By Marlise Schoeny, History Curator

Summer in Ohio signals the return of numerous traditions across the state. Be it trips to theme parks like Kings Island or Cedar Point, baseball games in major and minor league parks across the state, or the numerous festivals, Ohioans know how to soak up summer fun. One of the most iconic events in an Ohio summer, however, must be the state fair. People have been enjoying the fair since its first occurrence in 1850 in Camp Washington. There is simply too much fair history to cover in a single blog, so this entry will focus on the Junior Livestock Competition and its connection to 4-H.

While 4-H members were certainly learning about the proper care of livestock from their earliest days, the passage of the Smith-Lever Act in 1914 provided resources to support the further development of 4-H clubs. The Smith-Lever Act established a national Cooperative Extension Service meant to educate rural residents about advances in agricultural practices and technology. This act formalized 4-H clubs and services under the guidance of the USDA (United States Department of Agriculture). It was during this period that that club projects became major requirements. It can be difficult to pinpoint when livestock competitions began, but one of the earliest references seems to be when winners of a beef contest won a trip to the Livestock Exposition in Chicago in 1916. In Ohio, the Junior Fair portion of the Ohio State Fair was formed in 1929, and Ohio’s youth have been presenting their projects ever since.

Today, there are Junior Divisions within the livestock competitions for beef, Boer goats, dairy cattle, dairy goats, poultry, llamas, pygmy goats, rabbits, sheep and swine. There are also junior divisions for the dog show and horse show. Ohio State University Extension states the following about 4-H animal projects and the fair:

“When they come to the fair with animal projects, 4-H members exhibit what they have learned during showmanship classes – in which they demonstrate how well they handle their animal and what they have learned about it. In market show classes, the focus is on the animal – this includes things like bone structure, muscle, mobility, and overall quality of the animal for its species.

4-H market animal projects usually end at the county fair, because the animal does just that – goes to market. However, 4-H members can also show almost any species of animal at the Ohio State Fair in a “junior division,” in which they compete with their peers from across the state. For the most part, this is a completely different animal than the one actually exhibited at the local fair.”

One of the most popular projects for animal care beginners is rabbit care. Rabbits are a common project for younger 4-H members or 4-H members that may not have the space for a larger animal. Raising rabbits teaches members how to select a rabbit breed, provide appropriate housing, ensure proper care and provide proper health and nutrition. If you or someone you know is interested in learning more about the basics of rabbit care, we encourage you to visit the Ohio State University Extension's online education website. You can also visit their site for more information about 4-H youth development in Ohio and a list of county extension offices.

The Ohio History Connection has a collection of materials from John and Charlotte Circle of Columbus, Ohio, who were long-time supporters of the Junior Livestock sale at the Franklin County Fair. Their donation features a collection of signs noting their support that feature photographs of Junior competitors and their animals. John was the Franklin County Engineer for nearly twenty years and enjoyed mentoring young people. Born in Jackson, Ohio, John attended the University of Oklahoma. His degree was paused while he served as a combat engineer in the Army during WWII, but he finished his college career and pursued his profession after returning. Their collection of 4-H materials features over 28 signs, multiple award ribbons, programs, newspaper articles and thank you notes written by 4-H members. The signs featured here highlight some of the rabbits who were winners in their competitions.

Our Archives & Library has resources for you to learn more about the history of 4-H in Ohio. Be sure to visit the Archives Wednesday through Friday for a research appointment to see these documents.

Do you still have things from your time in in 4-H? Are you curious to see if they could be a part of the Ohio History Connection's collection? Check out our donations page to learn more!