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
Missouri County Fairs and State Fair Youth Livestock Shows: The Essentials
Fair dates
Missouri county fairs run through the summer. In 2026 the Benton County fair in Lincoln was June 17 to 20 and the Livingston County fair in Chillicothe was July 11 to 17, per fair listings. The Missouri State Fair in Sedalia ran August 13 to 23, per the News Tribune.
Who can show
State Fair 4-H members must have passed their 8th birthday but not their 19th before January 1, and food animal exhibitors need Show-Me Quality Assurance, per the livestock rules.
Deadlines
State Fair livestock entries were due July 13 at 5:00 p.m. with no late entries. Beef steer ownership is March 1 and swine May 1.
Health and sale rules
Cattle and swine need a veterinary inspection certificate dated within 30 days of the show, and needles are not allowed in the barns. A market animal that has been offered for sale cannot be shown at the State Fair.
Next steps
Ask your county Extension office for your fair book, ownership dates and weigh-in details.
Rules differ by fair.
Read the full guide: Missouri County Fairs and State Fair Youth Livestock Shows
Other Upcoming Events Nearby
- Missouri State 4-H Congress
Three-day 4-H leadership event on the Mizzou campus for grades 9 through recent graduates, with a keynote and election of the State 4-H Council. Held each year; the most recent dates were May 28-30, 2026.
- Show-Me-Select Replacement Heifer Sale at Carthage
Regional Show-Me-Select replacement heifer sale held at Joplin Regional Stockyards, Inc. in Carthage, coordinated by Patrick Davis. Held each year; the most recent date was 2026-11-20.
- Show-Me-Select Replacement Heifer Sale at Kingsville
Regional Show-Me-Select replacement heifer sale held at Kingsville Livestock Auction in Kingsville, coordinated by David Hoffman. Held each year; the most recent date was 2026-11-21.
Kingsville, MO | Organizer: MU Extension Show-Me-Select program Official event details - Show-Me-Select Replacement Heifer Sale at Fruitland
Regional Show-Me-Select replacement heifer sale held at SEMO Livestock Sales, LLC in Fruitland, coordinated by Audy Spell. Held each year; the most recent date was 2026-12-04.
Fruitland, MO | Organizer: MU Extension Show-Me-Select program Official event details - Missouri Farm Bureau Annual Meeting
Missouri Farm Bureau members gather at Margaritaville Lake Resort for the 2026 annual meeting, with a trivia night on Dec 6. Scheduled Dec 5-8, 2026.
Listing checked Nov. 11, 2026 against this source. Details can change; confirm with the organizer.