What the Chase County Fair Check-In Days Are
Check-in days are when Chase County 4-H and FFA members bring their projects to the Chase County Fair in Imperial. For the 2027 fair, static exhibit check-in is August 7 and livestock weigh-in is August 9, 2027. The fair is run by the Chase County 4-H Council with Nebraska Extension in Perkins and Chase Counties, and the rules below come from the 2026 Chase County fairbook, which is updated each spring from the Nebraska State Fairbook.
Who Can Exhibit
- Only youth enrolled in 4-H or FFA in Chase County, and enrolled by June 15 in the project area they exhibit in. Enrollment is renewed every year.
- Age divisions: junior 8 to 11, intermediate 12 to 14 and senior 15 to 18, as of January 1.
- For State Fair classes that require the member to be present, a 4-H member must be 10 by January 1 or turn 11 during the year.
- Clover Kids receive participation ribbons only, with no premiums or trophies.
Deadlines for Livestock
Animal ID and ownership forms must be on file at the Extension office. In 2026 the final due date was June 1 for market beef, market lamb, feeder calf, bucket calf, breeding beef, breeding sheep, cow/calf pair, market and breeding swine, dairy goat and rabbit, and May 15 for horse. Pre-fair entries, with all fees, were due at the Extension office by July 10, 2026. Every beef, dairy, meat goat, poultry, rabbit, sheep and swine exhibitor must have Quality Assurance training before the fair. Market animals headed to the State Fair or Aksarben need a DNA hair sample on file and an official EID tag.
Weigh-In and Carcass Contest
All market livestock are weighed on entry day and shown by weight. The carcass contest is open to 4-H and FFA members in market beef, swine, sheep and goat. Minimum weights in the 2026 book: swine 220 lbs, lambs 90 lbs, steers 1,000 lbs, heifers 900 lbs, goats 50 lbs. A member may enter up to two beef and four each of swine and sheep, designated on the pre-registration sheet. The fee is $10 per animal, non-refundable.
Rules in the Ring
- Only purple-ribbon animals can compete for champion or reserve champion.
- Each exhibitor wears a unique back tag number.
- Dress code: official 4-H or FFA T-shirt, dark blue jeans and hard-soled shoes or boots, and no hats; dress violations drop a ribbon placing.
- Exhibitors must submit a signed drug-withdrawal affidavit at or before weigh-in.
- No clipping of market hogs on the fairgrounds.
- Judging decisions are made in real time and the judge's ruling is final.
Premiums and Release
Ribbon premiums were purple $5, blue $4, red $3 and white $2, and checks must be cashed by November 1. Livestock are released Friday at 7 a.m. and may not be loaded out earlier. General exhibits are released Sunday at 9:30 a.m. with clean-up at 10:00 a.m., and exhibitors must help clean the exhibit hall and stalls or risk penalties.
Questions
Can I show in Chase County if I live elsewhere?
Only if you are enrolled in Chase County 4-H or FFA.
Where do I find this year's fairbook?
The fairbook is posted by Nebraska Extension in late spring.
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 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.