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Kansas 4-H Tip Sheet

May 15, 2023

State Livestock Nomination Due June 15

Submitted by Lexie Hayes

All small livestock and commercial heifer state nominations are due June 15. This includes commercial heifers, market swine, commercial gilts, market lambs, commercial ewes, and ALL meat goats. Animals must be submitted online through ShoWorks by this date, as well as the completed and signed official DNA envelopes being postmarked back to the KSU YLP office. Families also need to submit a copy of their receipt showing the list of all animals and tag numbers that were entered in the system under each child for their family. Both state shows now have a breeding doe show. However, there is not a separate division for registered breeding does at either state show, so all meat goats must be nominated in order to be eligible to show. This year, families must submit the animals under each child within the family for all kids to be eligible to show the animal. All youth must also sign the DNA envelope for each animal. There is a red “auto-fill from previous” button that will allow animals already nominated under one child to quickly be added to other siblings. Each exhibitor must have their own account though and animals added to it as nomination entries. If you don’t have a receipt showing a specific tag number under a child, that animal has not been submitted online and the child will not be eligible to show it. Enter all animals under all kids in the system and have all kids sign the DNA envelopes to have the most flexibility with your family’s livestock projects for the state shows.

Families must also designate the market or commercial breeding division for each animal. New this year, females (gilts, ewes, does) can be dual nominated in both divisions. However, to see this option, they must be nominated under the market division and then the “Dual Nominate” checkbox slid to “Yes”.

The 2023 state livestock information is available from the KSU Youth Livestock Program website (www.asi.k-state.edu/research-and-extension/youth-programs). No paper forms will be accepted this year; all nominations must be submitted online. Several resources are available to guide families in successfully completing their nominations, including the Rookie Guide and Zoom session recordings. Families must plan ahead. The general process includes these steps:

1) Exhibitors complete YQCA training and download certificate. Must be valid through 10/1/23 to be accepted.

2) Locate KSU Family Name & Nomination #.

Returning families can be found on the list posted on the website: 
https://www.asi.k-state.edu/extension/youth-programs/nominated-livestock/2023%20KSU%20Nomination%20Family%20Name%20and%20Number%20List.pdf

New families nominating for the first time need to request one:  https://kstate.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_8tU94QBkQxL9IfY


3) Complete Declaration Form representing entire family and all species that will be exhibited.

Declaration Form: 
https://www.asi.k-state.edu/extension/youth-programs/nominated-livestock/2023_Declaration%20Form.pdf


4) Login to ShoWorks account for online nomination system.

Returning exhibitors – login to ShoWorks account using last year’s credentials.

New exhibitors – create a new account for each child who will be showing.

Online Nomination System Link (ShoWorks):  https://kansasnom.fairwire.com/

5) Enter animal data and exhibitor information as “entries” through the online nomination system. This includes tag numbers, breeds, secondary ID for animals and uploading the two (2) required documents for each child:

Current YQCA certificate (valid through 10/1/23)
Declaration Form (representing the entire family)

6) Purchase official DNA envelopes in advance through the online system, under “3 – Items”. One (1) envelope/animal.

May skip ahead in system to order DNA envelopes before entering animals, using the instructions below. If you choose this option, you MUST return to link before June 15 to enter animals in the system. Only animals entered online (tag numbers, breeds, secondary ID, etc.) will be accepted.

https://www.asi.k-state.edu/extension/youth-programs/nominated-livestock/Order%20DNA%20Envelopes%20before%20Tagging.pdf

7) Mail completed DNA envelopes and copy of online submission receipt (with list of animals) by June 15 (postmark deadline).
*Send certified, or via a tracking method that provides a receipt as proof of mailing.

8) Nominations will be approved online by Extension Agents and FFA Advisors.

9) Review confirmation letter received after signed DNA envelopes are processed.

10) Enter Kansas State Fair Grand Drive and KJLS using entry links provided by each show. Exhibitors will use account and password created for nominations to login, enter, and pay fees for each show.

All families are encouraged to use the specie checklist as a guide to ensure their nominations are complete upon submission. This resource may be found on the KSU Youth Livestock Program website:  https://www.asi.k-state.edu/extension/youth-programs/nominated-livestock/2023%20Nomination%20Checklist_all%20species.pdf

There should NOT be a single exhibitor signature on DNA, or animals only entered under one kid online, unless there is only one child eligible to exhibit within the family. Once the first animal nomination is entered for each child, the system will prompt users to upload the child’s YQCA certificate and Declaration Form. Both forms must be uploaded at the same time. The system accepts PDF documents or image files. YQCA certification must be completed at the time of nomination. Once any form is uploaded, the system does not allow families to edit their forms.

Ear notches are also required for swine nominations and full scrapie tag numbers are required for sheep and meat goats. The scrapie tag number must include the Flock ID and individual animal number (example: KSS0035 16121). Nominations received without this information will be considered incomplete and returned to the family for completion. Resources on reading ear notches and submitting scrapie tag numbers are available on the website.

Ear Notches:  https://www.asi.k-state.edu/extension/youth-programs/nominated-livestock/Purdue%20Extension_Reference%20Guide%20-%20Introduction%20to%20Ear%20Notching.pdf

Scrapie Tags:  https://www.asi.k-state.edu/extension/youth-programs/nominated-livestock/Scrapie%20Tag%20Page.pdf

Confirmation letters will be sent to families once their DNA envelopes are received and nominations have been processed. The reports will be updated on the KSU Youth Livestock Program website 2-3 times/week until we reach the deadline, then more frequently after that. Families are encouraged to use one of these options to verify their nominations. For more information, contact Lexie Hayes (adhayes@ksu.edu; 785-532-1264).

REMINDER - A complete nomination does NOT constitute show entry!
The Kansas State Fair Grand Drive entries will be available after all nominations have been processed, approximately July 1. The link to entry will be available on the Grand Drive website (https://www.kansasstatefair.com/p/competitions/2020-special-edition-4-h--ffa-grand-drive) and KJLS (https://kjls.org/) will release entry information to agents and through its website later this summer. State Fair Grand Drive entries will be due July 15 and KJLS entries will be due August 15. Animals that are nominated, but do not follow the appropriate entry processes set forth by each show, will not be permitted to show. For nomination questions, please contact Lexie Hayes at adhayes@ksu.edu. Questions regarding show rules or entries should be directed to each specific show (KSF Grand Drive 620-669-3623; KJLS 316-706-9750).