awards are presented at the Fall 4-H Recognition Banquet.
• Goat Outstanding Record Book Award Rubric

Goat Junior Fair Information

• Click here to be sent to the Jr Fair Links

Goat Committee

• The Wayne County 4-H / FFA / Jr. Fair Goat Action committee are volunteers who are 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 2026 Goat Committee is made up of the following individuals: Paige Sugg (Chair), Jennifer Norman (V.Chair/JFB Goat Advisor), Kailynn Wickens, Dianna Pindell, Heather Stoll, Jenna Flinner, Kathy Fortune,  Brandon Sugg, Heather Tegtmeier (FFA), Philip Hagan, Sarah Edington, Brent Edington, Michelle ManaSmith, Dave Stahl and Mack Donley (Senior Fair Board), Diane Johnson (OSU Extension) and Junior Fair Board members Greenly Burns, Mika Jagger, Riley Mullet, Callum Myers, Savannah Peppard, Sara Pindell, Lucas Shiplett, Hannah Stoll, Noah Stoll, Juliana Varno, 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