What the Jackson County Fair Is
The Jackson County Fair is the county's 4-H, FFA and open class fair, held at the Northeast Kansas Heritage Complex south of Holton, which has been its home since 2015. The 101st annual fair ran Monday, July 13 through Thursday, July 16, 2026, with the carnival and a fair-week parade through Holton. It is organized with the Meadowlark Extension District, and about 2,000 4-H and open class entries were expected across the exhibit categories in 2026.
Who Can Enter
- 4-H and FFA members: enter exhibits online at fairentry.com. The 2026 deadline was Friday, June 26.
- Open class: former 4-H members and anyone entering food, crafts or animals, regardless of club affiliation, can also enter online at fairentry.com.
The 2026 fair book on the Meadowlark Extension District website (meadowlark.k-state.edu/4-h/holton/) has the entry rules, classes and detailed schedule. Entry trends in 2026: photography and visual arts entries were up, clothing buymanship entries jumped to 17 from about 8 to 10 in past years, and bucket calf entries were down because of high bucket calf prices.
Fair Week at a Glance
| Date | What happens |
|---|---|
| Fri.-Sat., July 10-11 | 16th-annual Jackson County Fair Rodeo with Kraft Rodeo Company; gates open 6 p.m., rodeo at 7:30 p.m.; Tex Holiday returns as the funny man |
| Mon., July 13 | Fair week begins at the Heritage Complex |
| Tue.-Sat., July 14-18 | Carnival from Great Plains Amusement of Rush Springs, Oklahoma, nightly after 5 p.m. (the company's seventh year at the fair) |
| Wed., July 15 | Fair parade on Holton's Town Square; grand marshals David and Mary Schock of rural Holton |
| Thu., July 16 | Final day of the fair |
Livestock shows and a livestock sale are part of fair week. Check the fair book schedule for exact show and sale times. In 2026 there was no Wednesday-night concert after the parade and the 4-H style revue, which had been held the year before.
Tickets and Costs
- Rodeo: $10 for ages 13 and up, $5 for ages 6 to 12, free for ages 5 and under. Tickets are cash only.
- Coolers at the rodeo: bring your own for a $5 fee. Food trucks are on site.
Where
Northeast Kansas Heritage Complex, 12200 214th Rd, south of Holton, KS 66436. The parade is on Holton's Town Square.
Questions
Do I have to be in 4-H to enter?
No. Open class entries are accepted from anyone, including former 4-H members.
How do I enter?
Online at fairentry.com. The fair book on the Meadowlark Extension District site explains the classes.
Is the rodeo part of the fair?
The Jackson County Fair Rodeo is held the weekend before fair week and is presented with Kraft Rodeo Company.
Official Links
- Preparations begin for 2026 Jackson County Fair: dates, parade and entry deadline
- 101st-annual Jackson County Fair ready to roll: rodeo, carnival and entries
- Meadowlark Extension District fair information
Kansas County Fairs: The Essentials
Kansas county fairs are community partnerships. The fair board or association manages the facilities and open class, while Extension staff run the 4-H division under state 4-H policy. Fairs run across the state through the summer, starting in late June, and the Kansas Fairs and Festivals Association keeps a list of them.
Examples
Mitchell County's 2024 book paid open class blue $2.00, red $1.50 and white $1.00, and 4-H blue $2.50, red $2.00 and white $1.75. Sedgwick County took entries online, with livestock due May 31 and most static entries due June 28. Scott County's 2026 book requires YQCA training for 4-H animal projects. Deadlines differ by county, so read your fair book early.
State fair
The Kansas State Fair in Hutchinson runs September 11-20 in 2026. 4-H exhibitors must be enrolled, have shown in that division at their local fair, and generally earn a purple ribbon. Beef, sheep, swine and meat goat entries must be blue ribbon quality.
Other Upcoming Events Nearby
- K-State Ag Ed Speech Event
Public speaking event for Kansas FFA students on January 30, 2027 at the K-State Student Union in Manhattan, hosted with K-State Agricultural Education.
- K-State Career Development Events (Kansas FFA State CDEs)
Kansas FFA state Career Development Events are scheduled for May 2-4, 2027 in Manhattan. Chapters compete in judging, evaluation and skills contests; the 2026 round was held May 3-5.
- Kansas FFA State Convention
The 99th Kansas FFA Convention is set for June 1-4, 2027 in Manhattan. The 2026 convention ran May 26-29 at McCain Auditorium with a theme of Cultivate. Grow Leaders. Lead Change.
- Kansas Biggest Rodeo
Three-day rodeo at the rodeo grounds in Phillipsburg, Phillips County, with events starting two days earlier. The schedule published for the next edition gives August 5-7, 2027.
- Kansas Livestock Association Convention and Trade Show
Held each year; the most recent dates were November 19-21, 2025. Cattlemen gather for the banquet and live auction, Beef Industry University, committee meetings and the membership breakfast with policy votes.
Listing checked Nov. 11, 2026 against this source. Details can change; confirm with the organizer.