What Cloverville Is
Cloverville is the 4-H exhibit area at the Kentucky State Fair in Louisville. Kentucky 4-H members who carry an approved project under University of Kentucky Cooperative Extension bring their finished work to the fair, where it is judged for ribbons and premiums. The most recent edition ran with the fair, August 20-30, 2026, at the Kentucky Exposition Center.
Divisions and Classes
| Division | What is entered |
|---|---|
| Art | Portfolio Pathways, Sketchbook Crossroads, Art Trends and Heritage Arts. Juniors are 9-13 and seniors 14-19; seniors submit an artist statement. |
| Crops | Hay, corn, popcorn, soybeans, sorghum and wheat. One entry per class per county. |
| Financial Education | Consumer Savvy posters with narratives; two entries per class per county. |
| Ham Show | Junior (9-13) and senior classes: a 3-5 minute presentation plus a country ham. |
| Electric | Magic of Electricity, Investigating Electricity, Wired for Power, Entering Electronics and Green Energy. |
| Entomology and Honey | Pinned insects, insect photography, video projects and honey. Only one entomology class per exhibitor. |
| Food and Food Preservation | Baked goods, cake decorating and home-canned foods; one per county per class. |
| Forestry and Geology | Leaf collections, educational exhibits, rock, mineral and fossil collections. |
| Health and Well-Being | Posters on mental health, personal safety, addiction prevention and physical activity. |
| Home Environment | Units I-IV, Advanced and Changing Spaces. Classes needing documentation are disqualified without it. |
| Judging | Junior and senior judging events; members may not confer. |
Dog and rabbit education posters must be judged at the county level first. Rabbit and poultry showmanship have their own earlier deadline of July 9, 2026.
Who Can Enter and Rules
- The member must have passed their 9th birthday as of January 1 of the current year but not their 19th, and live in Kentucky.
- The member must have carried an approved 4-H project since the last state fair. Cloverbuds may enter only non-competitive classes that allow children under 9.
- Entries are in the name of the member who did the work, made or completed since the last state fair unless a class says otherwise.
- Each project is entered in only one class, in the class matching the member's project year.
- Exhibits are judged as entered and may not be repaired or altered. Each carries the 4LO-11SO ID card, firmly attached and visible.
- Livestock forms must be signed or verified by the Extension agent; incomplete or unsigned forms are not accepted.
- The judge's decision is final.
Timeline and Deadlines
- July 9, 2026Rabbit and poultry showmanship entry deadline.
- August 5Cloverville electronic registration closes. Late registrations are generally not accepted.
- Monday before the fairExhibit drop-off, before 1 p.m. Eastern.
- Fair daysJudging and display in Cloverville. Ham Day registration opens at 8:30 a.m. in the South Wing, with each county's start time set by its 4-H agent.
- Monday after the fairExhibits released no earlier than 7 a.m. The fair is not responsible for items left after 12 noon.
Premiums and What You Get
Premiums are paid on placings and mailed directly to the 4-H member, which requires a Social Security or federal tax ID number. Class, grand and reserve champions are honors only and carry no premium.
Where
Cloverville, Kentucky Exposition Center, Louisville. The 4-H Ham Show contact is Dr. Gregg Rentfrow, University of Kentucky Animal Science Department, 205 Garrigus Bldg., Lexington, KY 40546-0215.
Questions
My child is 8. Can they enter?
Only in non-competitive classes that allow children under 9. Competitive classes start at age 9.
Can my child enter the same project twice?
No. Each project may be entered in only one class.
Does a grand champion get a check?
No. Class, grand and reserve champion titles are honors only.
Official Links
- Kentucky 4-H State Fair: Cloverville classes, rules and deadlines
- Kentucky State Fair: premium book and fair information
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
- 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 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 - Kentucky State Fair
The Kentucky State Fair runs eleven days at the Kentucky Exposition Center in Louisville, with concerts, rides, blue-ribbon competitions and livestock classes. Held each year; the most recent dates were August 20-30, 2026.
- Kentucky State Fair FFA Career Development Events
Kentucky FFA members compete in seed identification, nursery, floriculture, welding, small power equipment, agricultural mechanics and auctioneering at State Fair venues, ending with an FFA awards program in New Market Hall. Held each year at the fair.
Listing checked Nov. 11, 2026 against this source. Details can change; confirm with the organizer.