What the San Diego County Fair Junior Livestock Show and Auction Is
The San Diego County Fair at the Del Mar Fairgrounds has been rooted in agriculture since 1880, and its junior livestock program is where that history is still on display every summer. 4-H, FFA and Grange members and eligible independent youth raise market and breeding animals for months, show them in front of judges, and then sell the best market animals at the Junior Livestock Auction. The 2026 sale was the 77th annual auction. Proceeds go back to the young exhibitors, and the auction also funds the Don Diego Junior Livestock Auction Scholarship Fund, which has awarded more than half a million dollars in scholarships over 40-plus years.
Divisions and Ways to Enter
| Division | Who it is for | Entry fee |
|---|---|---|
| Market classes (beef, sheep, swine, goats, chicken, turkey and rabbit meat pens) | San Diego County residents in 4-H, FFA or Grange, or independents who attend a San Diego County school | $25 per class |
| Prospect and breeding classes | 4-H, Grange and FFA exhibitors in California, or independents living in San Diego County | $12 per class |
| Showmanship | Exhibitors in the classes above | $10 |
Junior dairy goat breeding classes are open to exhibitors from anywhere. Entry fees are not refundable.
How It Works: The Timeline
- February 23, 2026: DNA hair samples, signed Market Project Agreement and bill of sale due for market beef.
- April 24, 2026: the same paperwork is due for market lambs, hogs and goats.
- May 23, 2026: online livestock entries close. Late entries are not accepted.
- May 28, 2026: deadline for missing entry information, the YQCA training certificate and the online first aid and parent permission form.
- Tuesday, June 23: large livestock move in, official weigh-in, and a mandatory exhibitor meeting at 6:30 p.m.
- Wednesday, June 24: swine judging, followed by cattle.
- Thursday, June 25: chicken and turkey check-in, rabbit meat pens, then goat and sheep judging. The Market Champion Drive is at 7:30 p.m.
- Friday, June 26: market showmanship.
- Saturday, June 27: Junior Livestock Auction at 12:00 p.m., awards ceremony at 7:30 p.m.
- Sunday, June 28: Large Animal Master Showmanship (small animals follow July 3).
The schedule is tentative and barns close at 9 p.m. daily.
Who Can Enter and Rules
- FFA exhibitors must be members in good standing of a California chapter. 4-H exhibitors must qualify for 4-H in a California county.
- 4-H Primary members must be 5 by December 31 of the previous year. Exhibitors younger than 9 on that date cannot show large animals (beef, sheep, swine, dairy, Boer goats, horse, llama).
- Every junior exhibitor needs a current YQCA certificate.
- Market animals must be owned and cared for by the exhibitor for 120 consecutive days (beef), 60 days (swine, sheep, goats) or 30 days (meat pens), and must be raised in San Diego County.
- Each exhibitor may enter up to three market animals, no more than two of any species, and one meat pen per species.
- Minimum auction weights: beef 1,000 lb, sheep 100 lb, swine 210 lb, goats 65 lb. Underweight animals move to a progress class and cannot sell, but they can still do showmanship.
What You Get: Sale Money and Scholarships
Buyers bid per pound on beef and hogs and per lot on the other species. The exhibitor receives the sale price minus a 5 percent commission. Buyers may add to an exhibitor's check with an add-on of at least $25, which carries a 5 percent processing fee. A buyer can donate an animal to the Don Diego scholarship fund, sell it to the packer, have it processed (a $225 fee for beef, $125 for hogs, sheep or goats) or take it home. Resale-to-packer prices in the 2026 book were $1.25 per pound for hogs, $2.85 for lambs, $2.95 for goats and $2.40 for beef.
Where
Del Mar Fairgrounds, 2260 Jimmy Durante Blvd., Del Mar, CA 92014.
Questions
Can my child enter if they are not in 4-H or FFA?
Yes, as an independent, if they attend a school in San Diego County and tell the Livestock or Entry Office by the ownership deadline. Youth who were 4-H, Grange or FFA project members within 60 days (120 days for market beef) of the fair cannot switch to independent for that project.
What happens if my animal misses the weight?
It is moved to a progress class and cannot sell at the auction. You can re-request a weigh before leaving the scale area.
Who do I call?
The Livestock Office at (858) 792-4283, or the Entry Office at (858) 792-4207, Monday to Friday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Official Links
- 2026 Junior Livestock Market and Breeding Shows guide
- 2026 Junior Livestock Auction book
- San Diego County Fair
California Fairs and Youth Livestock Shows: The Essentials
California county and district fairs are where most 4-H and FFA members show and sell market animals. CDFA counts 80 fair organizations: District Agricultural Associations, county fairs, citrus fairs and Cal Expo.
Timing
Fairs run nearly all year. CDFA's 2026 list had Riverside in February and March, Salinas Valley in mid-May, the State Fair from July 17 to August 2 and Big Fresno in October.
Rules to watch
State and 4-H rules require 60 consecutive days of ownership for market sheep, swine and goats and 120 for market beef, per the 4-H handbook. Junior livestock exhibitors must also complete YQCA training each year.
Auctions
Monterey's 2025 livestock rules describe a terminal sale with a 9.0 percent selling charge and required thank-you letters. Other fairs differ.
Next steps
Get your fair's exhibitor book from the fair office or Extension 4-H office and mark ownership, entry and YQCA dates. Dates and weights change each year.
Read the full guide: California Fairs and Youth Livestock Shows
Other Upcoming Events Nearby
- San Diego County Fair Junior Livestock Auction
Held each year during the fair; the most recent auction was June 27, 2026, noon to 5 p.m. 4-H, FFA, Grange and independent youth sell swine, lambs, goats, beef and meat pens.
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