What the LSU AgCenter State 4-H and FFA Livestock Show Is
The LSU AgCenter State Livestock Show is the state championship for Louisiana 4-H and FFA youth who raise and show livestock. It recognizes young people for learning to raise and care for animals, and it is the top of a ladder that runs from the parish show to a district show to the state show. The 2026 show was the 91st annual edition, held February 14 to 21 at the Lamar Dixon Expo Center in Gonzales. The show includes a Junior Dairy Show, a State Rabbit Show and a State Horse Show, each with its own results.
Scale of the 2026 Show
| Entries | 2026 count |
|---|---|
| Eligible exhibitors | 1,207 |
| Breeding animals | 2,276 |
| Market animals | 956 |
| Pens of broilers | 209 |
| Exhibition birds | 1,028 |
| Pens of meat rabbits | 13 |
| Exhibition rabbits | 545 |
Who Can Show
- 4-H: members must be 9 before January 1 of the current club year and must not have passed their 20th birthday by January 1.
- FFA: members must be regularly enrolled in a secondary agricultural education program and must not have reached their 21st birthday before the possession date closes.
- Youth must be bona fide members 30 days before a parish, district, state, regional or national event, and by November 1 for validation purposes.
- Clubs and chapters may show only in registered breeding classes, with entries made in the club or chapter's name.
How Exhibitors Get There: The Season Timeline
The 2025-2026 season is a good guide to how the year runs.
- August 15, 2025Steer possession and validation.
- November 10, 2025Possession for exhibition poultry and for breeding beef, sheep, goat and dairy animals.
- December 1, 2025Rabbit and breeding swine possession.
- Late January 2026District shows, including the Acadiana District in Lafayette (January 27 to 31) and the South Central District in Covington.
- February 14 to 21, 2026The state show in Gonzales.
Animal entries go through 4-H Online, and exhibitor entry information is handled through FairEntry. General rules, the State Livestock Show General Catalog and Premier Exhibitor information are posted by the LSU AgCenter. Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry health requirements apply to poultry and livestock at in-state shows. Horse and livestock show participants can request a hardship form.
Champions and Awards
In 2026 Kadie Fontenot of Evangeline Parish was named overall showman. Supreme breeding winners were Camille Pridgen (Vermilion Parish), Hollie Metz (Iberia Parish), Jacob Lear (St. James Parish), Tinsley Sanders (Webster Parish) and Emma Moss (Calcasieu Parish). The show was dedicated to Jerry Whatley of East Carroll Parish, a longtime figure in Louisiana 4-H. Livestock award endowments come from sponsors including Gerry Lane Enterprises, Price LeBlanc, Nutrien and the Meraux Foundation.
Where
Lamar Dixon Expo Center, Gonzales, Louisiana. Livestock and poultry enter through the rear entrance on Ashland Road. The schedule is tentative and subject to change as needed.
Questions
Can my child show if they are 8?
No. 4-H members must be 9 before January 1 of the club year.
Do FFA members need to be 4-H members too?
No. FFA members qualify by being enrolled in a secondary agricultural education program.
Where do I enter animals?
Livestock and poultry entries are made in 4-H Online, with exhibitor entry information through FairEntry.
Where can I find past results?
The LSU AgCenter posts results for the State 4-H/FFA Livestock Show, State Rabbit Show and State Horse Show.
Official Links
- LSU AgCenter Livestock Show Office: rules, forms, schedules and results
- Champions shine at 91st annual LSU AgCenter Livestock Show: 2026 entries and champions
- State Livestock Show schedule of events
- Welcome to the 2025-2026 Livestock Show Season: eligibility and deadlines
LSU AgCenter Cooperative Extension in Louisiana: The Essentials
The Louisiana Cooperative Extension Service is part of the LSU AgCenter, with faculty at five regional centers and in all 64 parishes, per the AgCenter overview.
What it offers
Programs cover 4-H and youth development, agriculture and pest management, horticulture, health and wellness, and natural resources, delivered through demonstrations, workshops, field days and newsletters.
4-H and livestock
Parish 4-H offices enroll youth and support the parish, district and state livestock show circuit. The 2026 state show ran February 14 to 21 in Gonzales, per the AgCenter report.
For producers
The Louisiana Master Farmer Program, created in 2001, has certified or recertified 381 producers since 2006, per the AgCenter.
Next steps
Find your parish office in the AgCenter directory and call before you buy an animal, plant a crop or start a project.
Read the full guide: LSU AgCenter Cooperative Extension in Louisiana
Other Upcoming Events Nearby
- LSU AgCenter State 4-H/FFA Livestock Show
The statewide LSU AgCenter 4-H/FFA livestock show at Lamar Dixon Expo Center in Gonzales. The 91st show ran Feb. 14-21, 2026 with 1,207 eligible exhibitors. Held each year; these were the most recent dates.
Gonzales, LA | Organizer: LSU AgCenter Official event details - LSU AgCenter Junior Angus Show
Junior Angus breed show held during the state livestock show season. The Feb. 20, 2026 show drew 54 entries from across Louisiana and included junior showmanship. Held each year; these were the most recent dates.
Gonzales, LA | Organizer: LSU AgCenter Official event details - Southern Regional 4-H Shooting Sports Match
Regional 4-H shooting sports competition hosted across Ascension and West Baton Rouge parishes. Held each year; the most recent dates were March 20 to April 4, 2026.
LA | Organizer: Louisiana 4-H Official event details - State Fair of Louisiana
The 120th State Fair of Louisiana fills the Louisiana State Fairgrounds in Shreveport for eighteen days, with livestock shows, midway rides and food. The fair has run since 1906.
3701 Hudson Ave., Shreveport, LA 71109 | Organizer: State Fair of Louisiana Official event details - Allen Parish Fair
Four-day parish fair at the Allen Parish Fairgrounds on Tiger Lane in Oberlin, with general and agricultural exhibits. Held each year; the 2025 fair ran Nov. 12-15 and the 2026 fair is set for Nov. 11-14.
Tiger Lane, Oberlin, LA 70655 Official event details
Listing checked Nov. 11, 2026 against this source. Details can change; confirm with the organizer.