Clackamas County 4-H Newsletter

Welcome to our spring special Fair edition of the 4‑H Newsletter! This issue is packed with information about all of our upcoming Clackamas 4‑H Fair events — Horse Fair, Dog Fair, and County Fair — plus a look ahead at what’s happening at the Oregon State Fair. We encourage you to save and/or bookmark this newsletter so it’s easy to find whenever you need it. Keep an eye on your email throughout the summer; we’ll be sending more updates and details as the events get closer.

How can you have the best Fair experience?

Attend the All Fair Information Meeting on May 12. It’s the best way to get everyone on the same page. If possible, send one or more club representatives to the Advisory Committee meetings too — they’re a great place to stay informed and share ideas.

Review the fairbook together. Take some time as a club to look through the opportunities in each project area. Talk about what events are available and when everything is scheduled so families can plan ahead with confidence. It will be available on our Fair wepage by May 13.

Schedule club meetings and practice times. Use these gatherings to help members prepare for the Fair. Consider hosting a “Fair entry meeting” where families can complete their ShoWorks and other entry forms while leaders are available to help.

Mentor new 4‑H families and youth. We have more than 150 brand‑new members attending their first Fair this year. A little guidance goes a long way — help them (and their families) feel ready, supported, and excited for the experience.

Set goals — both as a club and as individuals. Talk about what animals, contests, or exhibits members plan to enter. Discuss what support families might need, what your club wants to accomplish together, and how everyone can practice good sportsmanship, teamwork, and positive character throughout the Fair.

🗓️ May 12: All Fair Information Meeting

🗓️ May 13: Online Entries OPEN for Dog, Horse, & County Fairs

🗓️June 1: Horse Fair Entries CLOSE (ShoWorks, Animal Information Forms, and Record Books due)

🗓️June 11: Dog Fair & County Fair Entries CLOSE (ShoWorks, Animal Information Forms, Contest Entries )

🗓️July 11: Dog Fair

🗓️July 6-12: Horse Fair

🗓️August 18-22: County Fair

🗓️Tuesday, May 12, 6:00 pm

📍via Zoom or in person at the Extension Annex

Mark your calendars for this important 4-H County Fair Orientation. The Fair Information Meeting will be held remotely via Zoom or in person at the Extension Annex. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting. Early registration means you’ll have the meeting link before the meeting starts!

Every Family planning to exhibit at any 4-H Fair needs to have at least one person attend this Zoom meeting. For ALL 4-H Club and Independent families participating in Horse Fair and Dog Fair in July and County Fair in August.

Agenda:

• Fair Information: Classes, Schedules, Rules, and Blue-Ribbon Tips
• Preparing for Fair Entry
• Entering Fair Classes in ShoWorks
• Fees
• Meet the Staff and Superintendents
• Updates from the Fairgrounds and Auction Committee

🗓️Horse Fair entries are DUE NO LATER THAN 11:59 PM ON JUNE 1.

🗓️Dog Fair and 4-H County Fair entries are DUE NO LATER THAN 11:59 PM ON JUNE 11.

LATE ENTRIES WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED.

Look for the 2026 Clackamas County Fair 4-H Fairbook online at our Clackamas County 4-H County Fair webpage. It contains schedules, rules, and class information for all County Fair events. It will be posted before the Fair Information Meeting on May 12. Printed copies will be available for purchase. Horse Fair and Dog Fair have their own Fairbooks with this information. Those documents will be available on our Fair webpage and on the project webpages.

If you get your entries submitted early, we will have time to help you with any problems you might encounter.

Entries will be accepted online via ShoWorks, so you will need to have internet access. If you do not have internet access at home, you might check with a local library, or come use the free (visitor) Wi-Fi at the Extension office or in our parking lot.

Online entries will open May 13 - watch your email for sign-in information. Detailed online entry information will be shared at the meeting on May 12.

Do you need extra support entering your members this year? Jessica Inman will be available to book time with to help you do your entries as a club or individual. She will be available to help in person, or on the phone, and may even be available to attend your club’s fair sign up meeting. Click below to contact her to book time.

4-H Superintendents are here for you! Do you have questions about Fair? Can you volunteer a few hours to help with the many needs before or during the Fair? Contact your Fair Superintendents.

🗓️Due June 1

YQCA / Youth Ethics Requirement: Do you plan on showing animals at Horse Fair, Dog Fair, and/or County Fair? All youth participating in an animal project is required to complete a youth animal ethics training. This requirement began in 2025 and information has been shared at advisory meetings and is also in the Winter 2026 issue of the Clackamas County 4-H Newsletter. Youth who completed this training and submitted their certificate in 2025 have satisfied this requirement through August 2027. Youth who are new to the program in 2026 must complete this requirement to participate in 4-H fair.

