June/July Newsletter
June's challenge is to donate to your local food pantry! Food pantries usually get many donations during the winter/holiday season, but there are people in our communities that need food year-round particularly the summer when children are out of school.
July's challenge is to return the service. Show your local service workers you appreciate them by donating water, dropping by coffee or taking a meal to your area hospital, fire station, or police department.
Summer Club Meeting Idea
Don't worry if you missed our Resin Summer Day Camp you can do UV Resin at your next 4-H club meeting. Contact the Extension Office to check out the UV Resin Kit (supplies and directions)!
2023 Livestock Validation
There are only a few days left to get your show livestock validated for Arkansas State Fair or Arkansas Youth Expo.
I only have a few days available to schedule farm visits. Call today at (479) 754-2240.
Arkansas State Fair

"The purpose of the Arkansas State Fair Validation Program is to promote positive youth development for Arkansas youth by ensuring rules are adhered to for the integrity of the livestock show. The validation process creates a level playing field, facilitates youth engagement, builds responsibility, and fosters life skills development - respect, teamwork, communication."

DNA Validation kits are required to be eligible to show at the Arkansas State Fair. All validation kits must be ordered through the Arkansas State Fair website (linked below); deadlines to order are as follows:

STEERS
  • Kits for mailing - May 15th
  • Kits for pick up from the Arkansas State Fairgrounds main office - June 1st

Deadline to submit Validation Kit is June 1st for STEERS. All kits must be post marked by June 1st or physically in the ASFG office by that date.

ALL OTHERS (Market Lambs, Market Goats, Market Hogs, and Commercial Females)
  • Kits for mailing - June 30th
  • Kits for pick up from the Arkansas State Fairgrounds main office - July 15th

Deadline to submit Validation kit is July 15th for all others. All kits must be post marked by July 15th or physically in the ASFG office by that date.

PLEASE NOTE - THIS DOES NOT SERVE AS ENTRY INTO THE LIVESTOCK SHOW.
Arkansas Youth Expo

"The purpose of the validation process is to ensure that the livestock exhibited at the Arkansas Youth Expo are in possession of and cared for by the exhibitors. The validation deadline allows up to have proof of ownership by a certain date. This process helps to ensure that every exhibitor is receiving the same treatment and level playing field for their junior livestock projects in the state of Arkansas."

DNA Validation kits are required to be eligible to show at the Arkansas Youth Expo. All validation kits must be ordered through the Arkansas Youth Expo website (linked below) for the following animals:


  • All Market Barrows
  • All Crossbred Gilts
  • All Market Goats
  • All Breeding Does
  • All Market Lambs
  • All Crossbred Breeding Ewes
  • All Market Steers
  • All Commercial Heifers


Deadline to submit Validation Kits are July 15th for all animals.


Note: After July 15th, AYE will post a report with every animal validated on the AYE website. Please check to ensure all of the information is accurate on this report and then complete your entries at (aryouth.fairwire.com) between July 16th - July 31st.

PLEASE NOTE - THIS DOES NOT SERVE AS ENTRY INTO THE LIVESTOCK SHOW.

Important dates to remember:
June 9th online registration of all market and commercial animals by midnight
June 10th 7 A.M. to 11 A.M. county fair validation day and weigh ins
August 1st all breeding animals including rabbits and poultry must be registered online
August 29th-September 2nd FAIR WEEK!
Johnson County Fair
Livestock Information
Attention livestock exhibitors!
Johnson County Fairboard have been working hard to get rules updated and get an online entry form system up and running. All livestock including poultry and rabbits will need to fill out the online form to be registered for the fair, there will no longer be paper copies. This form is new so if you have problems or questions please reach out to the Johnson County Fairboard or call/text Chris Heiser at 479-647-6855
The website is still being worked on and we will update you all when it is completed with the new rules. The link below will take you to the online registration, the program will not let you move on until you have entered all required information. It is a good idea to have all your information including breeding animals registration forms before you sit down to complete entry forms. You will have to do a separate entry for each class.
***Attention***
If you plan to show Poultry at any fairs this fall, remember ALL poultry including poultry chain and broilers must be blood tested within 90 days prior to the fair. This will be the only Blood Testing Date scheduled in Johnson County.
Click the link below to schedule your time.
Garden Fair Day Camp/ Produce Judging
Date: Tuesday, August 1, 2023
Time: 9:00am – 12:00 pm
Location: UofA Fruit Research Station 
Who: 4-H members, parents, families and leaders.
The 2023 Johnson County 4-H Garden Fair and Day Camp will be held on Tuesday, August 1st, at the Fruit Research Station! We will have a guest speaker with live reptiles. The camp has been planned to provide a fun and educational day for all Johnson County 4-H’ers and their families.
Remember, 4-H members who are participating in the Garden Project are required to bring their produce to the Garden Fair. All Garden Fair and Day Camp participants, as well as parents and  leaders who plan to attend need to register using link below.
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Ozark District 4-H O-Rama
Johnson County joined over 650 4-H members, extension agents, volunteers and others from around the Ozark District for the 2023 Ozark District 4-H O-Rama at the University of the Ozarks here in Clarksville. All of our Johnson County 4-H had 10 members compete at District O-Rama and we are extremely proud of all of them! Contest placings are listed below:
Emily Deen 4-H Poster Art Contest Top 5 Junior Winner.
Penny Hardesty Ozark District 4-H Beginner Record Book Winner in Healthy Living- Cooking.
Sophia Elizondo 1st JR Safety Talk
Kira Forrest-Mock 1st SR Health Talk
Aiden White 5th SR Wildlife
Tate Sisk 10th JR Wildlife
Annabelle White and Seger Denton competed in Junior Livestock Skills
Draegan Denton 3rd JR Vet Science Talk
Olivia Holman 2nd JR Fashion Revue Constructed
Jermiah Mee competed in Senior Gun Safety
Congratulations to everyone that competed at District O-Rama!
Kira & Aiden will be representing Johnson County 4-H at State O-Rama at University of Arkansas July 26th.
Mark your calendars for Gameday with Bumpers College on September 9th! Join us as the Razorbacks take on Kent State. This event is open to any prospective student and their families, teachers, and administrators!

Free to Attend
Games
Food & Drinks
Door Prizes

Kickoff TBD
Discounted game tickets will be available
Dates to Remember



July 15th     AYE Deadline, State Fair Nomination Deadline
July 25-28    State O-Rama 
August 1st Garden Fair Day Camp/ Produce Day
Deadline for Johnson County Fair Breeding Animals
August 2nd Poultry P/T Testing
August 6th Multi County Back to School Bash
August 28th- Sept 2 Johnson County Fair
September 9th Gameday w/ Bumpers College


 The University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture offers all its Extension and Research programs to all eligible persons without regard to race, color, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, religion, age, disability, marital or veteran status, genetic information, or any other legally protected status, and is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer. 

Jeanie Rowbotham, County Extension Agent- 4-H |479-754-2240| [email protected] | Johnson County Extension