Scotts Bluff County Fair

Deadlines ahead for 4-H projects

Crystal R. Albersr
Posted 5/3/19

With the month of May comes several important dates for youth who plan to compete in the Scotts Bluff County Fair, scheduled this year for Saturday, July 27, to Sunday, Aug. 4.

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Scotts Bluff County Fair

Deadlines ahead for 4-H projects

Posted

MITCHELL, Neb. – With the month of May comes several important dates for youth who plan to compete in the Scotts Bluff County Fair, scheduled this year for Saturday, July 27, to Sunday, Aug. 4.

Wednesday, May 1 – was the last day to enroll in the Scotts Bluff County 4-H Program and be eligible to compete in this year’s fair. Additionally, participants must make project choice determinations by this date.

Sunday, May 5, the Scotts Bluff County Fairgrounds in Mitchell will play host to 4-H/FFA sheep, swine, and goat weigh-in and tagging from 3 to 5 p.m.

All market sheep, goats (meat and dairy market), and swine must be tagged to exhibit at the Scotts Bluff County Fair, according to a press release. 

“The reason that it’s important for us to have this initial tag-in, weigh-in for the livestock projects is it gives (the youth) the opportunity to have that starting point,” said Jana Schwartz, 4-H Extension Assistant. “The weigh-in gives that starting weight … the superintendents are there doing the tagging – we don’t weigh the pigs – but they can say that pig is looking a little light, you might want to push the feed.

“We try to make it all a learning process,” she said.  “It teaches about the industry and why it’s important that we use tags to identify animals, as well as the process of applying the tags … it’s an opportunity to see that done and then understand the importance of why we need to identify each animal separately.”

For swine, staff and volunteers will not unload the animals at the tagging and weigh-in event. Instead, they will enter trailers to tag and disinfect equipment between trailers. Swine tag-in will take place on the south side of the Event Center. Families are welcome to tag their animals at home and bring them to the event for verification. Tags are $1 each.

Market sheep and goats (meat and dairy market) will be identified and weighed at the red FFA barn north of the Pavilion. Youth should lead animals to the southeast corner of the barn. Scrapies tags are the form of identification used for sheep and goats.

“If you plan to show swine, goats or sheep at State Fair or Ak-Sar-Ben, you must submit a DNA sample from your animal and use an EID tag for swine and scrapies tags for goats and sheep,” the press release reads. “Ask for a DNA kit at tag-in. Families must enter DNA data into the Ak-Sar-Ben/State Fair website and pay $6 per animal by June 15. If you have any questions, please contact us at (308) 632-1480. If we have to postpone due to weather, we will have KNEB announce it.”

Scotts Bluff County Fairgrounds is located at 130625 County Road E in Mitchell.