4-H Sheep/Meat GoatWeigh-In Information 2017

Please read through the following thoroughly!

NEW for 2017:Aksarben is accepting retinal images for their nomination process for market sheep and meat goats!

The $5/head fee will nominate an animal for BOTH State Fair AND Aksarben shows

Be sure the “Retinal Image” box is checked in 4hOnline – for either or both shows!

Retinal Scanning Reminders

Original “older” model scanners

  • Get your machine out, boot it up in your office and test it out first!! (see Bypassing the GPS for office practicing)
  • If your compact flash card worked at last year’s sheep weigh-in, there’s no need to re-format the card
  • If you DO re-format your card (again, no need to do this if it’s working), you need to be sure to erase the ENTIRE card, folders and all, and THEN re-format it
  • GPS Locks – although preferred, if you are having trouble during your weigh-in getting a lock, just bypass the GPS function

Tablet Scanners

  • Get out your scanner, boot it up and allow Windows to do any updates
  • Open up your Summit View Management app, and run through the screens in your office
  • See instructions here on how to set up your tablet the first time after purchasing

***Correctly Enter Your Tag Numbers in 4hOnline & On Retinal Scanners***

USDA Tags (pictured at right) – 3 Letters, 4 Numbers ONLY – for example, JJS8481; do NOT put county code or the “42” in your machine or in 4hOnline

“Old” Style Tags – Enter your 2-digit county code & Tag # - for example, 85456 (85 being Story County’s code)

Retinal Images

Be sure your images are of good quality. If they are off-centered, blurred or dark, etc., they will need to be re-done.

Make sure you back up your originalretinal images in multiple places (i.e. hard drive, shared drive, CD) before emailing them to the State 4-H Office.

For examples of good/bad images, formatting your card, or to refresh yourself or your volunteers on scanning or using the software, please visit,

Important 4HOnline Reminders

  • May 15 – The Magical Date
  • Data entered into 4hOnline
  • Retinal images emailed to State 4-H Office;
  • 4-H’er/Family has verified info. in 4hOnline to be complete & correct
  • AGAIN for 2017: Each county will be invoiced based on the # of animals in 4hOnlinethat have the “Retinal Images” box marked for State Fair ($5.00/head); this will appear on your county’s ISU U-Bill. (i.e. Story County will pay for all Story County animals including those that may attend an outside county)

Things to Keep in Mind

  • County offices should retain a copy of the paper identification form for their county records.
  • Be sure you communicate with FFA advisors for any FFA animals you ID at your weigh-in.
    FFA should be responsible for their nose print and DNA materials.
  • If you have FFA animals and receive payment from an FFA family, send the payment, ID form, and DNA directly to the State Fair Office, Attn: FFA Livestock ID, P.O. Box 57130, Des Moines, IA 50317.
  • Counties must also have a working scale available for weighing the individual animals. The scale must be a beam or electronic scale, not a dial scale, and it must be checked and balanced regularly (every 15 to 20 head) if it is not a certified scale. This can be done with a basic weight (like a known weight bag, bucket, barbell, etc).
  • If your county is not serving as a weigh-in site, other arrangements need to be made with a neighboring county. These arrangements should be jointly agreed upon by both staff and volunteers. No 4-H’er is allowed
    to just “show up” at a weigh-in without prior approval at a neighboring county. Tags from either county can be utilized, but DO NOT send ear tags with families to a weigh-in.