What the Belt Buckle Classic Is
The Belt Buckle Classic is a junior cattle show at the Tom Harbin Farm Center in Luverne, hosted by the Crenshaw County Junior Cattlemen's Association and sanctioned by the Beyond the Ring Junior Livestock Association. It was revived as an annual event in January 2011 after more than a decade without a local show, and in 2019 a June show was added so the event runs twice a year. The winter 2023 show was the 17th. Exhibitors have come from Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Mississippi and Tennessee, and the show is free and open to the public to watch.
Money raised helps fund financial assistance for youth livestock events across Alabama and scholarships for local youth.
Classes and Ways to Enter
| Division | Who and what | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Bulls | Born on or after September 1, 2024, registered solely to the junior exhibitor, papers at check-in | $25 per head |
| Registered breeding heifers | Born on or after September 1, 2024, registered solely to the junior exhibitor, papers at check-in | $25 per head |
| Commercial and market heifers | Market heifers show with steers in the market classes | $25 per head |
| Steers and market animals | Shown in market classes | $25 per head |
| Showmanship, Divisions I-V | Exhibitor must show their own properly entered animal | $15 per person |
| PeeWee Showmanship | Ages 9 and under with no cattle entered in the market or heifer show | Free, but online entry is required |
A heifer can be shown as breeding or market, not both. Heifers with pending registration papers show as commercial heifers. Breed classes depend on entry numbers; if a breed does not make, unclassed registered animals show as AOB (any other breed).
Who Can Enter and Rules
- Open to exhibitors from all states, up to age 21. Members of 4-H, FFA and Junior Cattlemen's groups compete.
- It is a blow-and-go, no-fit show. Animals are shown in their natural state, clean, clipped and dry. Paints, glue and similar products are prohibited, and violations mean immediate disqualification.
- Bulls must wear a nose ring or nose restraint with the lead attached, except when tied in stalls or tie-outs.
- Out-of-state cattle need health papers and must meet open-show health regulations.
- Animals are exhibited at the owner's risk. Entry fees are non-refundable.
Key Dates and Deadlines
- Tuesday, May 26, 2026: online entry deadline, and the postmark deadline for payment. An entry is not complete until payment is received. Mail payment to CCJCA c/o Ashley Catrett, 195 S. Mt. Olive Rd., Luverne, AL 36049.
- Only the first 100 paid entries are accepted.
- Saturday, June 6, 2026: show day.
How Show Day Works: The Timeline
- 8:00 to 9:30 a.m. Check-in and weigh-in for all exhibitors and animals. Friday arrivals are welcome.
- 11:00 a.m. Complimentary lunch.
- 11:30 a.m. PeeWee Showmanship.
- 12:00 p.m. Showmanship, oldest to youngest, followed by heifers, bulls and then market animals.
Barn space is first come, first served. Electrical outlets are limited, so bring a generator, and be ready to tie animals to the trailer. Bedding is sold on a first-come basis, and exhibitors may bring their own.
Fees, Awards and What You Get
Animal entries are $25 per head and showmanship is $15 per person. Optional short-sleeve T-shirts are $20 each, preordered in youth sizes YS to A3XL. Seventeen buckles are awarded in the June 2026 show: top 5 heifers, top 5 market, top 2 bulls and 5 showmanship division champions. At past shows exhibitors have also gone home with plaques, show-coat swag bags and a rope halter, and PeeWee participants have received belt buckles for taking part.
Where
Tom Harbin Farm Center, Luverne, Alabama. Overnight guests can stay at Rutledge Inn and Suites, 1701 Montgomery Hwy, Luverne, AL 36049, phone 334-335-3050.
Questions
Do I have to be a member of a youth group?
The show is for 4-H, FFA and Junior Cattlemen's members from any state, through age 21.
Can my 7-year-old take part without a steer?
Yes. PeeWee Showmanship is free for ages 9 and under with no cattle in the market or heifer show, but you must enter online.
Can I fit my animal with adhesives or paint?
No. It is a no-fit show, and those products lead to disqualification.
Who do I call?
The Alabama Cattlemen's Association office, 334-265-1867. Show updates are also sent through a Remind group: text @bbcjun2026 to 81010.
Official Links
- Belt Buckle Classic, Alabama Cattlemen's Association: 2026 schedule, fees, rules and entry
- 17th Belt Buckle Classic held at Tom Harbin Ag Center: history, eligibility and awards
Other Upcoming Events Nearby
- National Peanut Festival
Held each year in Dothan and tracked on the Alabama Farmers Federation calendar; the most recent dates were November 6 to 15, 2026.
- Alabama Farmers Federation Annual Meeting
Annual meeting of the Alabama Farmers Federation, held in Montgomery on the organization's events calendar for December 6-7, 2026.
- Gulf States Horticulture Expo
Horticulture trade expo in Mobile for Gulf Coast growers, shown on the Alabama Farmers Federation events calendar for January 6-8, 2027.
Mobile, AL | Organizer: Alabama Farmers Federation Official event details - Alabama Fruit and Vegetable Growers Association Conference and Trade Show
Held each year in Gulf Shores by the Alabama Fruit and Vegetable Growers Association; the most recent dates were February 3 to 5, 2027.
- SLE Rodeo and Livestock Week
Southeastern Livestock Exposition rodeo and livestock week at Garrett Coliseum in Montgomery, posted on the Bama Beef calendar for March 19-21, 2027.
Listing checked Nov. 11, 2026 against this source. Details can change; confirm with the organizer.