What the Aksarben Stock Show Is
The Aksarben Stock Show is a youth livestock show held on the Nebraska State Fairgrounds at Fonner Park in Grand Island. It draws exhibitors from 14 states, runs market and breeding shows for beef, swine, sheep and goats, adds broiler and rabbit meat-pen shows, and pays out some of the largest premiums in youth showing. The 2026 show ran September 24 to 27. Entries for 2026 are closed, so the details below describe the most recent edition and the process exhibitors should expect to follow again.
Who Can Enter
- Youth must be at least 9 and no older than 19 as of January 1 of the show year.
- Exhibitors must live at a permanent address in Arkansas, Colorado, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota, Wisconsin or Wyoming.
- An animal can be shown in only one show by one exhibitor. Siblings may nominate the same animal but may not both enter it.
- Late nominations and late entries are not accepted, and an animal cannot be substituted after entry is submitted.
Shows and Divisions
| Species | Shows | Entry limit | Entry fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Beef | Market beef (steers and heifers), breeding heifer, feeder calf | Up to 8 entered, no more than 5 shown | $125 per head, with tie-out space and bedding |
| Sheep | Market and breeding ewe | Up to 8 entered, no more than 4 shown | $60 per head, no shavings provided |
| Swine | Market and breeding gilt | Up to 8 entered, no more than 4 shown | $60 per head, no shavings provided |
| Goat | Market and breeding doe | Up to 8 entered, no more than 4 shown | $60 per head, no shavings provided |
| Broilers | Pens of three birds | Up to 2 pens | $50 per pen |
| Rabbits | Meat pens of three rabbits | Up to 5 pens | $50 per pen |
You pay for every animal you enter, and there are no refunds. Showmanship is $15 per exhibitor per species and must be entered online ahead of time; it cannot be added at the show.
How It Works: The Timeline
- Order DNA envelopes between December 1 and June 26. Every market animal, breeding animal and feeder calf must be nominated.
- Nominate by July 1. Online nominations are due at 5 p.m. Central and beef DNA envelopes must be postmarked by July 1.
- Enter August 1 to September 4. Entry is online and closes at 11:59 p.m. Central.
- Load in Thursday, September 24 from 8:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m.; all livestock must be in place by 10:00 p.m.
- Check in Friday, September 25 from 8:00 a.m. to noon (feeder calves 8:00 to 10:00 a.m.).
- Showmanship Friday. Feeder calf show at 12:30 p.m. followed by beef showmanship, sheep and goat showmanship at 2:30 p.m., swine showmanship at 4:00 p.m.
- Market shows Saturday. Sheep 7:30 a.m., beef and swine 8:00 a.m., goats 9:00 a.m., broilers and rabbits that morning, and the Purple Banner Knight at 7:30 p.m.
- Breeding shows Sunday, September 27 at 8:00 a.m. for heifers, gilts, ewes and does.
Rules Worth Knowing
- Market beef minimum weight is 1,000 lbs with no maximum. Lighter calves compete in a weigh-out class and are not eligible for premiums or harvest.
- Exhibitors declare weights on a weight card at check-in. A 5 percent variance is allowed for beef; animals outside it forfeit premiums.
- Feeder calves must be born January 1 to June 1 of the show year and weigh no more than 1,000 lbs. Bulls are not allowed.
- Decisions to send market beef to harvest must be made at check-in.
- Beef showmanship has two age divisions: junior (9-13) and senior (14-19).
- A 30-minute load-in and load-out policy is enforced.
Premiums and Awards
Class premiums on beef are $50, $35 and $25 for first through third. The Purple Banner Knight pays the Grand Champion Market Beef a $12,000 supreme premium and the Reserve Champion $10,000, with $5,000, $2,500 and $1,000 for third through fifth. Market goat grand champion earns $8,000 and reserve $4,000. Broiler and rabbit grand champions earn $1,500. Beef showmanship champions in each age division receive $400. Premiums over $600 require a W-9 before payment. Grand and reserve champion market beef become the property of the show at the end of the Purple Banner Knight.
Where
Nebraska State Fairgrounds at Fonner Park, Grand Island, Nebraska. The show office is at 501 E. Stolley Park Road, #200, Grand Island, NE 68801.
Questions
Is nomination the same as entry?
No. They are separate steps and both are required.
Can I enter at the show?
No. Entry and showmanship are online only, and late entries are refused.
Can heifers be shown as market animals?
Yes, heifers are eligible in market beef, and females can move between breeding and market only if they were dual nominated.
Who do I call?
The show office at 308-382-1620.
Official Links
- Aksarben Stock Show livestock show page
- Entry and nomination information
- 2026 Entry Book (PDF)
- Contact page
Nebraska County Junior Livestock Shows: The Essentials
Nebraska county junior livestock shows follow each county's own fair book, but share common requirements: 4-H enrollment (new members by June 15), YQCA quality assurance training, animal ID, and online entry. Beef, swine, sheep, goat, rabbit, poultry and horse projects each have their own ID rules.
Typical ID
Market beef use a 4-H or EID ear tag, sheep and meat goats a USDA scrapie tag, and rabbits a left-ear tattoo, with ID sheets or certificates turned in to Extension.
Show format
Buffalo County's 2026 fair ran check-in, species showmanship and judging across several days, then a premium sale (swine, goat, sheep, beef) on Monday. Entry is online and late entries are often refused. Planning for State Fair? Nominations ($7 per animal) and DNA are due June 15.
Planning
Premises ID is required for market animals with EID tags in some counties, and animals can be identified in only one county. Keep copies of every ID sheet and DNA envelope, and read your county's premium book for head limits and check-in times.
Other Upcoming Events Nearby
- Nebraska 4-H Horse Expo
The Fonner Park State 4-H Horse Show, the statewide 4-H horse competition, in Grand Island with check-in at Thompson Arena. The next dates posted are July 10 to 14, 2027.
- Hall County 4-H Fine Arts Night
Speech and talent contests for Hall County 4-H members, held March 24, 2026 at 6:30 pm in the College Park Auditorium; registration forms were due March 10.
Grand Island, NE | Organizer: Nebraska Extension in Hall County Official event details - Hall County 4-H Bicycle Road-E-O
Bicycle safety and skills event for ages 5-18 held May 27, 2026 at the Hall County Extension Office in Grand Island; pre-registration closed May 20.
Grand Island, NE | Organizer: Nebraska Extension in Hall County Official event details - Nebraska State Fair
Eleven-day state fair in Grand Island that always ends on Labor Day. It includes the 4-H and FFA exhibits, concerts at the BigIron Events Center and TD Landing, and horse and livestock events. The 2026 fair ran Aug. 28 to Sept. 7.
- Nebraska Affiliate Foundation Quarter Horse Registry Show
Quarter horse registry show opening the State Fair horse program, with classes starting at 8:00 a.m. in the indoor arena on Aug. 28 and 29, 2026.
Grand Island, NE | 308-382-1620 | Organizer: Nebraska State Fair Official event details
Listing checked Nov. 11, 2026 against this source. Details can change; confirm with the organizer.