What the Deuel County Fair Livestock Shows Are
The Deuel County Fair is the showcase week for the county's 4-H and FFA members. Youth bring beef, swine, goats, sheep, rabbits and poultry to the fair, show them to a judge, compete in showmanship and a catch-it contest, and sell their market animals at the livestock sale. Nebraska Extension in Deuel County runs the program, and the 2026 fair took place in August with the livestock shows on August 13 and 14 at the Livestock Arena and Show Arena.
The 2026 Schedule Step by Step
Before fair week
- Friday, July 17: swine carcass contest pigs weighed, loaded and hauled at 5:30 a.m. to D&L Meats in Ovid, Colorado; carcass measuring and judging at 1:00 p.m., and youth are encouraged to attend.
- Monday, July 27: entry sheets for all 4-H and FFA fair projects due to the Extension Office by 4:00 p.m.
- Saturday, August 1: beef ultrasound at 10:00 a.m. at Chappell Feedlot.
- Air gun/rifle and archery shoots are held on dates to be announced.
Fair week
| Day | Time | Event |
|---|---|---|
| Wed, Aug 12 | 9:00 a.m. to noon | Static exhibits entry and interview judging |
| Wed, Aug 12 | 5:00 p.m. | Trap shoot |
| Thu, Aug 13 | 7:00 to 9:00 a.m. | Beef weigh-in (sheep, goats and swine stay loaded until all beef are weighed) |
| Thu, Aug 13 | 9:00 to 10:30 a.m. | Swine, goat and sheep weigh-in |
| Thu, Aug 13 | 10:30 a.m. | Rabbit and poultry check-in |
| Thu, Aug 13 | 11:00 a.m. | Jackpot livestock judging contest, Show Arena |
| Thu, Aug 13 | 3:30 p.m. | Rabbit and poultry show, Livestock Arena |
| Thu, Aug 13 | 6:00 p.m. | 4-H/FFA beef show, Show Arena |
| Fri, Aug 14 | 8:00 a.m. | 4-H/FFA swine, goat and sheep show, then the round robin, then the Catch-It Contest |
| Sat, Aug 15 | 9:00 a.m. | 4-H member group picture (wear your fair T-shirt) |
| Sat, Aug 15 | 10:00 a.m. | 4-H/FFA livestock sale, Livestock Arena, followed by a bidder's and buyer's lunch |
| Sat, Aug 15 | 7:00 p.m. | Awards and Quilts of Valor presentation |
| Sat, Aug 15 | 8:00 p.m. | Static exhibits released |
Who Can Enter and the Rules
- The shows are for 4-H and FFA members who turn in an entry sheet by the July 27 deadline.
- Weigh-in order matters: beef is weighed first, and sheep, goats and swine should not be unloaded until all beef are weighed.
- Mandatory livestock barn cleanup follows the awards on Saturday. All 4-H and FFA livestock exhibitors must attend and stay until the work is done. Anyone who cannot attend must make arrangements with the Livestock Superintendents in advance.
- The schedule can change, so confirm times with the Extension Office.
What Exhibitors Get
Exhibitors show for a judge in their class, compete in the round robin and the Catch-It Contest, and sell market animals in the Saturday sale ring. The swine carcass and beef ultrasound days give feeder families measurements on how their animals performed. Awards are presented Saturday evening.
Where and Who to Ask
The fair is in Chappell, Nebraska, in the Panhandle. Shows take place in the Livestock Arena and Show Arena, and the beef ultrasound is at Chappell Feedlot. Nebraska Extension in Deuel County is at 171 Vincent Avenue, Chappell, NE 69129 (open Monday through Thursday, 8 a.m. to noon and 1 to 4 p.m.). The 2026 Deuel County Fair Book is online, and the county fair pre-registration form, data tags and affidavits are on the Extension project forms page.
Questions
When is the entry deadline?
Entry sheets were due Monday, July 27, 2026, at 4:00 p.m. at the Extension Office.
Is there a sale?
Yes, the 4-H/FFA livestock sale starts at 10:00 a.m. Saturday, followed by a lunch for bidders and buyers.
When is the next fair?
The county fair is held each August. The most recent edition ran August 12 to 15, 2026.
Official Links
- Deuel County Fair Book: online fair book and forms
- Project forms: pre-registration, data tags, affidavits
- Extension office: address and hours
- 2026 Deuel County Fair Schedule: Nebraska Extension in Deuel County
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
- Deuel County Fair Beef Ultrasound
Beef ultrasound for fair market steers at Chappell Feedlot at 10 a.m. on August 1, 2026, about two weeks before the August 13 weigh-in.
Chappell, NE | Organizer: Nebraska Extension in Deuel County Official event details - Deuel County 4-H and FFA Livestock Sale
Sale at 10 a.m. on August 15, 2026 followed by a buyers lunch, the awards presentation with Quilts of Valor at 7 p.m., and release of static exhibits.
NE | Organizer: Nebraska Extension in Deuel County Official event details - 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.
Listing checked Nov. 11, 2026 against this source. Details can change; confirm with the organizer.