What the NILE Horse and Meats Contests Are
On Tuesday, October 13, 2026, during NILE week at MetraPark in Billings, 4-H and FFA members competed in the NILE Horse Evaluation and Meat Evaluation contests. Both start at 9 a.m. The NILE runs them, so they are not governed by Montana or National 4-H or FFA rules. Horse Evaluation returned in 2022 after a break of more than ten years.
Divisions and Who Can Enter
- Entrants may compete on a 4-H team, an FFA team, or as individuals.
- Divisions are Senior and Junior for both FFA and 4-H. 4-H Junior is ages 8-13 and 4-H Senior is age 14 and over; FFA Junior is grade 10 and below and FFA Senior is grades 11-12.
- Teams must be from the same FFA chapter or county. Each chapter or county may enter one senior and one junior team; a team has four members plus up to two alternates, and the top four scores count. No more than 12 judges per chapter or county.
- Individuals must be enrolled in 4-H or FFA, not yet graduated or under 19, and not on a team.
How Horse Evaluation Works
- 7:30 to 8:30 a.m.Registration at First Interstate Arena.
- 8:40 a.m.Pre-contest instructions.
- 9:00 a.m.Judging of all classes begins: up to eight classes, mixing halter and performance, with 10 minutes per class and independent judging.
- NoonLunch on a prepaid ticket, then oral reasons on two or three classes and announcement of officials.
Halter classes include senior geldings and mares, junior geldings and mares, two-year-olds and yearlings. Performance classes can include ranch riding, western pleasure, western horsemanship, hunter under saddle, hunt seat equitation, hunter hack, reining and trail. Talking during judging leads to disqualification, and a cell phone on your person is an automatic disqualification.
Meat Evaluation
Meat Evaluation is also held Tuesday, October 13, at 9 a.m., open to 4-H and FFA, with the same $75 per team and $25 individual fees. Tanya Flowers of Billings is the superintendent. The NILE posts results for the junior FFA meats evaluation after each contest.
Fees, Awards and Deadlines
Teams pay $75 and individuals $25; the lunch ticket is $10 per person, bought with the entry. Entry was due September 30, 2026, with no late entries and no refunds after that date. Awards in Horse Evaluation are team plaques for first through third in each division, individual plaques for first through third, and division champion plaques for Champion Halter, Champion Performance and Champion Reasons Judge. Results are posted within 24 hours.
How to Enter
Register at JudgingCard.com; new users set up an account there, or call (979) 575-2686. Pay by check or card to NILE Contests, P.O. Box 1981, Billings, MT 59103. Purchase orders are not accepted. A chaperon, advisor or leader must register the team, pick up the judging packet, attend the leaders meeting and give an emergency contact number.
Where
First Interstate Arena at MetraPark, 308 6th Avenue North, Billings, MT.
Questions
Who do I call?
The NILE office at (406) 256-2495 for general questions and payments. Horse superintendent Amy Neuman can be reached at (406) 545-9663.
Can an individual compete without a team?
Yes, for a $25 entry.
Official Links
- 2026 Horse Evaluation rules
- NILE FFA/4-H contests page
- 2025 Junior FFA meats evaluation results
- Montana Ag Ed calendar 2026-27
Other Upcoming Events Nearby
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The 107th annual convention of the Montana Farm Bureau Federation at the DoubleTree by Hilton in Billings, November 15 to 18, 2026.
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One-day rodeo in Billings on December 26, 2026, on the Montana pro rodeo calendar. Held each year around the holidays.
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Listing checked Nov. 11, 2026 against this source. Details can change; confirm with the organizer.