What the MontanaFair 4-H and FFA Junior Livestock Shows Are
The 4-H and FFA program at MontanaFair in Billings is the big youth showcase of the fair, run through the Yellowstone County 4-H office of MSU Extension. Over more than a week, members show horses, small animals, cattle, sheep, goats, swine and llamas and alpacas, then close out the fair with the Junior Livestock Sale. In 2026 the fair ran August 7 to 15 at MetraPark, with 4-H judging day on August 3 and the sale on Saturday, August 15.
Departments and Classes
| Department | What it covers |
|---|---|
| Department A (Animals) | Horse, poultry, rabbit, cavy and pocket pet, beef, dairy cattle, sheep, meat goat, dairy and pygmy goats, swine, and llama and alpaca classes |
| Department N (Non-animal) | Indoor exhibits judged in interviews and displayed in the Montana Pavilion |
Beyond the breed and market classes, the program includes showmanship, a beef fitting contest, skillathons, a small animal judging contest, round robin showmanship, a goat and llama obstacle course, a costume animal parade and a 4-H dance.
How It Works: The Timeline
- Tagging. Market animals are tagged at Public Auction Yards in Billings. For 2026, beef was tagged Sunday, January 4, and swine, sheep and goats Saturday, May 2. No alternate date is offered.
- Training. Department A exhibitors complete an MSU Extension Animal Quality Assurance class of about 1.5 hours before the entry deadline, with a parent or guardian. A session is held on tagging day.
- Enter online. The soft deadline was Friday, June 26, 11:59 p.m. Entries made after that carry an extra $50 per exhibitor, and nothing is accepted after July 3.
- Fair week. Horses check in Thursday, August 6. Small animals follow, then sheep, goats and cattle, with market steers and heifers shown Tuesday, August 11 at 9:00 a.m., market and breeding swine Thursday, August 13 at 8:00 a.m., and market lambs Tuesday afternoon.
- Sale day. Saturday, August 15: sale preview 11:00 a.m., buyer lunch 11:30 a.m., animals ready 12:15 p.m., Junior Livestock Sale 12:30 p.m. at the Expo.
Who Can Enter and Rules
- Entries must be completed online through the MontanaFair entry system. Families without internet can schedule time at the Yellowstone County Extension Office.
- Each exhibitor may tag up to three animals per species. At check-in you choose two to weigh and exhibit, and only one animal may be sold at MontanaFair.
- Animals tagged for MontanaFair cannot be shown or sold at other 4-H or FFA junior shows or county fairs. Open shows are exempt.
- Tagging is not entry. The online entry is separate.
- Exhibitors outside Yellowstone County pay $50 per animal tagged and a higher selling fee, and may sell only if they place in the top five of their class.
- Rule violations can cost premiums and awards, or lead to disqualification, expulsion or probation.
- Exhibitors pick up packets Monday, August 3, from 9:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. in the Montana Pavilion. Department N interview judging runs that day.
Fees and What You Get
The only fee amounts published are the $50 late fee per exhibitor and the $50 per animal tagging fee for out-of-county exhibitors. Exhibitors can compete in showmanship and round robin contests, and sell one animal in the Junior Livestock Sale to buyers who bid at the Expo. Other highlights include the Department N awards program on August 11 and an ag breakfast on August 13.
Where
MetraPark, 308 6th Avenue North, Billings, MT 59101. Horse classes are in the SuperBarn, most livestock and small animal shows in the Expo, packet pickup and judging in the Montana Pavilion, and the buyer lunch in the Metra Exhibit Hall.
Questions
What do I need before I can show a market animal?
The animal tagged on the set date, the AQA training, and an online entry by the deadline.
How many animals can I sell?
One animal per exhibitor at MontanaFair.
Who do I call?
Yellowstone County Extension Office, 2320 3rd Ave N, Billings: 406-256-2828. MontanaFair office: 406-256-2400.
What if I miss the deadline?
Late entries were taken until July 3 with a $50 fee. After that, no exceptions.
Official Links
- Yellowstone County 4-H: MontanaFair page
- 2026 MontanaFair 4-H/FFA schedule (PDF)
- MontanaFair 4-H and FFA exhibitor page
- 2026 junior livestock tagging letter (PDF)
- Department A entry worksheet (PDF)
Montana County Junior Livestock Shows: The Essentials
Montana county junior livestock shows follow local fair books written through MSU Extension offices, so weights, deadlines and sale rules differ by county. Published examples come from Flathead, Broadwater, Chouteau and Marias Fair.
Before the fair
Most counties require Livestock Quality Assurance training, tagging by a spring or winter date, and drug withdrawal forms. Flathead lets members tag a primary and back-up animal, and Broadwater requires an interview and a finished record book to sell.
Weights and species
Flathead lists 110 to 160 pounds for lambs, 220 to 295 for hogs and 1,050 to 1,550 for steers. Chouteau lists 70 to 120 pounds for sale goats and pays hogs on 210 to 300 pounds.
Show and sale
Most counties require showing in both market class and showmanship to sell, and white-ribbon animals are often left out of the sale. Cattle crossing county lines need brand inspection under Montana Department of Livestock rules.
Other Upcoming Events Nearby
- Montana Farm Bureau Annual Convention and Trade Show
The 107th annual convention of the Montana Farm Bureau Federation at the DoubleTree by Hilton in Billings, November 15 to 18, 2026.
27 N 27th St, Billings, MT 59101 | Organizer: Montana Farm Bureau Federation Official event details - Montana Stockgrowers Annual Convention and Trade Show
Montana Stockgrowers Association convention with trade show, Stockgrowers Colleges, policy sessions and a Grand Finale Banquet, December 3 to 5, 2026, at the DoubleTree and the Northern Hotel in Billings.
- Chase Hawks Rodeo
One-day rodeo in Billings on December 26, 2026, on the Montana pro rodeo calendar. Held each year around the holidays.
Billings, MT Official event details - Montana Wool Growers Association Annual Convention
Sheep industry convention of the Montana Wool Growers Association. Held each year; the most recent dates were December 4 to 7, 2025, in Billings.
Billings, MT | Organizer: Montana Wool Growers Association Official event details - MontanaFair 4-H and FFA Livestock Shows
Youth livestock program at MontanaFair: horse, rabbit, poultry, goat, beef, dairy, sheep and swine shows, round robin and beef fitting, ending with the Junior Livestock Sale on August 15. Dates are from the 2026 schedule.
Listing checked Nov. 11, 2026 against this source. Details can change; confirm with the organizer.