Swine Rules and Regulations
REFER TO PRE-FAIR & JR. FAIR SCHEDULE FOR SPECIFIC DATES & TIMES
Volunteers, members, and parents are responsible for knowing and following all project
guidelines. During the fair, additional project information such as meeting notices, show
bills, sale orders, etc. will be posted on the pig barn bulletin board. Clubs and families
should check this board daily for information relating to their project.
HEALTH REQUIREMENTS:
1. All hogs (gilts and barrows) are subject to all ODA health guidelines and will be
examined by a vet at the fair. They do not have to be blood tested unless you are
otherwise notified. 4-H’ers will be made aware of any additional details on health
requirements prior to the fair.
2. Members should have a proper vet/client relationship with their veterinarian and
follow accepted care, health practices and with drawl times for market hogs.
Appropriate feed and medication records must be kept by the member in their
project record book.
3. Hogs should be clean upon arrival to the fairgrounds to reduce the possible
transmission of disease and/or parasites. Ear tags should be cleaned to be easily
viewed. Volunteers should stress this to members and parents prior to the fair and
insure their clubs compliance.
4. Male hogs must be properly castrated by the county tagging deadline and
completely healed by fair. Animals determined by the fair vet as not meeting these
standards are ineligible for exhibition, show and/or sale at the fair.
5. All tags and identification must remain on animals at all times. If a tag is lost, it
must be reported to the Extension Office immediately. Animals not having tags or
identification (or evidence of them) are ineligible to exhibit at the fair.
6. All animals are subject to a vet inspection at the fair. Please note that animals
being transported across state lines and/or commingled with animals from other
sources are subject to other health assessments and guidelines. Please contact
your veterinarian for advice on specific circumstances. Any animals not meeting
vet approval will be dismissed and are ineligible for exhibit.
7. Any animals exhibiting abnormalities, symptoms of sickness or disease, evidence
of testicular tissue, improper and/or unhealed castration can be disqualified from
exhibition, show and/or sale by the designated Fair Vet. If the Fair Vet determines
that an animal is in violation of these rules, it must be removed from the
fairgrounds as per official fair veterinarian instructions and according to Junior Fair
guidelines.
8. If any project animal dies or is injured after the stated county possession date, or
after it has been identified and/or weighed, there will be no substitution of animals.
However, 4-H members may receive credit for their project, provided they complete the club’s meeting and project completion requirements. They must also
exhibit an educational poster in the 4-H Building if they wish to receive a premium
and fair pass for that project. They cannot exhibit, show and/or sale another
project as a substitute for the dead or injured animal. Members interested in Dairy,
Horse, Poultry and Rabbit projects may explore Senior Fair Open Class exhibition
opportunities.
9. Drug Use Notification Forms (DUNF’s) must be completed accurately and
completely at the Scioto County Fair on all designated animals or order for those
animals to be exhibited, shown and/or sold at the fair.
GENERAL SWINE PROJECT RULES:
1. All swine projects must be in the member’s ownership, possession and continual
care by May 1 st of the current year. Any special arrangements must be approved
individually and on file at the OSU Extension Office by May 1.
2. All swine projects must be weighed and/or identified at an official county tagging
(for that project) during the current 4-H project year. 4-H’ers must turn all
appropriate enrollment and identification forms on file in the Extension Office for
the current year. Only entries meeting these standards are eligible for exhibition,
show and/or sale in the Junior Fair.
3. 4-H members are responsible for their project animals from the start of their
project year until they are loaded for shipment, their sale contract is fulfilled, the
animal is taken home and/or their project year is completed. Members are
responsible for their project animals at all times. 4-H Volunteers, Extension
Personnel, or Agricultural Society members are not responsible for the safety of
the animals under any conditions.
4. 4-H members must show and/or sell their own projects. If a 4-H’er has other
commitments/interests and feels that they cannot be present to show, exhibit
and/or sell their own project according to Junior and Senior Fair exhibition
guidelines, then the 4-H’er and their parents must decide what is most important
for them. If their project animal dies after the project enrollment or identification
deadline, they may not substitute another animal for any reason but are
encouraged to create a poster or similar educational exhibit about their project to
be exhibited at the fair. This includes showmanship classes and Showman of
Showmen competition.
a. Only Exceptions: 1) A medical condition or medical emergency excused by
an Extension professional and superintendent-in-charge prior to the event.
