May 15, 2024
State Livestock Nominations Due June 15
All small livestock and commercial breeding heifer state nominations are due June 15. This includes commercial breeding heifers, market swine, commercial breeding gilts, market lambs, commercial breeding ewes, and ALL meat goat families would like to be eligible for the Kansas State Fair Grand Drive and/or KJLS. Animals must be submitted online through ShoWorks by this date, as well as the completed and signed official DNA envelopes being postmarked. 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. Families must submit the animals under each child within the family for all kids to be eligible to show the animal. Otherwise, when it is time to enter, the animal will not be available to the exhibitor during the online entry process. 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 the exhibitor account for other siblings. 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 example, if you have two kids and four animals, all four animals should be entered in the system under each exhibitor. This does mean you will have eight total entries for your family on the receipt. Families must also designate the market or commercial breeding division for each animal. Females can be dual nominated in both divisions. However, they must be nominated under the market division and then the “Dual Nominate” checkbox slid to “Yes”. Doing this allows nominated gilts, ewes, and does to be eligible for either the market division or the commercial breeding division when it is time to submit show entries this summer.
The 2024 state livestock information is available from the KSU Youth Livestock Program website. No paper forms will be accepted, all nominations must be submitted online. Several resources are available to guide families in successfully completing their nominations, including the Rookie Guide, species checklists, and Zoom session recordings. Families must plan ahead. The general process includes these steps:
1) Exhibitors complete YQCA training and download the certificate. Must be valid through 10/1/24 to be accepted.
2) Locate KSU Family Name & Nomination #. Returning families can be found on the list posted on the website. New families nominating for the first time need to request one here.
3) Complete Declaration Form representing entire family and all species that will be exhibited.
4) Login to online nomination system account (ShoWorks).
*Returning exhibitors – login to ShoWorks account using last year’s credentials. *New exhibitors – create a new account for each child who will be showing.
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 10/1/24)
*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 the system to order DNA envelopes before entering animals, using the instructions.
*Must return to the link before June 15 to enter animals in the system.
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. Each step in the process has their own unique link. Exhibitors will use the 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. 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.
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. It will take about two weeks to open and process all mail received. For more information, visit the “Nomination Information” page of the youth livestock program website or contact Lexie Hayes at adhayes@ksu.edu or (785) 532-1264.