By Patricia Beech-

During the 94th annual Ohio Fair Managers Association Convention in Columbus, Jan. 3-6, the Adams County Agricultural Society was presented with an award for perfect Animal Health Records from the 2018 Adams County Fair.
As hundreds of 4-H exhibitors arrive at the county fair each year, many with livestock in tow, the local Agricultural Society gears up to make sure all project animals are healthy and ready for a week of competition.
Veterinarian, Dr. Darren Stanfield from Maysville, Ky., is present for every project animal weigh-in. He is looking for responsive and alert animals that have no signs of disease, such as diarrhea, skin lesions, sneezing, or coughing. Walking past stalls in the goat, sheep, and dairy barns, he does a visual check and signs off on medications for hurt or sick animals.
Each animal that is brought onto the fairgrounds as a 4-H project is required to have a Health Records form completed.
According to Senior Fair Board President Liz Lafferty, the forms are reviewed by Senior Fair Board members for accuracy of breed, tag numbers, and most importantly to be certain no animal has been given any medication that would interfere with its sale for slaughter at the Junior Fair Sale.
“We really wanted to get a perfect score this year,” says Lafferty, who scoured the forms with fellow board members Tonya Kersey and Terry Davis. “The Adams County Fair is striving for better leadership and excellence in all areas of the fair, and animal health records is just another area where we needed to do a better job, and we did.”
The Ohio Fair Managers Association is a voluntary, not-for-profit corporation, serving state, independent and county agricultural fairs, shows, exhibitions, and several festivals within Ohio. The associate members of the OFMA are associations, corporations, festivals, and individuals engaged in providing products and services to members, all of whom are interested in the improvement of Ohio’s agricultural fairs. The OFMA represents 95 Fairs in Ohio and more than 240 associate members from allied fields. The organization has promoted and encouraged the development and improvement of agricultural fairs, shows, and expositions and is actively engaged and supports the International Association of Fairs and Expositions as well as the Federation of State and Provincial Association of Fairs.

From left, Terri Davis Vice-Chairman and Records; Liz Lafferty, President, and Tonya Kersey, Secretary/Treasurer. (Provided photo)