What the Knox County 4-H Fair Is
The Knox County 4-H Fair in Vincennes is the week when 4-H members show their livestock and display the year's projects at the Knox County Fairgrounds. The most recent fair ran Monday, July 27 through Saturday, August 1, 2026, with animal check-in the day before. It ends with the 4-H Livestock Auction on Friday night.
Key Dates and Deadlines
- July 1, 4 p.m.: Creative Writing and Genealogy projects due at the Extension Office.
- July 17, 4 p.m.: supplies pickup at the Extension Office.
- July 18: dog, poultry, rabbit and horse and pony manuals due; livestock clean-up at 8 a.m.
- July 20, 6 p.m.: building set-up.
- July 22, 5 to 8 p.m.: non-perishable project check-in, including Mini 4-H.
- July 25, 8 to 11 a.m.: perishables, cakes, crops, flowers and all sewing; Mini 4-H may also check in.
Record sheets are turned in at check-in, which earns the member's Fair Pass.
Livestock Schedule
| Date | Show |
|---|---|
| Sun, July 26 | Animals arrive 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.; official check-in 4 to 9 p.m., all animals in barns by 9 p.m.; dog agility 6:30 p.m. |
| Mon, July 27 | Poultry 8 a.m.; rabbit 9 a.m.; horse and pony contesting 4 p.m. |
| Tue, July 28 | Swine 8 a.m.; dog obedience and showmanship 8:30 a.m.; sheep 4:30 p.m. |
| Wed, July 29 | Beef and dairy 9 a.m.; cat show 3 p.m.; goats 4:30 p.m. |
| Thu, July 30 | Llama and alpaca 9 a.m.; horse and pony 9 a.m.; Round Robin 7 p.m. |
| Fri, July 31 | Horse and pony 9 a.m.; 4-H Livestock Auction 5:30 p.m. in the Livestock Arena; release after the auction at 10:30 p.m. |
Rules Exhibitors Should Know
- Minors must have a supervisor at the fair.
- Dog and cat exhibitors need a valid Certificate of Vaccination.
- Grooming must be done within 100 feet of the barn, or of the horse arena for horses, and exhibitors must take an active, hands-on role.
- Only superintendent-approved fans are allowed in barns. The swine barn allows one fan per pen, no turbo fans, under 2 amps.
- Swine ear notches must match enrollment forms, and barrow weight is 200 to 300 pounds.
- Posters must be 22 by 28 inches, horizontal with the 28-inch side on top, on firm backing (no plywood) and in a clear plastic sleeve.
- A project that does not meet requirements may be docked one ribbon placing at the judge's discretion.
Premiums and Release
Livestock premiums are picked up from the species superintendent on July 31 during the auction. Building premiums are available July 30 from 4 to 10 p.m., July 31 when the building is open, or August 1 from 9 to 11 p.m. The exhibit hall closes Saturday, August 1 at 8:45 p.m. Projects are released August 1 from 9 to 11 p.m. or August 2 from 5 to 6 p.m., and projects not picked up are disposed of.
For Visitors
The Farm Bureau Exhibit Hall is open to the public Monday through Friday (July 27 to 31) from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 4 to 10 p.m., with Tuesday opening at 8 a.m., and Saturday from 4 to 9 p.m. After 4 p.m. no vehicles may be driven on the grounds except fair officials and handicap use. Vehicles enter on the west (Vincennes) side. Families feeding animals after 4 p.m. need a car pass from the Fair Office, which covers the driver plus one person. Parking along or across from the rabbit and poultry barns is prohibited.
The midway is Luehrs' Ideal Rides: $30 wristbands on Tuesday, Wednesday and Saturday, all rides one ticket on Thursday's Kiddie Day, and two riders for the price of one on Friday's Buddy Night. Presale tickets save $10 through a QR code.
Where
Knox County Fairgrounds, Vincennes, Indiana. The Purdue Extension Knox County office is at 4259 North Purdue Rd., Vincennes, IN 47591.
Questions
When is the auction?
Friday, July 31 at 5:30 p.m. in the Livestock Arena.
When are animals due?
Animals check in Sunday, July 26 from 4 to 9 p.m.
How do I get my Fair Pass?
Turn in record sheets at project check-in.
Official Links
- Knox County 4-H Fair issue of the Clover Quarterly: deadlines, livestock schedule, rules and carnival
- Purdue Extension Knox County 4-H
- Indiana Farm Bureau guide to 2026 county fair dates
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
- 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 - Adams County 4-H Hog, Sheep and Goat Clinics
Saturday clinics for 4-H livestock exhibitors: market hog clinic, quality assurance session, then a goat and sheep clinic. Most recent date was March 7, 2026.
West Union, OH | Organizer: OSU Extension Adams County 4-H Official event details
Listing checked Nov. 11, 2026 against this source. Details can change; confirm with the organizer.