What the Livestock Sale Is
The Fayette County Junior Fair Livestock Sale is the Friday evening auction where Fayette County junior fair exhibitors sell their market animals at the Fayette County Fairgrounds in Washington Court House. In 2026 it was held Friday, July 24, at 5:30 p.m. Dairy and beef steers, feeders, dairy and meat goats, sheep and hogs are sold in this one auction. Rabbits, chickens and turkeys sell the evening before.
Sale Schedule
| Day | Time | What sells |
|---|---|---|
| Thursday, July 23 | 5:30 p.m. | Rabbits, chickens and turkeys |
| Friday, July 24 | 5:30 p.m. | Dairy feeders, dairy steers, beef steers, beef feeders, dairy goats, meat goats, sheep and hogs |
How Exhibitors Get Ready
- Enter through Fair Entry. Animal projects register at fairentry.com, which is separate from 4-H enrollment in 4-HOnline but uses the same login credentials. Step-by-step instructions are posted as a PDF on the Extension page.
- Tag in. Market beef and dairy tag-in is December 5, 2026 at the Beef Barn. Feeder calves (beef and dairy) tag in May 1, 2027, 9 to 10:30 a.m. at the Beef Barn, and market lambs and goats tag in the same day, 9 to 10:30 a.m. at the Sheep and Goat Barn.
- Swine. Notch cards are due at the Mahan Building by May 18, 2027, 4 p.m.
- Rabbits and poultry. Rabbit tattooing is June 4, 2027 at the Rabbit Barn. The turkey hatch date is March 3, 2027 and the chicken hatch date is June 2, 2027, with hatch papers required at weigh-in.
- Drug Use Notification Forms. One is required for each market animal, or one per pen for market rabbits and chickens. They must be completed before crossing the scales at check-in. Poultry exhibitors complete theirs after leg banding at check-in. In 2026 all forms were due by noon on July 19.
- After the sale. Buyer thank-you notes are due at the Mahan Building by 4 p.m. on July 31.
The Extension page notes that if its dates differ from the Fair Book, the Fair Book is the rule book.
Buyers and Sale Participants
A Buyer's List organized by species was posted for the 2026 sale, with a final update dated July 28, 2026, along with a list of 2026 Junior Fair market exhibitors. The sale participants list is on fayettecofairoh.com.
Other Junior Fair Opportunities
Applications for 2027 Junior Superintendent are due March 19, 2027 at 11:59 p.m., with selections announced March 23, 2027 at 5:30 p.m. Junior Fair Board applications for 2027 are released in the fall.
Where
Fayette County Fairgrounds, Washington Court House, Ohio. The Junior Fair Office is at 213 Fairview Ave, PO Box 1017, Washington C.H., Ohio 43160.
Questions
How do I enter an animal?
Through Fair Entry at fairentry.com.
When do I do the drug form?
Before crossing the scales at check-in, for each market animal.
Who do I call?
The Junior Fair Office, 740-335-5856, or the OSU Extension office, 740-335-1150, 1415 US Route 22 SW, Suite 100, open Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Official Links
- Fayette County Junior Fair: sale schedule, tag-in dates, forms and buyer lists
Ohio County Fairs and Junior Livestock Shows: The Essentials
Ohio's 2026 fair season listed 94 county and independent fairs plus the Ohio State Fair, running from the Paulding County Fair on June 6 to the Fairfield County Fair ending October 17, per Spectrum News.
State fair
The Ohio State Fair ran July 29 to August 9 in Columbus, and its preliminary livestock schedule put the Sale of Champions on August 9.
Rules and dates
Statewide, market animal exhibitors must finish Quality Assurance at least 45 days before the show, and leasing market animals is not allowed, per the livestock rules overview. Ownership and tagging dates vary by county. Lucas County, for example, set a January 1 ownership date for market beef, per its livestock rules.
Next steps
Ask your county Extension office or FFA advisor for your fair book, tagging dates and sale rules. Weights and entry limits differ by fair, and Pickaway County, for instance, caps exhibitors at 10 animals with no more than 5 market animals. Put QA, tagging and registration dates on one calendar the day you receive them.
Read the full guide: Ohio County Fairs and Junior Livestock Shows
Other Upcoming Events Nearby
- Fayette County Junior Fair Rabbit, Chicken and Turkey Sale
Junior Fair exhibitors sell rabbits, chickens and turkeys on the Thursday evening of fair week in Washington Court House. Held each year; the most recent sale was July 23, 2026, at 5:30 PM.
Washington Court House, OH | 740-335-5856 | Organizer: Fayette County Junior Fair Official event details - Wayne County 4-H Recognition Banquet
Annual banquet honoring Wayne County 4-H members and volunteers, held Nov. 12, 2026 in the Event Center at the fairgrounds.
- Ohio Farm Bureau Annual Meeting
The 107th Ohio Farm Bureau Annual Meeting brought members to downtown Columbus for two days. Held each year; the most recent dates were December 11-12, 2025.
- Wayne County 4-H Beef Weigh-In
Market beef project members weigh in at the Coliseum on the Wayne County fairgrounds; Jan. 24 was the weather makeup date. Held each year; the most recent date was Jan. 10, 2026.
Wooster, OH Official event details - Shelby County 4-H Market Beef Weigh-In and Tagging
Market cattle weigh-in and tagging for Shelby County junior fair exhibitors at the fairgrounds, with a Jan. 25 makeup date for bad weather. Held each year; the most recent date was Jan. 11, 2026.
Sidney, OH Official event details
Listing checked Nov. 11, 2026 against this source. Details can change; confirm with the organizer.