What the Burt County Fair Is
The Burt County Fair in Oakland is the county's yearly 4-H and FFA showcase, with livestock, clothing, foods, plant science, STEM, citizenship and communications exhibits, plus a fashion show and a King and Queen contest. The next fair runs July 16 to 20, 2027, at the Burt County Fairgrounds in Oakland.
Key Dates for the 2027 Fair
- June 30: pre-entry due for all areas, livestock and static
- July 1 to 15: King and Queen voting (the voting link opens July 1)
- July 16 to 20: fair days at the Burt County Fairgrounds
- Friday of fair week: livestock check-in, when record books for bucket calves and bottle lambs and goats are due at the Livestock Office
How to Enter
Pre-entry is required for every area. Enter online at burt.fairwire.com, where ShoWorks instructions are posted, or send paper forms to the Extension office by June 30, by email or text as well. Forms exist for 4-H pre-entry, Clover Kid pre-entry and Horticulture and Floriculture. Livestock stalling requests go directly to the office, not to club leaders. Fashion Show entrants pre-enter on the sheet, including the $15 Challenge, and King and Queen candidates receive their entry information directly.
Livestock Requirements
- Enroll in 4-H and the required projects by June 15 to show at the county and state fair (deadline as listed in the 2026 fairbook).
- YQCA certification is required for 4-H and FFA members with beef, goats, poultry, rabbits, sheep and swine; traditional 4-H members ages 8 to 18 must be certified. Register at yqcaprogram.org. The online course costs $12, face-to-face costs $3 and the test-out is $36 (Intermediate) or $48 (Senior).
- Affidavits and ID sheets are required for all animals.
- Market beef and feeder calves need an orange County 4-H tag or yellow FFA tag, and market beef also needs an EID tag. Swine need a yellow county tag, and sheep and goats need a scrapie tag. Breeding beef need a tattoo or EID, and rabbits a tattoo.
- County tags cost $2 each and EID tags $3 each, paid to the Burt County 4-H Council.
- Bucket calves and bottle lambs and goats need a project record book.
- Cats, dogs and ferrets must have current vaccinations.
Livestock Judging Contest
The fair includes a livestock judging contest at the Burt County Fairgrounds. Contestants judge four classes, either as individuals or on teams of three or four whose top three scores count. The Junior Division is for ages 11 and younger and the Senior Division for ages 12 and older, as of January 1.
Other Exhibit Rules
- Clothing Day items need a label showing county, exhibitor name, age, project, class and years enrolled.
- Foods entries need the recipe and the correct plate size, sealed in a self-sealing bag with the entry tag and recipe on the outside.
- Photography needs data tags. Welding needs labels for process, weld type, settings and electrode. Rocket entries need a report with flight records and safety documentation.
Where
Burt County Fairgrounds, Oakland, Nebraska.
Questions
Who do I call?
Nebraska Extension in Burt County, 402-374-2929, at 111 North 13th St., Suite 6, Tekamah. Open class and general fair questions go to the Burt County Agricultural Society, 402-685-5540.
Can I enter after June 30?
Pre-entry is required for every area by June 30. Paper forms are available if the online entry does not work.
How do I request a stall?
Send the stalling request to the Extension office, not your club leader.
Official Links
- Burt County Fair: dates, pre-entry and rules by area
- 4-H and FFA livestock information: tags, YQCA and fees
- Livestock judging contest
- Burt County Fairbook
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 Wheat Board Meeting
Wheat checkoff board meeting on the Nebraska Wheat calendar, held in Lincoln on Nov. 18, 2026, from 8:30 am to 3:00 pm.
- 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.
- Box Butte County 4-H Holiday Maker Day
Youth ages 5-18 choose four holiday projects from 2:30 to 4:30 pm on Friday, December 18, 2026; registration is due December 1 at the Extension office.
Alliance, NE | Organizer: Nebraska Extension in Box Butte County Official event details - Nebraska Farm Bureau YF&R Conference
Young Farmers and Ranchers conference of Nebraska Farm Bureau at the Graduate Hotel in Lincoln, scheduled for Jan. 29 to 30, 2027.
Listing checked Nov. 11, 2026 against this source. Details can change; confirm with the organizer.