What the Fairfield County Feeder Check-In Is
This is the one-day check-in for Fairfield County Junior Fair market animals: market swine, market lambs, market goats and dairy beef feeders, plus the pigs and lambs entered in the Market Quality Project (MQP) programs. It is run by OSU Extension Fairfield County and held at the Fairfield County Fairgrounds, 157 E Fair Ave, Lancaster. The most recent check-in was Saturday, June 27, 2026, from 7:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. Every animal that will be shown at the Junior Fair has to come through it, so it is the first date a 4-H member with a market project needs on the calendar.
Where Each Species Checks In
| Species | Time | Building | What to submit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Swine MQP (weigh-in) | 8:00 to 11:00 a.m. | Swine Barn | EID 840 numbers and housing information |
| Live-only swine | 7:00 to 11:00 a.m. | Ed Sands Building | EID 840 numbers and housing information |
| Market and MQP lambs | 8:00 to 11:00 a.m. | Sheep/Goat Barn | EID 840 numbers, scrapie tag numbers, housing information |
| Market goats | 8:00 to 11:00 a.m. | AAA Building | EID 840 numbers, scrapie tag numbers, housing information |
| Dairy beef feeders (check-in and weigh-in) | 8:00 to 11:00 a.m. | Swine Barn | EID 840 numbers and housing information |
MQP lambs are weighed at check-in. Live pigs brought along with MQP pigs are checked in at the same time and place as the MQP pigs, skip the Ed Sands Building, and need only one scheduled time.
How It Works: The Timeline
- Tag every animal with an EID tag before you arrive. Animals that do not yet have an 840 EID ear tag can get tags and taggers from the OSU Extension office in Lancaster.
- Schedule an arrival time through the online forms. For swine, lambs and goats the deadline was Friday, June 26. You enter the EID 840 numbers (and scrapie tag numbers for sheep and goats) plus housing information for each animal.
- Arrive on Saturday, June 27 during your species window. There are no early on-farm check-ins in 2026; all animals come to the fairgrounds.
- Livestock trucks and trailers go to the driveway on the west side of the racetrack, south of the Ed Sands Building, and are directed from there.
Who Can Enter and Rules
- The check-in is for Fairfield County Junior Fair exhibitors with market swine, lamb, goat or dairy beef feeder projects.
- An EID 840 ear tag is required before arrival, and every animal must be scheduled through the online form.
- Bringing more than one species on one trailer? Allow 15 to 30 minutes between species.
- All gates are open on June 27, but a car show is on the south side of the grounds, so avoid the Broad Street/Fair Avenue gate when you can.
Key Dates and Deadlines
- Friday, June 26: scheduling and EID/scrapie/housing submissions due for swine, lambs and goats.
- Saturday, June 27: check-in, 7:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. (species windows above).
Where
Fairfield County Fairgrounds, 157 E Fair Ave, Lancaster, Ohio. Use the west-side livestock driveway south of the Ed Sands Building.
Questions
Can I check in my animals at home this year?
No. There are no early on-farm check-ins in 2026; every animal comes to the fairgrounds on June 27.
Where do I get an EID tag?
From the OSU Extension Fairfield County office in Lancaster, which also lends taggers.
Do I need a time slot?
Yes. Pigs, market lambs, market goats and dairy beef feeders all schedule an arrival time online.
Who do I call?
OSU Extension Fairfield County, 740-653-5419, 831 College Ave., Suite D, Lancaster. The office is open Monday through Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Official Links
- Swine, Lamb, Goat and Dairy Feeder Check-in Details for June 27, 2026: OSU Extension Fairfield County
Ohio State University Extension: The Essentials
Ohio State University Extension keeps an office in all 88 Ohio counties, offering 4-H, agriculture and natural resources, family and consumer sciences, and community development help, per the Extension page. The same page reports more than 150,000 youth reached by 4-H programs.
Find your office
Use the Locate an Office tool or the personnel directory to find your county educator. Staffing differs by county, so call and ask who handles your topic.
Ask a question
The Ask an Expert page sends general questions to Extension faculty and staff, with replies by email. Master Gardener Volunteers handle yard and garden questions, and Ohioline carries fact sheets and bulletins. For county-specific questions, call your local office.
4-H and fair season
County offices enroll 4-H members and publish their own junior fair deadlines, so ask for your county's livestock requirement sheet before you buy an animal.
Next steps
Save your county office number, check deadlines early and use Ohioline for quick answers. For help with soil, drainage or water questions, your county soil and water conservation district is another local office worth knowing.
Other Upcoming Events Nearby
- Fairfield County Farm Bureau Annual Meeting
Registration opens at 5:30 PM, with dinner and the business meeting at 6:30 PM in Rickets Hall at the Fairfield County Fairgrounds. Held each year; the most recent date was August 12, 2026.
157 E. Fair Ave., Lancaster, OH 43130 | Organizer: Fairfield County Farm Bureau Official event details - Fairfield County Fair
Harness racing is part of the card at this late-season fair in Lancaster, one of the last county fairs of the Ohio season. Held each year; the most recent dates were Oct. 11 to Oct. 17, 2026.
157 E Fair Ave, Lancaster, OH | Organizer: Fairfield County Agricultural Society Official event details - Wayne County 4-H Recognition Banquet
Annual banquet honoring Wayne County 4-H members and volunteers, held Nov. 12, 2026 in the Event Center at the fairgrounds.
- Ohio Farm Bureau Annual Meeting
The 107th Ohio Farm Bureau Annual Meeting brought members to downtown Columbus for two days. Held each year; the most recent dates were December 11-12, 2025.
- Wayne County 4-H Beef Weigh-In
Market beef project members weigh in at the Coliseum on the Wayne County fairgrounds; Jan. 24 was the weather makeup date. Held each year; the most recent date was Jan. 10, 2026.
Wooster, OH Official event details
Listing checked Nov. 11, 2026 against this source. Details can change; confirm with the organizer.