What the Boone County 4-H Fair Is
The Boone County 4-H Fair in Lebanon is a week of 4-H livestock shows, project judging, contests and a livestock auction, followed by open shows. The 2026 fair ran from Sunday, July 26 through Saturday, August 1, with project check-in and judging starting weeks earlier. Fairgrounds close at 11 p.m. unless the Fair Board approves otherwise. The schedule was published as a draft, so times and locations may change; confirm with the Purdue Extension Boone County office or your project leader.
Before the Fair: Entry and Judging
- Fair entry opened Sunday, June 7 and closed at 11:59 p.m. on Monday, July 13 for all projects.
- Friday, July 17: check-in and judging for construction, woodworking, ceramics, home environment and other projects, plus animal posters and the Outdoor Chef contest.
- Saturday, July 18: photography, small engines, child development, scrapbooking and many more projects, plus the Bicycle Rodeo at 4 p.m.
- Sunday, July 19: dog agility at 10 a.m., dog obedience at 1:30 p.m., and the private fashion revue.
- Thursday, July 23: foods, cake decorating, electric, crops, floriculture, garden and tractor driving.
Livestock Week: The Timeline
| Date | What happens |
|---|---|
| Sat, July 25 | Check-in and weigh-in for goats, sheep, feeder calves and beef (beef weighed 3 p.m.); rabbits and horse and pony check in later in the day |
| Sun, July 26 | Horse and pony Western show 9 a.m.; rabbit show 9:15 a.m.; utility goat show 10 a.m.; Open Beef Show 2 p.m. |
| Mon, July 27 | Horse and pony English and contesting 9 a.m.; feeder calf show noon; 4-H Beef Show 2 p.m. |
| Tue, July 28 | Meat goat show 8 a.m.; cat show 9 a.m.; sheep show noon; dairy animals enter in the evening |
| Wed, July 29 | 4-H Swine Show 9 a.m.; swine auction deadline 6 p.m. |
| Thu, July 30 | Dairy goat show; poultry show 9 a.m.; open market hog show 3 p.m.; 4-H Dairy Show 6 p.m. |
| Fri, July 31 | Llama and alpaca show 9 a.m.; dog events; 4-H Herdsmanship Awards 5 p.m.; 4-H Livestock Auction 5:30 p.m. |
| Sat, Aug 1 | Open Dairy Show 9 a.m.; 4-H Achievement Program 4 p.m.; Parade of Champions 5:30 p.m.; Supreme Showmanship 6 p.m. |
Auction entry deadlines are generally one hour after the relevant show ends. Beef and feeder calves are released 30 minutes after the beef show, and sheep and meat goats not in the open show or auction are released 30 minutes after their show.
Awards and Recognition
The fair closes with the Parade of Champions and the Supreme Showmanship contest on Saturday evening. During the Supreme Showmanship intermission, the fair presents 10-Year Member recognition and the 4-H scholarship awards. Trophies are picked up at the Witham Pavilion on Sunday, August 2, from 1 to 3 p.m.
Also on the Grounds
Non-animal projects are on display in the BCA Building, open 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. from July 27 through July 30 and 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. on July 31. Other events include a robotics demonstration on July 29, putt-putt golf, Young McDonald's Farm run by WEBO FFA on July 30, a tallest corn stalk contest on July 31, and a 1/16 model tractor pull on July 22.
Where
The Boone County 4-H Fair is held in Lebanon, Indiana. Shows take place in the Witham Pavilion, the State Bank Cattle Barn, the North Salem State Bank Swine Barn, the Plunkett Ag Show Arena, the Horse Arena and Centennial Halls North and South. Project buildings include the BCA Building and the Boone REMC Hall.
Questions
When is the last day to enter projects?
11:59 p.m. on Monday, July 13, 2026.
When is the livestock auction?
Friday, July 31 at 5:30 p.m. in the Witham Pavilion, with species auction deadlines set by each show.
Can I show beef in an open class?
Yes. The Open Beef Show was Sunday, July 26 at 2 p.m. in the Plunkett Ag Show Arena, with entries due at 1 p.m.
Can I bring a project early?
No. Projects are not accepted before their designated check-in time.
Official Links
- 2026 Boone County 4-H Fair schedule: check-in, shows, auction and awards
- Indiana Farm Bureau guide to 2026 county fair dates
Kentucky County Fairs and Youth Livestock Shows: The Essentials
Kentucky county fairs run from late May into August, with open beef shows listed by the state agriculture department from Taylor County on May 23 to Carter County on August 10 in 2026, per its show list. Dates may change.
State fair
The 2026 Kentucky State Fair ran August 20 to 30 at the Kentucky Exposition Center in Louisville, per the fair listing. 4-H exhibitors must be 9 to 18 as of January 1, per the 4-H state fair rules.
Ownership and tags
Market goats, lambs and hogs have a May 20 ownership deadline and market steers and heifers March 18, per the UK ownership rules. Market entries need KUIP tags and a current-year health certificate.
Next steps
Ask your county Extension office or FFA advisor for your fair book, tagging dates and sale rules.
Weights and entry rules differ by fair.
Read the full guide: Kentucky County Fairs and Youth Livestock Shows
Other Upcoming Events Nearby
- Boone County Fair Beef Show
Beef show on the Boone County Fair program, drawing 4-H and FFA exhibitors. Held each year; the most recent date was June 24, 2026.
- North American International Livestock Exposition
NAILE draws about 30,000 entries from ten livestock species across more than 140 competitions, plus a Sale of Champions, a Quarter Horse show and a championship rodeo. Held each year; the most recent dates were November 5-19, 2026.
937 Phillips Lane, Louisville, KY 40209 Official event details - Kentucky FFA Middle School Career Development Events at Hardin County
Middle school FFA career development contests hosted by the Hardin County Cooperative Extension office as part of the Kentucky FFA calendar. Held each year; the most recent date was November 19, 2026.
KY | Organizer: Kentucky FFA Association Official event details - Kentucky Farm Bureau Annual Meeting
Kentucky Farm Bureau's Federation annual meeting is scheduled in Louisville for December 2-5, 2026, the yearly gathering where members set policy and recognize county Farm Bureaus.
Louisville, KY | Organizer: Kentucky Farm Bureau Official event details - Kentucky Farm Bureau Young Farmer Leadership Conference
Kentucky Farm Bureau's Young Farmer Leadership Conference brings young farmers to Louisville for training and networking, scheduled for February 5-6, 2027.
Louisville, KY | Organizer: Kentucky Farm Bureau Official event details
Listing checked Nov. 11, 2026 against this source. Details can change; confirm with the organizer.