What Junior Sheep Producer Day Is
Kansas Junior Sheep Producer Day is a one-day clinic on selecting and managing a youth sheep project. K-State Research and Extension and the K-State youth livestock program put it on, with K-State faculty, graduate and undergraduate students, former exhibitors and guest speakers teaching. The most recent day was Saturday, April 11, 2026, at the Bilbrey Family Events Center north of campus in Manhattan.
Who It Is For
"All ages and knowledge levels are invited." Youth and adults must all register.
What You Learn
- Selection
- Nutrition
- Reproduction
- Health and wellness
- Facilities and equipment
- Wool
- Clipping and grooming
- Showmanship
An instructor-led YQCA session was offered at the end of the program, and families could add a tour of the K-State Sheep and Meat Goat Center on the Friday evening before or the Saturday afternoon after the program. YQCA certification is required for exhibitors in the Kansas State Fair Grand Drive and the Kansas Junior Livestock Show.
Who Teaches
Speakers come from across the K-State youth livestock community: faculty, graduate and undergraduate students, former exhibitors who have been through the show ring themselves, and guest speakers. Sessions are built around the practical decisions of a sheep project, from picking an animal to feeding it, keeping it healthy, preparing its wool and presenting it to a judge.
Fees and Deadlines
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Registration fee | $20 per person when registered by the deadline |
| Deadline | March 20, 2026 |
| T-shirt | Only those who register by the deadline receive one |
| Register at | bit.ly/SheepJrProducer |
How It Works: The Timeline
- Register every attendee, youth and adult, by March 20.
- Friday evening: optional tour of the K-State Sheep and Meat Goat Center.
- Saturday: the day program at the Bilbrey Family Events Center.
- End of program: optional YQCA training for those who signed up.
- Saturday afternoon: a second chance at the Sheep and Meat Goat Center tour.
Where
Bilbrey Family Events Center, north of the K-State campus, Manhattan, Kansas.
Questions
Do I need sheep experience?
No. The event is open to all ages and knowledge levels.
When is it, and is it a full day?
It is a one-day program on a Saturday, April 11 in 2026, at the Bilbrey Family Events Center. The optional tour adds a Friday evening or Saturday afternoon visit.
Is YQCA training included?
An instructor-led YQCA session is offered at the end of the program for people who sign up for it. YQCA is required for Grand Drive and KJLS exhibitors.
Do parents register too?
Yes. Youth and adults must all register.
How do I get the t-shirt?
Register by March 20, 2026 (or by the deadline in a later year); later registrants do not receive one.
Who do I call?
Lexie Hayes, youth livestock coordinator, 785-532-1264. The Kansas FFA Association office is 785-532-6424.
Official Links
- K-State Junior Sheep Producer Day announcement
- Kansas FFA: Kansas Jr. Sheep Producer Day
- Junior Beef and Sheep Producer Days overview
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 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.
- Kansas Farm Bureau Annual Meeting
Held each year; the most recent dates were December 6-8, 2025 for the 107th meeting. Workshops, a tradeshow, awards banquet and a delegate vote on 2026 policy, with a keynote from the American Farm Bureau president.
Listing checked Nov. 11, 2026 against this source. Details can change; confirm with the organizer.