What 4-H Beef Showmanship Is
Beef showmanship at the Indiana State Fair is a contest for the exhibitor, not just the animal. The judge scores how well a 4-H member has trained the steer or heifer and how skillfully the member leads, sets up and shows it in the ring. The most recent showmanship classes were held Friday, August 7, 2026, in the Corteva Coliseum at the Indiana State Fairgrounds in Indianapolis, starting 30 minutes after the Open Beef Show finished that morning.
It is for Indiana 4-H members who have already qualified a beef animal for the State Fair 4-H Beef Show.
Divisions and Who Can Enter
| Division | Who | Class number |
|---|---|---|
| Junior | 3rd, 4th and 5th graders | 10 |
| Intermediate | 6th, 7th and 8th graders | 11 |
| Senior | 9th grade and up | 12 |
Grade is counted as of January 1 of the show year. A member may show in only one beef showmanship class per year, with either a steer or a heifer. The animal must be the member's own and must also be exhibited by that member in a regular State Fair 4-H beef class. Steers and heifers sifted for weight, and exhibition breeds, can still be used in showmanship. Animals may not be fitted for showmanship classes.
Winners move up. An overall junior winner may only compete as an intermediate or senior in later years, and a champion intermediate must show in the senior division afterward.
Getting Qualified
- Be enrolled in the 4-H beef project and in good standing, with county 4-H requirements met.
- Identify the animal in Indiana 4-H Online and submit a DNA hair sample through the county Extension office by May 15, 2026.
- Complete Indiana 4-H Livestock Quality Care training or the online YQCA program, and bring the certificate to check-in.
- Enter online at the State Fair's Exhibitor's Corner and tick the showmanship entry. Entries are not taken by phone.
Fees and Entry Dates
The beef entry fee is per head: $100 from May 18 to July 1, $160 from July 2 to July 31, and $175 on August 1 and 2. A tie-out space is $25. Payment is by credit card at the time of entry. Each exhibitor receives two complimentary admission credentials for each week an entry is made, and a vehicle parking pass is $30. Free trailer parking is at the 46th Street lot, with shuttles to the livestock barns.
How the Week Works: The Timeline
- Tuesday, August 4: stalling assignments and tack admitted, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., West Pavilion.
- Wednesday, August 5 and Thursday morning: cattle admitted.
- Thursday, August 6: 4-H exhibitor check-in 8 a.m. to noon, exhibitors meeting at 1 p.m., and animal ID checks 4 to 6 p.m. in the Corteva Coliseum, where declared weight cards are turned in.
- Friday, August 7: Open Beef Show at 8 a.m., then 4-H Beef Showmanship about 30 minutes after it ends.
- Saturday and Sunday, August 8 and 9: the 4-H steer and heifer shows, ending with the Grand Champion 4-H Drive at 6 p.m. Sunday.
- Monday, August 10: all beef cattle out by 6 a.m.
Awards and What You Get
Placings one through five earn premiums on a sliding scale, and each division's champion receives a small plaque and the reserve champion a lavender rosette. The Grand Champion Junior and Intermediate Beef Showmen each receive a medium banner, with a large plaque for the reserves. The Grand Champion Senior Showman receives a medium banner, a Supreme finalist rosette and $550, and the Reserve Grand Champion Senior receives a large plaque, a Supreme finalist rosette and $275.
The champion and reserve senior showmen represent beef in the 4-H Supreme Showmanship contest, which brings together beef, sheep, swine and goat showmen. In 2026 that contest was Sunday, August 23, in the Corteva Coliseum.
Where
Corteva Coliseum, Indiana State Fairgrounds and Event Center, 1202 E. 38th St., Indianapolis, IN 46205. Cattle are housed in the West Pavilion.
Questions
Can I fit my animal for showmanship?
No. Animals cannot be fitted for beef showmanship classes.
Can I show in more than one division?
No. One beef showmanship class per member per year.
Who do I call?
The State Fair Entry Department at (317) 927-7515, or the fairgrounds main line at (317) 927-7500. The schedule is subject to change, so confirm times with the fair before you travel.
Official Links
- Indiana State Fair 4-H livestock entry books: 2026 4-H Beef Cattle entry book with showmanship rules, premiums and schedule
- Indiana State Fair livestock show schedule: show dates
- Livestock FAQs: entry office contacts and premium payment
- Indiana Farm Bureau 2026 State Fair release: Supreme Showmanship date
Indiana County Fairs and Youth Livestock Shows: The Essentials
Indiana's 92 counties each host a fair, and most run in July, per the Farm Bureau's 2026 county fair guide. Allen County ran June 23-28 and Adams County July 19-23.
State fair
The 2026 Indiana State Fair ran August 7 to 23 in Indianapolis, with 4-H beef, swine and sheep shows starting August 7, per the livestock show schedule.
IDs and health
Animal ID goes into Indiana 4-H Online by May 15, per the 2026 ID chart. Indiana animals need no BOAH health certificate unless the show asks, per the state requirements.
Who can show
Indiana 4-H runs from third grade through grade 12, up to ten years, per the eligibility policy. Members enroll each year in 4-H Online.
Show week
Harrison County opened livestock check-in June 19 and held its auction June 25, per its 2026 handbook.
Next steps
Ask your county Extension office for your fair book and ID day dates.
Rules and entry limits differ by fair.
Read the full guide: Indiana County Fairs and Youth Livestock Shows
Other Upcoming Events Nearby
- Marion County Fair
Mark June 26 to July 5, 2026 for the Marion County Fair in Indianapolis (10 days, Friday start). Held each year; the most recent dates were June 26 to July 5, 2026.
Indianapolis, IN Official event details - Indiana 4-H and FFA State Horse Judging Contest
Open to 4-H and FFA members, this state contest at the Indiana State Fair teaches youth to evaluate horses, and no Area Contest qualifier is required. Held each year; the most recent date was August 6, 2026.
- Indiana State Fair
The Indiana State Fair fills the Indiana State Fairgrounds in Indianapolis with livestock shows, 4-H exhibits and farm displays, closed Mondays. Held each year; the most recent dates were August 7 to 23, 2026.
- Indiana State Fair Open Cattle Show
Breeders from around Indiana bring beef cattle to the Open Cattle Show at the state fairgrounds in Indianapolis, which shares its day with 4-H beef showmanship. Held each year; the most recent date was August 7, 2026.
- Indiana State Fair 4-H Dairy Beef Showmanship
Dairy beef and dairy feeder exhibitors compete in showmanship at Corteva Coliseum on the Indiana State Fairgrounds in Indianapolis. Held each year; the most recent date was August 11, 2026.
Listing checked Nov. 11, 2026 against this source. Details can change; confirm with the organizer.