Virginia Cooperative Extension has set the nomination schedule for youth livestock projects at the 2012 Virginia Junior Livestock Expo. All 4-H and FFA members who wish to exhibit at the 2012 Virginia Junior Livestock Expo are required to first nominate their livestock projects in order to participate.

The Virginia Junior Livestock Expo was created as the culminating activity for youth livestock projects. It will replace the annual junior livestock show activities that were previously held at the State Fair of Virginia. The expo will take place Oct. 11-14 at the Rockingham County Fairgrounds in Harrisonburg, Va.

All youth who plan to exhibit market lambs, commercial ewe lambs, market goats, market hogs, market steers/heifers, and — new this year — commercial heifers, commercial does, and commercial gilts at the expo are required to bring their animals to one of the designated nomination sites for identification.

Also new in 2012, nominations will be held during two time frames.

  • Nominations for all market lambs, commercial ewes, market goats, commercial does, market steers/heifers, and commercial heifers born Sept. 30, 2010, to Dec. 31, 2011, will occur during mid-to-late June. The animals must be nominated no later than June 26, 2012. Commercial heifers born after Jan. 1, 2012, may be nominated at the same time, but they are not required to be tagged and nominated until late July/early August.
  • Nominations for all market hogs, commercial gilts, and commercial heifers (born Jan. 1, 2012, or later) will be held in late July/early August. The animals must be nominated no later than Aug. 13, 2012.

A complete schedule of dates and locations for the nomination sites, as well as the rules and nomination procedures, are available on the Virginia Junior Livestock Expo website.

Exhibitors who are unable to attend a nomination site or do not see a time listed for a specific species should contact their local Extension agent at least two weeks prior to the district nomination date to arrange a time to have their animals nominated. Failure to nominate animals by the deadlines will result in ineligibility to show at the 2012 Virginia Junior Livestock Expo.

Nominations at these sites do not constitute entry into the Virginia Junior Livestock Expo. Exhibitors will be required to enter each animal they wish to exhibit. All entries must be postmarked by Aug. 15, 2012, and will require the signature of the local Extension agent or FFA advisor.

The Virginia Junior Livestock Expo will be open to all Virginia 4-H and FFA members and will offer market and breeding shows for beef cattle, swine, sheep, and meat goats, as well as a stockmen’s contest. Various other agricultural contests and events will include a crops contest, junior forester contest, horticulture demonstration, and agriscience demonstration. Virginia FFA will also host its state small-engines contest, tractor-troubleshooting contest, and forestry field day.

In 2011, 445 young people exhibited more than 940 animals during the state fair. An additional 1,000 youth competed in other agricultural contests held in conjunction with the fair.

For more information regarding the Virginia Junior Livestock Expo and sponsorship opportunities, contact Paige Pratt, youth livestock Extension specialist, at 540-231-4732.

 

 

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