What the Buffalo County 4-H Livestock Shows Are
The livestock shows at the Buffalo County Fair in Kearney are where Buffalo County 4-H members show what they have raised and learned through the year. The 2026 fair ran July 21 to 27, with livestock check-in on Thursday, July 23, shows from Thursday through Sunday, and a premium-only auction on Monday, July 27. The shows are run by Nebraska Extension in Buffalo County with the Buffalo County Fair.
Species and Limits
| Species | Head you can show | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Beef | 8 total | Market beef, breeding heifers, feeder calves, junior bulls, bucket calves |
| Sheep | 7 plus 1 Lottery lamb | Market lambs must weigh 100 lbs or more and be born on or after December 1, 2025 |
| Goats | 5 plus 1 Lottery goat | Market and breeding |
| Swine | 4 plus 1 Lottery pig | Market hogs must weigh 225 to 320 lbs |
Market beef steers must weigh 950 lbs or more and heifers 900 lbs or more on entry day to compete for champion, and market beef must be born on or after September 1, 2024. Lighter animals can show in a pre-market class. Feeder calves must be born between January 1 and April of the show year. Bucket calves must be no more than six months old and no more than 350 lbs, and the Clover Kid bucket calf show is open to the youngest members.
New for 2026: feedlot steers became their own division, a bucket calf shown last year can return as a market animal, purebred barrows show in one class, and white-face market sheep show wethers and ewes together. The Bred and Fed divisions honor animals produced from the exhibitor's own family herd.
How It Works: The Timeline
- Enroll in 4-H by June 15. Livestock exhibitors also file the animal affidavit with a Premise ID, complete YQCA training and meet ID requirements by that date.
- Enter online by July 2 through Fairwire (site closes at midnight). No premium is paid for projects that are not entered.
- Stall early Wednesday, July 22 from 6 p.m.
- Check in Thursday, July 23. Market lambs, meat goats, breeding sheep, dairy and feeder calves 8 to 10 a.m.; market and breeding beef 8 a.m. to noon; market hogs weighed at 11 a.m.
- Thursday afternoon shows: dairy goats and dairy at 2 p.m., Clover Kid bucket calf and feeder calf judging at 3 p.m.
- Friday, July 24 at 8 a.m.: sheep showmanship and judging, then goats.
- Saturday, July 25 at 8 a.m.: beef showmanship and breeding and market beef judging.
- Sunday, July 26 at 8:30 a.m.: swine showmanship, breeding gilts and market swine. Round Robin Showmanship and Outstanding awards follow at 5 p.m.
- Monday, July 27, 1:00 p.m.: 4-H Premium Livestock Auction at the Pavilion, in the order swine, goat, sheep and beef.
Fees, Premiums and the Auction
Entry fees pay for wood bedding and are not refundable: beef $25 per head, dairy $25, bucket calf $8, sheep, goat and swine $8 per head. Extra chips are $10 per bag. Sheep premiums are purple $4, blue $3, red $2 and white $1.50; beef premiums are purple $7.50, blue $4, red $3 and white $2.
The Premium Only Auction is open to enrolled Buffalo County 4-H members who are at least 8 and no older than 18 on January 1. Each member may offer one market animal lot (beef, lamb, hog or goat). Animals must be enrolled on the club's consignment sheet within one hour after the show. Extra market animals can be sold at a base bid price.
Rules to Know
- Checked-in livestock stay through the fair until released, with exceptions such as dairy, horses and Clover Kid animals. Leaving early can mean lost premiums and auction eligibility.
- Cattle must be clipped, washed and blown dry, with no adhesives or paint; pigs are shown without coat dressing, only water.
- Beef exhibitors bring brand inspection certificates on entry day.
- Youth planning to show the same animal at the State Fair and the Aksarben Stock Show must submit separate DNA envelopes and nominations.
Where
Buffalo County Fairgrounds, Kearney, Nebraska. Shows are in the Pavilion. Check the Buffalo County Extension office for the office number.
Official Links
Nebraska County Fairs: The Essentials
Nebraska county fairs are run by local fair boards and agricultural societies, while Nebraska Extension runs the 4-H side. Nebraska 4-H points to nebraskafairs.org for a printable list of fair dates and locations.
Examples
Cherry County's 2024 book paid purple $5, blue $4, red $3 and white $2 on standard classes. Pawnee County's 2026 book paid $7, $5, $3 and $1 on typical breeding and market classes and requires YQCA before June 15. Saline County's open class is open to any Nebraska resident, with animal entries due June 13 in its 2025 book. Deadlines differ by county, so read your fair book early.
State fair
The Nebraska State Fair in Grand Island ran August 28 to September 7 in 2026 per Pawnee County's book. 4-H youth must enroll by June 15, static exhibits need a county purple ribbon, and livestock entries close August 10 at 8 p.m. Central.
Other Upcoming Events Nearby
- Nebraska Farm Bureau Annual Meeting and Convention
Farm Bureau members meet for policy voting, discussion meet rounds, workshops, a keynote and board elections. The 2026 meeting is Dec. 6 to 8; the 2025 convention was also held in Kearney.
- Nebraska Cattlemen Convention and Trade Show
Annual convention and trade show of Nebraska Cattlemen at the Younes Conference Center South in Kearney, scheduled for Dec. 9 to 11, 2026.
- Nebraska Cattlemen's Classic
Winter livestock judging contest in Kearney on Feb. 14, 2026, part of the Great Plains Livestock Judging Circuit.
Kearney, NE | Organizer: Nebraska 4-H Official event details - Nebraska Women in Agriculture Conference
The 41st annual conference for women in farming and ranching, with a pre-conference session on Feb. 25 and the main program Feb. 26 and 27, 2026, in Kearney.
416 Talmadge St., Kearney, NE | Organizer: University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension Official event details - Nebraska Livestock Judging Classic
Summer judging classic in Kearney on June 12, 2026, counted on the Great Plains Livestock Judging Circuit.
Kearney, NE | Organizer: Nebraska 4-H Official event details
Listing checked Nov. 11, 2026 against this source. Details can change; confirm with the organizer.