The Clackamas County Junior Livestock Auction offers youth the opportunity to learn how to raise and prepare high-quality food animals for market. 4-H members in good standing may enter market classes, which are judged according to auction standards. The auction is organized by an independent committee that establishes its own rules and schedule.

Be sure to regularly check the Clackamas County Junior Livestock Auction website for important details, including weigh-ins, tagging, rules, animal age requirements, and weight guidelines.

Market Livestock: Members select their own beef, sheep, swine, and meat goats and must attend both the initial and final weigh-ins. Schedules and entry forms are available on the auction website.

Market Poultry Exhibitors: Entry forms must be completed by May 9.

• Market chickens (broilers), chicks are provided (at a cost) with auction registration
• Members provide their own turkeys. Apply your own unique ID to turkeys before signing up for County Fair.

Market Rabbits: Members must either breed their own market rabbits or lease a bred doe. All rabbits must be registered with the auction by May 9.

Please note: The Auction Committee may allow members to weigh in and tag more animals than can ultimately be entered and housed at the Fair.

Our Fair days are packed with activities! Look at the fair schedules when you make decisions about which classes to enter and when to schedule contests. You will find links to schedules on our Fair webpage.

• Master County Fair Schedule: The front of the fairbook has a comprehensive schedule for all County Fair events, including set up, judging, fun classes, awards, and move out.
• Livestock ring schedules: A chart of when each livestock project area will show during Fair week. Remember that showmanship is REQUIRED.
• Small Animal ring schedules: A chart of when each small animal project area will show during fair week. Remember that showmanship is REQUIRED.
• Horse Show schedule: The daily events can be found in the Horse Fairbook. Individual class schedules will be shared approximately one week before Horse Fair.
• Dog Fair schedule: Age groups rotate between showmanship and obedience so plan to attend the whole day. A detailed class schedule will be available approximately one week prior to Dog Fair.

You will see that many of our events overlap. In some cases, it will be possible to schedule your class or contest to avoid a conflict with another activity. But times can change depending on conditions on show day, and you should be prepared to be flexible. The 4-H program does not encourage members to “do everything.” Leaders and parents should help members set priorities. Fair should be challenging, but not overwhelming.

🗓️State Fair: August 26 - September 7, 2026

📍Location: Oregon State Fairgrounds, Salem, Oregon

Mark your calendars now for these 4-H events:

🗓️Horse: August 26 - 30

🗓️Rabbit: August 29

🗓️Poultry: August 31

🗓️Dog: August 31 - September 1

🗓️Cats & Herptiles: September 4

Members are expected to follow the “90-day rule” for horses they plan to show at County Fair and State Fair. Changes are granted only in certain circumstances. Review the Clackamas County 4-H Horse Rules starting on page 30 of the Horse Handbook for information.

Horse change requests must be made in June. Contact Mikenna and Andy Hallock (503-290-9807) as soon as you think you need a horse change. The member and their parent or leader must attend a horse change meeting to explain the situation.

Horse changes will only be approved in the event of death or severe injury, or illness that prevents the horse from being ridden. A veterinarian’s statement is required. Other reasons, such as the rider not being able to control the horse or the lease being broken, will not be approved. Horse change approvals often come with consequences – for example, a member may not be eligible for special awards or state fair.

We will have a horse change meeting on June 10. An additional meeting on July 1 will be held only for emergency requests. A member will not be able to change a horse after July 1 for any reason.

Horse Fair entries in ShoWorks will be due online on June 1 before 11:59 pm. No late entries will be accepted. Horse Information Forms will also be due June 1. Record books will be turned in at the Extension office no later than June 1. A drop box is available to turn in record books after hours.

The guide to horse records requirements for the June 1 turn-in is available on the Horse project page. Find forms online:

• 4-H Resume: available in Word and PDF
• Horse Advancement Guide
• 4-H Horse Record

The Horse Record Check Sheet is what the committee will use to approve record books. We want to see that the member is learning how to keep track of essential horse care, is active in the 4-H program, and is growing in their skill development.

🗓️July 1, 2026 - 7:00 pm

📍Clackamas County Fairgrounds

Each club that enters Horse Fair MUST ATTEND this meeting! We’ll have schedules, volunteer sign-ups, stall assignments, camping maps, and other critical information to share. This meeting is in-person only.

All 4-H members must own or lease their animal before June 1, or by the spring weigh-in date, whichever is earlier, to participate in County Fair. Please keep these rules in mind when identifying project animals that will be shown at County Fair and State Fair. Please refer to the Fairbook for clarification.

