Animal Science

Lease Paperwork

Maryland 4-Hers may own or lease their project animals. 4-H Members may not have both owned and leased animals within the same project area during the same 4-H year (which runs January 1 through December 31). Deadline for lease agreements is June 1st annually or prior to your first 4-H event, whichever comes first.

• Animal Lease Release Form (required for breeding and performance)
• Breeding Lease Paperwork
• Performance Lease Paperwork

ID Cards (Alpaca, Dog, and Horse)

If you are planning to show or participate in any alpaca, dog, or horse events during the year, you need to register your 4-H project animal with the Frederick 4-H Office by completing a Maryland 4-H identification card. Deadline to file is June 1st of the current year.

• Alpaca
• Dog
• Horse

AHQA

The site will open in March and remain open through July each year. Completion of this program is required to show your project animal(s) in County and State 4-H Shows. The deadline to complete the training is July 1 of the current year for Frederick County 4-H members. Click here for Program Guidelines and Tips.

• CVI/Animal Health Regulations from MDA
• Maryland 4-H Animal Science Resources
• National 4-H Project Curriculum Books

ALL ANIMAL EXHIBITORS MUST:

            -complete AHQA training for that species (July 31)- each time it is a new species OR 

             youth ages up into new age bracket (JR, INT, SR)

            -be enrolled in the animal species project area in 4-H Online (July 31)

            -complete a 4-H Project Record for that species (due first week of Feb to the 4-H office)

            -sign the Maryland 4-H Code of Animal Science Ethics (signed online during AHQA)

ALL ANIMAL SPECIES MUST HAVE A VALID FORM OF IDENTIFICATION- varies per species (eartag, RFID tags, tattoos, bands, etc)- check fair rule books for county/state fairs and/or MDA website

ALL ANIMAL SPECIES MUST COMPLETE SOME FORM OF HEALTH PAPERS

            Certificate of Veterinary Inspection (CVI or health papers)- required for ALL species 

                                (except rabbit, poultry, equine) - lasts 120 days, required prior to arrival on      

                                fairgrounds. Must be signed by a veterinarian.                  

         Self-Certification- ALL species must complete this prior to arrival on the fairgrounds

SOME ANIMALS SPECIES REQUIRE TESTING- varies each year depending on outbreaks (there are poultry, equine tests required every year, others are added as needed- check MDA, fair office, 4-H office, or fair rule book)- check here first: https://mda.maryland.gov/AnimalHealth/pages/fairs-shows.aspx 

SOME ANIMAL SPECIES HAVE AGE/WEIGHT REQUIREMENTS- this varies by species and class- check the fair book for details before entering the animal or reach out to the fair office. ALL MARKET ANIMALS must attend weigh-ins in spring AND weigh-ins at check-in at fair (see fair/4-H emails for updates on weigh-in dates/locations each year)

Link to Maryland State Fair exhibitor page: https://marylandstatefair.com/4hffa/ 

Link to Great Frederick Fair exhibitor page: https://thegreatfrederickfair.com/youth-info/ 

Link to Maryland 4-H Animal Science website (exhibitor resources towards bottom): https://extension.umd.edu/programs/4-h-youth-development/program-areas/animal-sciences/ 

Note- As per Maryland 4-H rules, 4-H market animals cannot be a part of leasing programs.

**GFF office- copies of all forms submitted to GFF will be sent to MSF/4-H office as well 

**4-H office- copies of all forms submitted to the 4-H office will be sent to GFF/MSF office as well