What the Johnson County Fair Livestock Shows Are
The junior livestock shows are the heart of the Johnson County Fair in Tecumseh, the county's 147th annual fair in 2026. Young exhibitors check in their animals on Thursday, show them on Friday and Saturday, and finish with the 4-H Livestock Premium Sale on Sunday evening. The 2026 fair ran August 14 to 16 at the Johnson County Fairgrounds, with free admission.
Shows and Classes
| Day | Time | Show | Place |
|---|---|---|---|
| Friday, Aug. 14 | 8:00 a.m. | Swine | Small Arena |
| Friday, Aug. 14 | 1:00 p.m. | Sheep | Small Arena |
| Friday, Aug. 14 | 3:00 p.m. | Goat | Small Arena |
| Friday, Aug. 14 | 6:00 p.m. | Clover Kid Pet and Fashion Show | Small Arena |
| Saturday, Aug. 15 | 8:00 a.m. | Bucket calf | Livestock Arena |
| Saturday, Aug. 15 | 9:00 a.m. | Beef | Livestock Arena |
| Saturday, Aug. 15 | 2:00 p.m. | Poultry | Small Arena |
| Saturday, Aug. 15 | 4:00 p.m. | Rabbit | Small Arena |
| Saturday, Aug. 15 | 5:00 p.m. | Round Robin Showmanship | Small Arena |
How It Works: The Timeline
- Sunday, Aug. 9, 1:00 p.m.: livestock superintendent meeting in the 4-H building.
- Thursday, Aug. 13: animal check-in. Swine at 8:00 a.m.; sheep and goats 10:00 a.m. to noon; poultry and rabbits 3:00 to 5:00 p.m.; beef 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. Open livestock entries are made at the same time as 4-H livestock.
- Friday and Saturday: the shows listed above.
- Sunday, Aug. 16, 7:00 p.m.: 4-H Livestock Premium Sale in the Livestock Arena.
- Monday, Aug. 17, 8:00 a.m.: fairgrounds cleanup.
Horse exhibitors check in Sunday at 9:00 a.m. in the Horse Arena, with the horse show at 10:00 a.m. and speed events at 2:00 p.m.
Other Exhibits and Contests
Static and food exhibits are entered Tuesday, August 11, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. in the 4-H building, and judging follows on Wednesday morning. The Lego contest has junior (ages 2 to 7), intermediate (8 to 11) and senior (12 to 15) divisions, with entry on Thursday from 6:30 to 9:00 p.m. in the crafts building. Static exhibits are released Sunday from 6:00 to 7:30 p.m.
What You Get
Exhibitors compete in class judging and the Round Robin Showmanship contest, then sell animals through the Sunday Premium Sale. The Friday night bull riding is free to watch at 7:30 p.m. in the Horse Arena, and the Sunday parade steps off at 5:30 p.m. from the courthouse square.
Where
Johnson County Fairgrounds, Tecumseh, Nebraska. Shows use the Small Arena and the Livestock Arena.
Questions
Is admission charged?
No. Fair admission is free. Carnival armbands for Sam's Amusements are $30.
When does beef check in?
Thursday, August 13, from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m., with the beef show Saturday at 9:00 a.m.
When is the premium sale?
Sunday, August 16, at 7:00 p.m. in the Livestock Arena.
Where are the entry blanks for the parade?
They are printed in the fair book. Bring them to the courthouse square on parade Sunday.
Official Links
- 2026 Nemaha and Johnson County fair schedules: full day-by-day schedule
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
- Johnson County Fair
Johnson County Fair: Tecumseh at Johnson County Fairgrounds hosts the annual fair, which most recently ran August 14-16, 2026. Features 4-H and FFA exhibit judging.
Tecumseh, NE Official event details - Johnson County 4-H Livestock Premium Sale
Evening premium sale that closes the county fair, where local businesses bid on 4-H market animals raised by Johnson County youth. Held each year; the most recent sale was Sunday, August 16, 2026 at 7 p.m. in Tecumseh.
Tecumseh, NE 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.