10/20/2026
ATTENTION BEEF AND DAIRY MARKET STEER EXHIBITORS
We have a few important updates as we begin preparing for the 2027 Knox County Fair! The Senior Fair Board has voted to eliminate the mandatory tagging and weigh-in session for the 2027 Fair.
SO, WHAT DOES THIS MEAN FOR OUR EXHIBITORS?
Exhibitors will be responsible for tagging their own animals this year.
Exhibitors must purchase a visual and EID per animal if they do not already have one in their ear.
Photos and animal information of the must be uploaded to 4-HOnline for 4-H members or FairEntry for FFA members by December 5, 2026
TAG ORDERING - COMPLETE BY NOVEMBER 12, 2026 AT 12 NOON
Two Step Process - both have to be completed in order to considered eligible
Complete the Extension Qualtrics registration. https://go.osu.edu/27tagorder
Complete payment through the Fair Board’s online payment portal. https://go.osu.edu/27knoxbeefdairysteertags
LATE TAG ORDERS WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED!
Please do not wait until the last minute to complete your order. It is the exhibitor’s responsibility to ensure that both steps have been completed by the deadline.
TAG PICKUP – NOVEMBER 18, 2026
Exhibitors will pick up their tags at the Senior Fair Board Office on Wednesday, November 18, 2026
10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
5 to 6:30 p.m.
MANDATORY PHOTO SUBMISSION – DECEMBER 5, 2026 AT 12 NOON
This will need to be done in your 4-HOnline profile if you are 4-H or in FairEntry if you are in FFA.
While the traditional tagging and weigh-in session is no longer mandatory, the animal identification photo submission IS REQUIRED FOR ALL BEEF AND MARKET DAIRY STEER EXHIBITORS!
All exhibitors are responsible for tagging their own animals and submitting the required identification photos by December 5, 2026.
Official fair tags
must be in place and clearly visible in the submitted photos, with the tag number readable.
This requirement applies to ALL exhibitors, regardless of whether they participate in the optional weigh-in!
Additional instructions regarding where and how to submit photos will be provided.
OPTIONAL WEIGH-IN – DECEMBER 5, 2026
For exhibitors wishing to participate in the Rate of Gain Competition, we will offer an optional weigh-in session.
Saturday, December 5, 2026
8 – 10 a.m.
WE WILL NOT BE TAGGING ANIMALS DURING THIS SESSION!
All animals brought to the grounds for the optional weigh-in MUST meet the following requirements:
Have their official fair tag already in place.
Be halter-broke and able to be safely led by a halter.
Be castrated by December 1, 2026, with NO visible testicles remaining.
Animals arriving without their official tags, unable to be safely led by a halter, or not meeting the castration requirements WILL NOT be weighed.
LET’S RECAP THOSE IMPORTANT DATES!
November 12th – Tag ordering deadline. BOTH registration and payment must be completed. NO LATE ORDERS!
November 18th – Tag pickup at the Senior Fair Board Office. Times to be announced.
December 1st – Castration deadline for animals participating in the optional weigh-in.
December 5th | 12 Noon – MANDATORY animal identification photo submission deadline for ALL exhibitors.
December 5th | 8:00–10:00 AM – OPTIONAL weigh-in for Rate of Gain Competition participants.
We appreciate everyone’s cooperation as we make this transition for 2027! Our goal is to make the process a little easier for our exhibitors and families while still ensuring all requirements are met.
Please pay close attention to the deadlines, complete BOTH steps of your tag order, and watch for additional information as we get closer to these dates!
See ya in 2027!
Andrea Rees & Amy Carpenter