Other important information:

• Only the 4-H members may exhibit the project animal in any show (4-H, open, or otherwise) from at least June 1 through State Fair.
• 4-H members should be responsible for the care, training, and fitting of their project animals.
• Members may have only one leased animal in a project area (a female with offspring still nursing at County Fair counts as one animal).
• Members leasing a project animal must have the Record of Animal Lease form on file with the Extension office by June 1. The lease record forms will be approved by the Livestock Advisory. Contact the Extension office if you need a form.
• A 4-H member may share one animal prior to moving-in at County Fair if they do not own any animals in that project area, but no animals may be shared at State Fair. On move-in day (or immediately after final weigh-in), that animal must be claimed by only one of the members.

🗓️All 4-H County Fair entries must be submitted and paid no later than 11:59 pm on June 11.

Late entries will not be accepted.

Livestock members must complete BOTH the entry form (ShoWorks) and the Additional Animal Information form (Google). All forms and details will be available online on the Clackamas County 4-H website under “Fair” beginning May 13.

Be sure to work with your club leader during the entry process and carefully review the 4-H General Rules and Livestock Rules sections of the Exhibitor Handbook (available in May). All 4-H exhibitors are responsible for following these rules. If you have questions, contact your leader, the project Superintendent, or the Extension office.

The 4-H Market Animal Health Forms are required for every animal entering a market, feeder, or overweight class at County Fair or State Fair. These forms are simple to use and a great way to keep track of your animals’ health care to ensure a safe food product. Copies are available online or from the Extension office. Be prepared to present your completed form during check-in at County Fair.

Each animal exhibited at the County Fair must have a unique identification that must be included on the fair entry form. This information is a required part of the Fair entry process, and identification methods vary by species (e.g., ear notching for swine, scrapie tags for sheep). Market animals must be identified using both the unique ID and the auction tag number. Llamas and alpacas must include at least two photos with their entry—one front view and one side view. This identification information is used during Fair check-in, so please plan ahead. Entry forms that are missing identification details will not be processed, and animals without prior identification will not be allowed to remain on the fairgrounds.

If the animal originally entered is unable to attend the Fair and the member has another eligible animal, you must contact the 4-H Agent and Superintendent. A waiver request application must also be submitted, explaining why the original animal cannot be exhibited.

• Herdsmanship: Information and expectations
• Master Showmanship Question Bank: Questions that may be used in 2026
• Master Showmanship Guide: Information and rules for the contest
• Livestock Resources
• Service Award: What it is and form to submit

Members may camp on-site or commute from home. Camping at the fairgrounds is available and is reserved online through their website: https://clackamascountyfair.com/livestock-exhibits/. Reservations will open later this Spring and generally fill quickly. Contact the fairgrounds with questions: (503) 266-1136.

All Intermediate and Senior livestock members have the opportunity to pre-register animals for the State Fair in July. Youth have the privilege of exhibiting at the State Fair as long as they show the same animal project from County Fair, demonstrate good sportsmanship, complete Herdsmanship duties, and maintain their animals in good condition.

Livestock members will receive an online State Fair pre-registration form prior to the Clackamas County Fair in August.

🗓️ Due June 11

Active involvement and continuous learning are essential for fully embracing all that 4-H has to offer. 4-H is a yearlong experience that culminates at the County Fair. The HEARTH Excel Program offers 4-H members the opportunity to take their experience a step further by qualifying for special awards at the County Fair, including Champion and Reserve Champion ribbons. It also provides the chance for their projects to advance to the Oregon State Fair.

HEARTH Exhibitors: Complete the online form to qualify https://bit.ly/2026YOUTHEXCEL.

Leaders: Adults MUST also participate and complete a form for their members to be eligible. https://bit.ly/2026ADLTEXCEL.

HEARTH Special Awards are available in most project areas and relate to the specific interests or intent of the donor. These awards are listed separately in the specific project information in the Fairbook and may help a member focus their exhibit to be more competitive for a certain award.

HEARTH exhibitors are also eligible to apply for the Special Project Master Awards. These awards require an application due by 5:00 pm on Wednesday, August 19, 2026 (during Fair). Recipients of each award will be recognized for work done in their project area during Fair and throughout the year.

This contest is open to ANY 4-H member - no matter what project(s) you're enrolled in! It focuses on consumerism and wardrobe planning. Youth will be able to choose clothing that looks great on their body type and coloring as they assemble items to fit into one of the four categories:

• Informal/Casual wear (school appropriate)
• Theater/Costume
• Semi-Formal to Formal wear
• Special Interest

Contest Rules:

• All elements of the ensemble must have been purchased within the last 12 months. One previously owned or borrowed accessory item is allowed (shoes, jewelry, etc.).
• Though there are no cost parameters for this contest, participants must submit receipts for all purchased items. Participants must also submit a Consumer Comparison Worksheet and Ready to Wear Buying Form at the time of judging.
• All garments worn and visible (i.e., blouse under jacket or vest) during the interview process must be included in the buying worksheet.

