Skillathons 

IMPORTANT NOTE: All Fayette County youth exhibiting a livestock project are required to complete a skillathon. If youth have tested out, they are still required to have their book checked at some point between June 1^st and July 2^nd.

2025 Skillathon Dates

June 25, 2025	June 26, 2025	June 30, 2025	July 1, 2025	July 2, 2024
		Multi-Species Skillathon 9am-3pm (by appointment)	Multi-Species Skillathon 9am-3pm (by appointment)	Multi-Species Skillathon 9am-3pm (by appointment)
Skillathon - Rabbit (A-M) 5-7pm @ Extension Office	Skillathon - Rabbit (N-Z) 5-7pm @ Extension Office	Skillathon - Goat/Cattle 5-7pm @ Extension Office	Skillathon - Hog/Sheep/Dog 5-7pm @ Extension Office	Skillathon - Horse/Poultry 5-7pm @ Extension Office

 

Makeup Skillathon: June 18, 2025 (Register by June 11, 2025)

Book Checks: June 1, 2025 – July 2, 2025 

Open skillathon practice: June 10, 2025 from 10-2 @ Extension Office. 

What is a skillathon?

Raising a livestock animal or caring for a companion animal is a rich learning experience. That first-hand knowledge can lead to significant competency and expertise, especially when youth have opportunities to reflect on and apply new knowledge.A skillathon is an event that uses the experiential learning model of doing, reflecting, and applying to test one’s knowledge. The word “skillathon” is derived from the suffix -athon, which means an event, and the prefix skill, or what is being tested at the event.

Skillathons are often conducted in connection with fairs.

In Ohio, skillathons typically include five stations, each taking about five minutes to complete, although stations can be changed to fit the time available. Some skillathons offer different age- or skill-appropriate stations for juniors, intermediates, and seniors. Youth move from station to station attempting to perform tasks such as matching breeds with descriptions, labeling animal body parts, identifying meat cuts, designing appropriate housing, etc.

Ohio State Fair Skillathons 

You do not have to be an exhibitor to complete at the OSF Skillathons.

Information on Ohio State Fair Skillathons

Skillathon Study Tools 

• Resource Handbooks
• Learning Lab Kits (Skillathon Kits)
• Livestock Resources from Ohio 4-H 
• Poultry Resources: Quick Grab Sheet or https://ohio4h.org/poultry 
• Online Great interactive website:
  • http://www.geauga4h.org/skillathon.htm
  • https://www.extension.iastate.edu/animalu/ 

  • https://wayne.osu.edu/skillathon-study-materials

  • https://www.clemson.edu/public/lph/ahp/poultry-npip/poultry-links.html

• American Rabbit Breeders Association Breed ID Guide

• 2024 Updated 5.25.2024 Fayette County Study Guide/Resource Sheet 

 

SPECIAL NEEDS ACCOMMODATIONS 

Accommodations can be made for youth with disabilities through our Winning 4-H Plan. (The Winning 4-H Plan is relatable to an IEP in school).

To make an accommodation request, complete the Winning 4-H Plan Request Form (link below) and send it to your local 4-H Professional.

Winning 4-H Plan Request Form - two options:

Print and Write - print this form, handwrite your responses, then send 

PDF Fillable - open this form, type your responses, then print and send