What the Lake Hartwell Pig Classic Is
The Annual Lake Hartwell Pig Classic is a one-day junior pig show in Hartwell, Georgia, open to exhibitors from pre-kindergarten through twelfth grade. Kids show market pigs by weight class and purebred gilts and barrows by breed, and a full showmanship contest runs for seven grade divisions. The 2026 show is Saturday, December 5, 2026, and entries are due December 3.
The rules and schedule below come from the 2024 show, the most recent published rules. Fees, limits and times for 2026 can change, so confirm them on the entry page.
Divisions
| Division | Details |
|---|---|
| Market pigs | Gilts and barrows shown separately, by weight class. Market pigs weighed 200 pounds or less in 2024, with no variances. |
| Purebreds | Gilts and barrows shown together. Breeds: Berkshire, Duroc, Hampshire, Landrace, York and AOB (any other breed). A breed needs at least five pigs to show separately. Each breed names a Grand and Reserve, which compete for overall purebred Grand and Reserve. |
| Showmanship | Seven grade divisions: Senior (11th-12th), Junior (9th-10th), Intermediate (7th-8th), Novice (5th-6th), Elementary (3rd-4th), Beginner (1st-2nd) and Pee Wee (pre-K through kindergarten). |
Who Can Enter
- Junior exhibitors, pre-club members, and 4-H or FFA members, grades pre-K through 12.
- Gilts and barrows only.
- In 2024, each exhibitor could bring up to four animals, and the show took the first 300 pigs entered.
- Purebred pigs need a certificate of registry in the exhibitor's name and, in 2024, had to be farrowed on or after June 1 of that year.
- A purebred cannot be entered as both a purebred and a market pig, and once the entry form is in, it cannot be switched to market.
Fees
- Entry: $35 per pig
- Showmanship: $10
- Pen: $5 per pen, with pigs penned two to a pen
How It Works: The Timeline
- Entry deadline: December 3 for 2026 (December 2 in 2024).
- Friday before the show: in 2024, the barn opened at 4:00 p.m. for overnight penning and locked at 8:00 p.m. It reopened at 6:00 a.m. on show day.
- Weigh-in: 7:00 to 9:00 a.m. on show day in 2024.
- Show: began at 9:30 a.m. in 2024.
Rules
- Every pig needs a clean, readable ear tag before it reaches the scale. Electronic ID tags are not accepted, and pigs without a tag are turned away at the scale.
- Current health papers are required at unloading. Pigs must be PRV and brucellosis negative and have an official health certificate.
- No re-weighs after an animal leaves the scale area.
- Exhibitors show their own animals unless they have more than one in the same class, which must be cleared with show officials first. No showing from a trailer.
- No straw bedding, no clipping at the show, no overnight camping, no alcohol on school property and no tobacco.
- The show follows the state rules, guidelines and Code of Conduct. Violators can be disqualified, removed without refund and banned from future events.
- Animals are shown at the owner's risk, and the judge's decision is final in all classes.
Awards and What You Get
- Buckles go to the winners of showmanship divisions 1 through 6 (Senior through Beginner).
- Cash payouts go to the top five places in showmanship divisions 1 through 6, in every market weight class, and in each purebred breed.
- Every Pee Wee exhibitor receives a prize.
Where
Hart County, Hartwell, Georgia. The 2024 show was held at the Hart County Agriscience Center, 1951 Bowman Highway, Hartwell, GA 30643.
Questions
How old does my child have to be?
Pre-kindergarten through 12th grade. The youngest exhibitors compete in the Pee Wee showmanship division and all receive prizes.
Can I show a pig that weighs over 200 pounds?
In 2024, market pigs had to weigh no more than 200 pounds, with no variances.
Can I pen my pigs overnight?
In 2024 the barn was open for penning Friday from 4:00 to 8:00 p.m. and reopened early Saturday, but camping on the premises was not allowed.
What if my breed has only a few entries?
A breed with fewer than five pigs is shown as AOB.
Official Links
- Georgia 4-H livestock calendar: 2026 date and entry deadline
- Entry page on Showman
- Lake Hartwell Pig Classic rules (2024 edition)
Georgia County Fairs and Youth Livestock Shows: The Essentials
Georgia's youth livestock season runs from January jackpots to the Georgia National Fair in Perry, which ran through October 18 in 2026, per WTOC. The top show is the Georgia Junior National Livestock Show in Perry: lambs and goats October 7 to 11, 2026, and hogs, beef, heifers, ewes and does February 17 to 20, 2027, per Georgia 4-H.
Who can show
Georgia 4-H and FFA members who have not finished high school. Grade minimums run from 1st grade for lambs and goats to 4th grade for beef.
Tags and papers
Market lambs and goats need state ear tags by August 1 and hogs by December 5. Livestock need a veterinary inspection certificate.
Next steps
Ask your county Extension agent or ag teacher for the fair book and entry dates.
Rules differ by fair.
Read the full guide: Georgia County Fairs and Youth Livestock Shows
Other Upcoming Events Nearby
- Hart County FFA Alumni Bulldog Showdown Heifer and Steer Show
Heifer and steer show hosted by the Hart County FFA Alumni at the Hart County Ag Center in Hartwell.
Hartwell, GA Official event details - Blue Ridge Cattle Classic
Two-day junior cattle show at the Union County Agricenter in Blairsville, part of the Georgia 4-H and FFA winter show circuit.
Blairsville, GA Official event details - Rockin The Ridge Market Hog Show
Market hog show for 4-H and FFA exhibitors at the Fannin County Ag Facility in Blue Ridge, run by the county FFA Alumni.
- Syrup City Harvest Classic Cattle and Pig Show
Three-day cattle and pig show in Cairo, the Syrup City, scheduled for November 13-15, 2026. Held each year as part of the fall youth livestock circuit.
Cairo, GA Official event details - MAC Attack Cattle Show
One-day junior cattle show held in the MAC Building in Hazlehurst, Jeff Davis County, on the Georgia 4-H show calendar.
Hazlehurst, GA Official event details
Listing checked Nov. 11, 2026 against this source. Details can change; confirm with the organizer.