Contestants can qualify for State Fair participation. Top State Fair participants qualify for the National Fashion Revue Contest held in San Antonio, TX in January 2027. More information will be available in the fairbook and on our website. If you still have questions, contact Karen Jeffrey-Markowski.

The Fashion Revue Challenge for the 2026 fair season will be Future Fashion. Use your research talents, creativity, and imagination to construct a garment, costume, or outfit to create an outfit inspired by the future. Questions? Contact Karen Jeffrey-Markowski or Jan Williams. For more information, check out the Fairbook or our 4-H HEARTH webpage!

The objective of the Family and Consumer Sciences (FCS) Skill-a-thon is to educate 4-H members to identify items used in cooking, baking, sewing, and home decorating, and to develop good decision-making skills around consumer purchasing, food selection, and money management. This will allow 4-H members to learn how to become good consumers for themselves and their families. Open to members in the foods and sewing project areas.

County Intermediate and Senior participants can qualify to compete in the State 4-H FCS contest. Top scores at the 4-H State Fair will qualify to be on the State team that will compete at the National contest held in San Antonio, TX, in January 2027.

The FCS Skill-a-thon contest includes:

• Foods & Cooking ID: Identify 15 items from the study guide, including appliances, utensils, spices, herbs, and/or other food-related items
• Interior Design and Housing ID: Identify 15 items from the study guide, including decorating techniques, colors, patterns, design elements, and/or layouts
• Sewing and Clothing ID: Identify 15 items from the study guide, including fabric, fasteners, seams, design/cut, and other items related to apparel, fashion design, and/or sewing
• Consumer Decision Making: 15 questions (a mix of multiple-choice and fill-in-the-blank) based on all study materials, as well as four judging classes. Each judging class presents a scenario with four options, which participants must rank from best to worst.

Remember that ALL animals need unique ID BEFORE they are entered in the County Fair. This includes Cloverbud projects. Demonstrations of how to tag, band, and tattoo are available on YouTube. The unique ID can include one or more letters, numbers, or colors. When you enter fair, you will need to list the animal’s ID for each class.

Here are some examples of how small animals are identified.

• Rabbits - Ear Tattoo (ex: HL02 in the left ear)
• Cavies - Metal Ear Tag (ex: 013 in left ear)
• Poultry - Plastic Leg Band(s) (ex: Red 32 on right leg, blue K on left leg)
• Pigeons - Plastic Leg Band(s) (ex: Yellow 5 on left leg)

All showmanship animals must be owned by June 1 to participate in Clackamas County Fair. If you are entering a market animal that was born after June, you must also enter an animal for showmanship that was owned before the June 1st deadline. Let the superintendent know if you need resources for finding a project animal.

For market rabbits, an animal born after June 1 will qualify if you leased or owned the bred doe by June 1. The member should care for the rabbits from birth.

For chickens, you can show animals that you obtained after June 1 if they are chicks that you ordered or hatched yourself and raised.

🗓️ May 30, 2026

📍Clackamas County Fairgrounds

Practice for Dog Fair, meet judges, participate in showmanship, rally, and obedience, and connect with other 4-H dog project members and their dogs. Attendance at this event is required for members who wish to participate in the County and State 4-H Dog Fair. Check with your club leader for more details about this fun and educational opportunity.

🗓️ July 11, 2026

📍Clackamas County Fairgrounds

4-H Dog Resources:

• Clackamas County 4-H Dog Fairbook
• Dog Obedience, Showmanship and Contest Guide
• Oregon State 4-H Dog Resources

We hope that you are as excited about Fair as we are! We will share timely and new information each month. Our webpage will be updated with fair information as it becomes available.

Do not hesitate to call or email our office at 503-655-8635 or clackamas4h@oregonstate.edu. We will respond during business hours, Monday - Friday, 8:00 am - 4:30 pm.

Do you still have questions about Fair? We bet you do… We have created a new web page to list Frequently Asked Questions about fair. If you still have a question, reach out to us at our shared email: clackamas4h@oregonstate.edu.

Dogs: May 4, June 1, July 6

May Dog 4-H Advisory Committee Meeting

7:00 - 8:30 pm Online

Livestock: May 7, July 9

May Livestock 4-H Advisory Committee Meeting

7:00 - 8:30 pm Extension annex

Horse: May 13, June 10

May 2026 Horse Advisory Meeting

7:00 - 9:00 pm Extension annex / Online

HEARTH: May 18, June 15

May 2026 HEARTH Advisory Committee Meeting

7:00 - 9:00 pm Extension annex

Small Animals: May 19, June 16, July 21

May 2026 4-H Small Animal Advisory

7:00 - 9:00 pm Extension annex / Online