What the State Fair FFA Career Development Events Are
Each August the Kentucky FFA Association runs its State Fair career development events (CDEs) at the Kentucky Exposition Center in Louisville. Members test skills in the plant sciences, mechanics and public selling, and the day ends with the FFA Awards Program at 2:30 p.m. in New Market Hall. In 2026 the livestock-side contests were held August 20 and the plant, mechanics and auctioneering contests August 21.
The Contests
| Date | Contest | Who competes |
|---|---|---|
| Aug. 20 | Meats, Dairy, Livestock, Agronomy and Wildlife | Chapter teams |
| Aug. 21, 9:30 a.m. | Seed Identification, New Market Hall | One 10th grader per chapter |
| Aug. 21, 10:00 a.m. | Nursery and Floriculture, Freedom Hall Ballroom | Teams of four |
| Aug. 21, 10:00 a.m. | Welding, Small Power Equipment and Ag Mechanics Skills, Old National Guard Shop | Regional winners only, one team per region |
| Aug. 21 | General Auctioneering | Amateurs only, up to three per chapter |
| Aug. 21, 2:30 p.m. | FFA Awards Program, New Market Hall | All |
Who Can Enter and Rules
- Members must be in good standing and enrolled in agricultural education courses in Kentucky. Spring 2026 graduates were eligible.
- A school may enter one team per CDE. Teams have four members in Livestock, Dairy, Meats, Floriculture and Nursery.
- A member may not compete in a CDE he or she has already competed in at the state or national level, or in two CDEs held at the same or overlapping times.
- Departments established after July 1, 2026 were not eligible.
- Small Power Equipment entrants cannot also compete in Welding or Ag Mechanics the same year.
- Using a communication device during a contest means disqualification. Judges' decisions are final, and on-site announcements override printed material.
- Teachers must accompany members with exhibits.
How to Register
FFA entries other than livestock were registered electronically by the August 5 deadline, and advisors received login information. Entries go in the member's name and a Social Security or tax ID number is required for premiums, which are not mailed to schools. FFA Department exhibits (except livestock) carried no entry fee.
Premiums and Awards
- Livestock, Dairy, Meats, Agronomy, Floriculture, Nursery and Wildlife: first place $300, paid through 10th place.
- Ag Mechanics Skills: first place $300.
- Welding and Small Power Equipment: $150 to first place.
- Seed Identification: $500, $150 and $100.
- General Auctioneering: $35 to first place, with the remaining $125 split among other contestants. The winner cannot compete again.
- Junior Livestock and Junior Dairy: first place $50, paid through 5th.
- Dairy Holders: the first 24 registrants compete, chapters are limited to two members unless registration falls below 24, and the top 12 receive plaques.
Beyond the Contests: Exhibit Dates
Exhibit entry was August 18-19 in South Wing A (tobacco entries August 18 only, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.). The Championship Drive was August 27 at 5:30 p.m., and exhibit release was August 30 (6-9 p.m.) and August 31 (9 a.m. to noon).
Where
Kentucky Exposition Center, Louisville, at several State Fair buildings: New Market Hall, the Freedom Hall Ballroom and the Old National Guard Shop.
Questions
Can a whole class enter?
No. A school enters one team per CDE, and Seed Identification takes one 10th grader per chapter.
Can a first-time Welding contestant go straight to State Fair?
No. Welding, Small Power Equipment and Ag Mechanics Skills take regional winners only, one team per region.
Who do I call?
The Kentucky FFA Association, 300 Sower Boulevard, 5th Floor, Frankfort, KY 40601, (502) 564-3472. Full CDE guidelines are on kyffa.org.
Official Links
- State Fair FFA CDEs: schedule and locations
- Kentucky FFA State Fair catalog 2026: rules, deadlines and premiums
- Rules Governing FFA Events
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 4-H Cloverville
Cloverville is the 4-H exhibit area at the Kentucky State Fair, with divisions such as art, crops, food, forestry, geology, honey, entomology, rabbits and poultry showmanship. Held each year; the most recent dates were August 20-30, 2026.
Listing checked Nov. 11, 2026 against this source. Details can change; confirm with the organizer.