Mahaska County 4-H Livestock Superintendent

Job Description

PURPOSE:To organize and supervise pre-fair activities, judging, exhibits, and activities in livestock divisions at the Southern Iowa Fair.

SUPERINTENDENT RESPONSIBILITIES:
*Committee is referring to group of project area superintendents

Early in Calendar Year

  • Attend pre-fair meetings.
  • Verbally inform Extension Office of judge's name, address, and phone number
  • Suggestchanges in fair book guidelines and/or show procedures. Review and approve final draft of your division's fair book copy by March 1.
  • Supervise weigh-ins held in advance of fair, if applicable.
  • Organize and hold at least one hands-on, interactive clinic or project area workshop during year (prior to fair)

Pre-fair

  • Work on stall assignments with 4-H staff
  • Assist with pre- and post-fair cleanup for respective barns
  • Assist exhibitors in following health guidelines
  • Be available to answer questions from 4-H and FFA families in regards to specific project area
  • Be available to re-tag animals that lose tags, typically done at member’s home or location of animal

Fair Days

  • Superintendent or a representative needs to be present during livestock arrival and departure times.
  • Supervise fair weigh-in, if applicable.
  • Work with 4-H staff to break classes and develop a show order
  • Routinely check barns for livestock health concerns and contact the designated fair veterinarian, if necessary.
  • Be available to answer questions from exhibitors, parents, leaders, and Extension staff.
  • Work with 4-H Youth Committee representative to clarify any discrepancies in eligibility of animals or youth.
  • Support herdsmanship and appropriate animal welfare practices for an attractive public display. If proper care of animals is not maintained, the superintendent (with committee decision) has the right to dismiss the animal from the fair. The 4-H/FFA member will forfeit premium money, and participation in future fairs will be questioned.

Show Day

  • Prior to show, check in with the 4-H Office to make sure all supplies are ready for the show (trophies, show orders, pens, bottled water, tables, etc.), check with the Fair Board to make sure microphone (if applicable) is available and working
  • During show, designate a *committee member to perform each of the following duties:

a. Ring Announcer.

b. Check exhibitors into the ring.

c.Ring person to help exhibitors.

d. Record ribbon placings (also be sure all no shows or changes are noted). This is typically handled by 4-H Teen Council member, but must be done by someone regardless.

  • Return notebook to the 4-H Fair Office promptly following the show.
  • Orient judge on day of show. Be sure judge gets plenty of water. At conclusion of show, ask judge to stop by 4-H office to make sure all forms are completed for them to receive payment after the fair

Post Fair

  • Attend post-fair evaluation meeting and/or complete post-fair suggestion form.
  • If unable to attend, designate a committee member to take your place.

RESPONSIBILITIES OF STAFF:

  • Provide rough drafts of fair book copy, a fair book to each superintendent, collect fair entries in 4hOnline and paper IDs for FFA, and tally number of entries.
  • Prepare and send letter of confirmation to judges.
  • Send news releases to media.
  • Provide computer support of entries, classes, and show orders
  • Group orders for ribbons and trophies and make available for the event.
  • Calculate premiums.

QUALIFICATIONS OF SUPERINTENDENT:

  • Ability to work with adults and youth.
  • Ability to organize and supervise.
  • Familiarity with 4-H program, its purposes, and goals.
  • Interest in youth and their development and in respective livestock area.