What the Junior Livestock Expo Is
The Junior Livestock Expo is Alabama's statewide youth show for beef cattle, swine and dairy, held each March in Montgomery during the Southeastern Livestock Exposition (SLE) and rodeo. The Alabama Farmers Federation and Alfa Insurance coordinate it. Exhibitors bring animals they have raised to be judged on breeding, market quality and showmanship, and the top animals and exhibitors are paraded at the SLE Rodeo.
The 2026 Expo ran March 16-18. Beef and dairy exhibitors showed in Garrett Coliseum for the first time in more than a decade, a larger ring that gave them more room to work, while swine exhibitors moved into Teague Arena, which has more space for friends and family to watch.
Shows and Divisions
| Division | What is judged |
|---|---|
| Beef | Steer and heifer shows, market show, breeding heifer shows, purebred bull show (added in 2024) and showmanship |
| Swine | Showmanship, market hog show and breeding gilt show |
| Dairy | Showmanship and dairy show |
Showmanship tests how well an exhibitor handles and presents an animal. Breeding and market shows judge the animal's structure, soundness and strength.
A Look at Past Schedules
The 2024 Expo shows how the days are laid out:
- March 9: Dairy showmanship and dairy show
- March 14: Beef showmanship
- March 15: Beef market show, beef purebred bull show and swine showmanship
- March 16: Beef heifer show, swine breeding gilt show and swine market hog show
Check the Federation for the exact order of shows each year.
History
The Federation took over management of the whole beef show in 2017 after five years of coordinating the showmanship contests. It added the Junior Swine Expo in 2022, with a showmanship contest and breeding and market shows and prize money for students, and a Junior Dairy Expo was added later. Sponsors have included the Alabama Farmers Agriculture Foundation, local county Farmers Federations, the Alabama 4-H Foundation and the Alabama FFA Foundation. The Expo has been described as the culmination of a year-long project for young exhibitors; partners include 4-H, FFA, the Alabama Cattlemen's Association, SLE and Auburn University.
One recent Expo drew more than 200 exhibitors and nearly 500 animal entries. In 2024 the winners included a Champion Charolais Breeding Heifer and a Commercial Division champion heifer, and the top five in each contest were paraded at the SLE Rodeo's Parade of Champions.
Where
Garrett Coliseum (beef and dairy) and Teague Arena (swine), Montgomery, Alabama.
Questions
Is it only for cattle?
No. Beef, swine and dairy exhibitors all show at the Expo.
Do winners get any recognition?
Top animals and exhibitors take part in the Parade of Champions during the SLE Rodeo.
Who do I call?
The Alabama Farmers Federation, 100 Alfa Drive, Montgomery, AL 36117, phone (334) 288-3900.
Official Links
- Roots Revisited: Jr. Livestock Competitors Return to Garrett Coliseum: 2026 Expo
- Banners, ribbons come home after Jr. Livestock Expo: 2024 schedule and results
- Alabama Jr. Livestock Show Teaches Value of Hard Work: divisions and participation
- Federation adds swine show: history
- Farmers Federation to lead Alabama Junior Beef Expo: history
Other Upcoming Events Nearby
- 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.
- 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.
- SLE Youth Livestock Judging Contest
Youth livestock judging contest tied to the Southeastern Livestock Exposition in Montgomery. Held each year; the most recent date was March 11, 2026.
Montgomery, AL | Organizer: Alabama 4-H Official event details - Youth Livestock Judging Contest at the Southeastern Livestock Exposition
Held each year in Montgomery during the Southeastern Livestock Exposition; the most recent date was March 11, 2026.
Montgomery, AL | Organizer: Alabama 4-H Official event details - Alabama 4-H Horse Communication and Creative Arts Contests
Held each year in Montgomery for Alabama 4-H horse project members; the most recent date was March 14, 2026.
Listing checked Nov. 11, 2026 against this source. Details can change; confirm with the organizer.