About this event
The Oklahoma Junior Cattlemen's Association (OJCA) Summer Preview Show is a three-day, family-friendly junior beef event hosted by the OJCA Board of Directors at the Payne County Expo Center in Stillwater. It pairs a competitive steer and heifer show with contests. The most recent verified edition ran June 4-6, 2026; the 2027 dates have not been announced in the source we checked.
Dates, deadlines and schedule
The 2026 listing gave this schedule:
- Thursday, June 4: check-in and steer weigh-in, 10:00 AM-4:00 PM.
- Friday, June 5: check-in and steer weigh-in 7:00-8:00 AM; livestock judging registration and contest 8:00 AM; speech contest 10:00 AM; cow camp 11:30 AM; salesmanship 1:00 PM; quiz bowl 2:00 PM; fitting contest Group 1 at 5:00 PM and Group 2 at 6:00 PM if needed.
- Saturday, June 6: heifer show 8:00 AM; steer show with prospects at 10:00 AM, followed by progress heifers and steers.
Divisions or species
The show is for beef cattle, steers and heifers. Contests listed include quiz bowl, livestock judging, showmanship, cow camp, speech, salesmanship, a fitting contest and the Oklahoma Beef Ambassador contest. Animals are shown alphabetically, and a breed needs at least three entries to be shown.
Getting there
The Payne County Expo Center is at 4518 Expo Circle East, Stillwater, OK 74075.
Tips for exhibitors and families
- Steers are weighed at check-in, so arrive Thursday afternoon or early Friday morning (7:00-8:00 AM).
- Friday is the busiest contest day, with the first event at 8:00 AM and the last fitting group at 6:00 PM. Plan travel and meals around it.
- The listing posts no entry fees or deadlines. Ask the OJCA contacts below before you come.
Contacts and official links
The listing names McKenzie Layton at (405) 933-7991, Hannah McElrath at (706) 263-5887 and Cassie Danielson at (405) 627-5325.
Oklahoma County Junior Livestock Shows: The Essentials
Oklahoma counties run their own junior livestock shows for 4-H and FFA members, and each county writes its own show book. Kay County's 2026 rules, for example, required nomination by December 5, 2025, with animals continuously owned and fed by the exhibitor from that date, while Tulsa County's nomination date was December 22, 2025. Choctaw County requires exhibitors to own their animals individually and keep them at home unless the board approves otherwise.
Tags and papers
Cattle at the Tulsa County show need an 840 RFID ear tag, sheep and goats need a scrapie tag, and swine need original negative test papers and a premises ID. Premium sales have their own limits, so read the current book.
Oklahoma Youth Expo
The Oklahoma Youth Expo has its own nomination and ID process. Under the 2024 OYE rulebook, exhibitors keep continuous ownership from nomination to show day, and an Oklahoma Department of Agriculture, Food and Forestry (ODAFF) official validates every health certificate before stalls are assigned. ODAFF's swine permit bars swine shown after March 1 from the Expo, and Oklahoma swine need an ear notch and an 840 electronic tag. Check okyouthexpo.com for the current year.
Read the full guide: Oklahoma County Junior Livestock Shows: How They Work
Other Upcoming Events Nearby
- OCA Steer Carcass Challenge
Feedout and carcass contest from the Oklahoma Cattlemen's Foundation and Oklahoma Junior Cattlemen's Association: steers delivered Nov. 13, 2026 in Stillwater are fed out, harvested April-June 2027 and scored on feedyard performance and carcass merit.
- OSU Winter Crop School
Three-day Oklahoma State University winter crop school for producers, held in Stillwater.
Stillwater, OK | Organizer: Oklahoma State University Official event details - Payne County Junior Livestock Show
2026 show days Feb 21-25 with the Premium Sale on Feb 26 at the Payne County Expo Center. The 2025 show ran Feb 22-27, so it recurs annually.
4518 Expo Circle E, Stillwater, OK 74075 | Organizer: Payne County OSU Extension Official event details - Oklahoma State 4-H Horse Show
Statewide 4-H horse show using the Green Arena and White Arena, held July 9-11, 2026;.
Stillwater, OK Official event details - OSU Big Three Field Days
Oklahoma State University field days in Stillwater showcasing crop and livestock research, listed for July 14-16 on the Farm Bureau calendar.
Stillwater, OK | Organizer: Oklahoma State University Official event details
Listing checked Nov. 11, 2026 against this source. Details can change; confirm with the organizer.