Proposed situation must be received in writing and accompanied by
medical excuse/statement from doctor prior to the event. 2) The 4-H’er is
participating in a 4-H competition at the State Fair. Only under these
circumstances can a junior fair member show and/or sell another member’s
project. Adults are not eligible to show and/or sell animals during the Junior
Fair. If a 4-H’er is not excused prior to the Junior Fair Animal Sale, and is
not present to sell their own market animal, that animal will be sent to the
stockyard and sold for market price. It will not be eligible to sell in the
Junior Fair Sale and cannot be taken home.
5. 4-H members taking beef, sheep, swine and goat projects may begin their
project(s) by identifying and weighing two (2) animals of the same species and
project. One animal may be used as an alternate (in case of sickness, etc. of
first animal) and/or registered for exhibition at the Ohio State Fair. The second
identified animal in the market beef, sheep, goat and swine projects may also be
enrolled in the appropriate carcass activity. Note: 4-H’er may only show and sell
one market animal (project) at the Scioto County Fair. Absolutely no
substitutions or change of animals can be made after the animals have been
brought to the fair for competition.
6. All project and member information must be recorded on a 4-H’ers enrollment
form by the Fair enrollment deadline in order for them to be eligible to compete
or exhibit any project in the Junior Fair. All Junior Fair information on enrollment,
ID forms, etc. will be assumed complete and accurate upon submission and
cannot be changed after stated deadlines. It is the 4-H’er’s responsibility (and
their parent and/or guardian’s) to inspect all completed forms (before signing)
them to insure their accuracy.
7. All 4-H members must clean their livestock pens daily. PREMIUMS WILL BE
WITHHELD AND ANIMALS WILL BE REMOVED FROM FAIRGROUNDS IF
PENS AND ANIMALS ARE NOT PROPERLY CARED FOR. (See General
Breeding & Market Animal Rules)
8. All barrows must have a measurable 1/2″ of body hair, underline included. Ears
and tail may be a shorter length. All animals will be checked for hair length prior
to entering the ring on the day of show. All hogs in violation will be disqualified.
Lower placing animals meeting requirements will replace these animals in
placing order.
9. If an animal is disqualified, refused or condemned at exhibition for any reason, it
is grounds for the forfeiture of any awards, titles, premiums, and sale proceeds.
The exhibitor will bear any and all financial or other burdens associated with
such disqualification, refusal and/or condemnation. Refer to the Junior Fair
Special Rules and Regulations for more information.
10. Unethical treatment of animals is strictly prohibited by ODA guidelines and is a
crime punishable by law.
11. Grooming of project livestock will be limited to 4-H members, immediate family
members and approved Scioto County 4-H Volunteers. Immediate family is
defined as grandfather, grandmother, father, mother, brother, sister (this includes
step parents/grandparents and siblings.)
BREEDING GILT RULES:
1. 4-H members can identify and tag two gilts per class. However, only one gilt per
class may be exhibited and shown per class. Class selections must be made at
home. 4-H’ers must show their own animals in all classes. If a member has more
than one gilt in the championship drive, another Scioto County 4-H’er may show
one of their gilts.
2. Gilts will be classed at tagging by month farrowed. The exhibitor and their parent
must sign the identification form verifying the tagging information.
3. Breeding gilts will be shown in a Scioto County Gilt Show. REFER TO PRE-FAIR
SCHEDULE ON SPECIFIC DATE AND TIME.
4. Definition of ages for gilt classes are:
December pigs — Farrowed during December of the past year
January pigs —— Farrowed during January of the current year
February pigs —– Farrowed during February of the current year
March pigs ——– Farrowed during March of the current year
MARKET BARROW RULES:
1. All barrows must be farrowed on or after January 1 st of the current year.
2. All 4-H’ers wishing to exhibit a market pig at the fair must be verified as attending
a Scioto County Quality Assurance (Q.A.) Session for the current year. Session
information is available at the Extension Office or from club advisors. Youth who
do not attend a Scioto County Q.A. session for the current year are ineligible to
exhibit or compete at the Scioto County Fair for that year. It is the 4-H’ers
responsibility (and their parent or guardians) responsibility to see that they attend
a session. No make-up sessions will be offered in Scioto County.
3. Members will be able to identify two market pigs. The other animal may be used
for carcass competition as long as the member is registered in the carcass class
before the enrollment deadline.
4. Barrows must weigh between 225 and 290 pounds at the fair in order to sell.
Barrows weighing less than 225 pounds or over 290 pounds will be shown but
will not sell through the Scioto Co. Jr. Fair. They will be trucked to the
stockyards and sold for market price. They receive participation ribbons only.
Refer to the General Livestock Rules for specific weigh back rules.
