What the Yavapai County Fair Is
The Yavapai County Fair is run by the Yavapai Fair Foundation at the Prescott Rodeo Grounds, 840 Rodeo Dr, Prescott. The 2026 fair is September 10 to 13, opening to the public on Thursday, and fairs here go back to 1913. It has separate adult and youth exhibit divisions, and the plant and garden entries are a big part of it: floriculture and horticulture.
What You Can Enter
- Fresh flowers, fresh herbs, vegetables, fruits and ornamental plants
- Artistic floral arrangements
- Houseplants
- Dried herbs and dried vegetables
- Flowering shrubs and herbs
Who Can Enter and Rules
- Entries must be grown by the exhibitor in Yavapai County. Grocery store produce is not allowed.
- Adult and youth divisions are separate.
- Flowers and fresh herbs go in the official fair vases unless they are part of an artistic arrangement.
- Judges may cut or taste fruits and vegetables and look at details closely.
How It Works: The Timeline
- Register online at yavapaifair.com. The site lists every entry category, the rules and instructions. Registering ahead is recommended, and you can register entries that may be ready and bring only those that are.
- Drop off Wednesday, September 9, 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. at the Mackin Building, Prescott Rodeo Grounds. This is earlier than in past years so judges have more time before the fair opens. Master Gardeners are at check-in to help identify entries, and you can bring an entry even if you do not know its name.
- Fair days, Thursday, September 10 to Sunday, September 13. The fair opens to the public Thursday.
Fees and What You Get
Submitting entries is free, and each entry includes one free pass to the fair.
Getting Your Entries Ready
Flowers
Cut in the cool morning or evening with a sharp tool. Cut stems longer than needed, place them in lukewarm water and refrigerate for several hours. Pick blooms that are nearly fully open, and for multi-flower classes match size and stage.
Herbs
Harvest before flowering when possible, rinse gently in cool water and choose clean, healthy, uniform stems.
Vegetables
Harvest when mature and as close to judging as practical. For multiple specimens, match size, shape and color. Dig root crops when the soil is dry and gently brush off tender-skinned vegetables. Judges prefer high-quality, market-size produce over oversized produce.
Where
Prescott Rodeo Grounds, 840 Rodeo Dr, Prescott, AZ 86305. Plant entries are received in the Mackin Building.
Questions
Can I enter store-bought produce?
No. Entries must be grown by the exhibitor in Yavapai County.
I do not know what my plant is called. Can I still enter?
Yes. Master Gardeners at check-in will help identify it.
Is there a fee?
No, submission is free and includes one fair pass.
Who can I contact?
Mary Barnes, the Agriculture and Natural Resources program coordinator at University of Arizona Cooperative Extension, handles the plant entries; the yavapaifair.com site has the full instructions.
Also Running This Fall
Applications are open for a Home Horticulture class, a condensed Zoom version of the Master Gardener training, on Thursdays from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m., September 17 through October 29.
Official Links
- It's almost time for the Yavapai County Fair (UA Cooperative Extension)
- Yavapai County Fair entries drop-off listing
Arizona County Fairs and Youth Livestock Shows: The Essentials
Arizona youth shows run through county Extension offices, 4-H clubs and FFA chapters, and each show publishes its own rules. Dates run from January roundups to the State Fair in October.
Examples
The Arizona 4-H Stock Show and Roundup is set for January 30 and 31, 2027 in Tucson, with registration closing January 15. The Yavapai County Fair ran September 10 to 13, 2026 at the Prescott Rodeo Grounds. The Arizona State Fair ran October 1 to November 1, 2026, with its Sale of Champions on October 3.
Who can show
The State Fair says youth competitions are for ages 8 to 18. The Roundup uses Junior (8 to 10), Intermediate (11 to 13) and Senior (14 to 18) divisions.
Rules to check
Pima County asks members to complete Arizona Youth Livestock Quality Assurance training and ties each animal to an ownership deadline, a tag and a weigh-in. Weights, tagging and sale rules differ by show.
Next steps
Ask your county Extension office for the premium book and entry dates before you buy an animal.
Read the full guide: Arizona County Fairs and Youth Livestock Shows
Other Upcoming Events Nearby
- Prescott Frontier Days - World's Oldest Rodeo
Held each year around the start of July at the Prescott Rodeo Grounds, with mutton bustin, live music and food before each performance. Rodeo days for 2026 were June 29 to July 5.
- Arizona FFA Summit Conference - Cottonwood
Arizona FFA Summit Conference gathering at the Verde Valley Fairgrounds in Cottonwood on September 16, 2026 for central and northern Arizona chapters.
Cottonwood, AZ | Organizer: Arizona FFA Official event details - Central Arizona Farmer Field Day
Annual morning field day for central Arizona growers run by the University of Arizona Pinal County agronomy program, with cotton, small grain and forage research results; set for November 18, 2026.
Casa Grande, AZ | 520-836-5221 | Organizer: University of Arizona Cooperative Extension Official event details - Arizona National Livestock Show
Billed as the largest livestock show in the Southwest, it draws youth exhibitors with about 2,500 cattle, horses, sheep, goats and swine; 2026 runs December 27-31.
- Arizona National Livestock Show Livestock Judging Classic
Livestock judging contest where entrants rank cattle, sheep, swine and goats and give oral reasons; the junior division for 4-H and FFA runs during the Phoenix livestock show.
Phoenix, AZ | Organizer: Arizona National Livestock Show Official event details
Listing checked Nov. 11, 2026 against this source. Details can change; confirm with the organizer.