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Preparation is well underway for the 2013 Kentucky State Fair 4-H/FFA Youth Livestock Shows. 4-H members are preparing their livestock, checking entry form due dates, clearing their calendars and referencing the event rules.
The result of these efforts is more than the process of preparing and exhibiting livestock. Through all of the hard work, participation and planning, youth learn meaningful and useful life skills such as responsibility, critical thinking, long-term preparation and decision making.
4-H members are responsible for reviewing the Premium Book and General Rules for the 2013 shows. Listed below are the rule changes that have been adopted by the fair board for 2013.
Once again, adhesives and paints will not be allowed for show preparation for all breeding and market animals, with the exception of dairy.
To participate in the novice swine weight and showmanship classes, exhibitors must be between 5 and 8 years of age as of Jan. 1. Novice goat and sheep weight and showmanship classes, exhibitors must be 8 years old or younger as of Jan. 1.
The following applies to 4-H/FFA Youth Sheep Show:
— Exhibitors must list the breed of their market lamb on the Kentucky State Fair entry form. Entry forms received will be cross-referenced with the Kentucky Department of Agriculture database to ensure that exhibitors are entering their lamb(s) in the breed class at the Kentucky State Fair that they have shown them in throughout the summer at qualifying shows. However, the Kentucky State Fair classifiers can move the lamb to a different breed classification if they choose.
— For the market lamb show, a breed must have five lambs to have a separate class for that breed. If a breed has less than five head they will show in the all other breeds division.
The following classes will be added in the Suffolk and Hampshire Breeding Sheep divisions: slick sheared ewe lamb born after Jan. 1, slick sheared ewe 1 year and under 2 years, senior ewe lamb and senior ram lamb.
— In the black face and white face crossbred breeding sheep divisions, the slick sheared ewe lamb born after Jan. 1, slick sheared ewe 1 year and under 2 years, senior ewe lamb and senior ram lamb classes for the late born junior ewe lamb and the early born junior ewe lamb will be combined to become ewe lamb born after Jan. 1.
— Breeding sheep registration papers must have breed registries seal on the paper.
The following applies to 4-H/FFA Youth Beef Show:
— The Salers breed will have their own division.
— The class listing for breeding cattle will be re-worked to show that cow/calf entries do not show for Grand and Reserve Champion Female.
— The all other breeds division will be split into two divisions: one for purebred cattle and one for percentage cattle.
— The use of chin straps to alter the conformation/appearance of an animal will not be allowed.
The following applies to 4-H/FFA Youth Market Goat Show:
— Exhibitors will be allowed to show two commercial does.
The 2013 Premium and General Rules Book should be available in mid-April on the Kentucky State Fair website, www.kystatefair.org
For more information about the Clark County 4-H Livestock program, please call the Clark Cooperative Extension Service. The next meeting of the Clark County 4-H/FFA Livestock Club will be Monday, Feb. 25 at 7 p.m. All 4-H exhibitors must have six hours of education completed by March 21 for market steers and heifers, and by May 11 for market goats, sheep and swine for KUIP tagging. Hours and forms must be completed by June 1 for breeding animals.