5. Barrows weighing light or heavy will be permitted one re-weigh immediately
following the initial weighing of the animal. The animal will be removed from the
scales (it cannot leave the scale area), the scales balanced and the animal
weighed a second time. The second weight will be the official weight. Official
weights are final. Only light and heavy weight market animals may be re-
weighed.
6. All barrows exhibited at the fair are to be considered partially terminal, meaning
that swine exhibitors will choose from the selection of butchers provided by
Senior Fair Board or opt to “take home” the animal and select a personal butcher
option. Due to current production rates, no stockyard options will be available to
swine exhibitors. The owner must indicate the animal’s destination in the pre-fair
sale registration and finalize this decision during weigh-in on Sunday at check-in.
Light and heavy weight hogs will not be included in the livestock sale; however,
they will have the same options to “take home” or select local slaughter. If the
owner of a light/heavy weight hog chooses to have the animal sent to local
slaughter, the owners of light/heavy hogs must contact the facility to make arrangements for processing and are responsible for all processing fees.
Advertisement and private treaty sales of animals on the fairgrounds are strictly
prohibited. The Market & Breeding Animal Committee and Senior Fair Board will
make arrangements for trucking of the light and heavy weight hogs to local
slaughter.
7. If an animal is disqualified, refused or condemned at the fair or slaughter house
for any reason, it is grounds for the forfeiture of any awards, titles, premiums,
and sale proceeds. The exhibitor will bear any and all financial or other burdens
associated with such disqualification, refusal and/or condemnation. Refer to the
Junior Fair Special Rules and Regulations for more information.
8. Barrows will be shown by weight and randomly divided into workable classes of
approximately equal numbers. Light weight and heavy weight hogs will be
classed accordingly. Members with light weight and heavy weight hogs will
receive participation ribbons in their class and will not be placed but can
compete in showmanship.
9. Only first place animals will be allowed to compete for Grand Champion Market
Hog. After the selection of Grand Champion, all remaining first place animals
(and the second place animal out of the class that the Grand Champion was
selected from) will be eligible to compete for Reserve Champion.
10. If the Grand or Reserve Champion Market Hog is not from Scioto County
(according to the official tagging information signed by the exhibitor) the highest
placing animal from Scioto County in each class will be asked to compete in a
class for Best and Reserve Best Scioto County Market Hog. Only Best and
Reserve Best Scioto County Hog will be selected.
11. MARKET PIG SALE:
Saturday of the fair. See a fair schedule for exact date and time.
Barrows will be sold as follows:
o Overall Grand Champion, Overall Reserve Champion, Best Scioto
Co. Champion Hog, Best Scioto Co. Reserve Champion Hog,
followed by a rotation of classes, as placed by computer.
ORDER OF SALE: Refer to a Fair schedule for current listings.
12. All barrows, including the Grand and Reserve Champion Barrows must sell
through the livestock auction. (See General Market & Breeding Animal Rules)
Hogs not eligible to be sold in the 4-H livestock auction must be trucked to the
stockyards and sold at market price. Anyone not wishing to have an animal
subject to these rules should not bring their animal to the fairgrounds.
SHOWMANSHIP RULES:
1. Showmanship will be divided as follows:
a. Senior———–Ages 15-18, as of January 1 of the current 4-H year.
b. Intermediate–Ages 12-14, as of January 1 of the current 4-H year.
c. Junior———–Ages 8-11, as of January 1 of the current 4-H year.
2. A grand and reserve showman will be selected in each age division. Participants
must show their own project animal in all showmanship classes.
3. The winner of senior showmanship will show in the Showman of Showmen
Contest, Friday, of the fair, in the show arena.
4-H members must abide by the “Jr. Fair Livestock Special Rules and Regulations”
and the “General 4-H Breeding and Market Animal Rules” listed elsewhere.
CLASSES:
1. Market Barrows
2. Underweight and overweight barrows
3. Champion Market Hog Drive
4. Best Scioto County Champion and Reserve Market Hog
5. Showmanship (Senior, Intermediate, Junior)
SKILLATHON and OUTSTANDING EXHIBITOR
All livestock project members are encouraged to participate in the livestock skillathon.
Specific date information is located on the pre-fair schedule.
One Outstanding Exhibitor will be selected in each specie area each year. This person is
selected based upon their scores in the skillathon contest, showmanship and a project
class. Therefore,
4-H’ers must participate in all of these events in order to compete for this award.
For complete rules, dates and guidelines on these programs refer to the Educational
Livestock Event and Activities section of the county project requirements.