What the Umatilla County Fair Is
The Umatilla County Fair in Hermiston brings together open class exhibitors, 4-H and FFA members, vendors and volunteers for a week that centers on youth livestock. Market steers, lambs, goats, hogs, rabbits and poultry are shown in market and showmanship classes and then sold in the Youth Livestock Auction. The most recent edition ran in mid-August 2026, with release and tear-down on Sunday, August 16.
Who Can Enter and Rules
- Open class, 4-H and FFA exhibitors may enter.
- Livestock exhibitors must be accompanied by an FFA advisor, 4-H volunteer, parent or designated chaperone.
- Species include beef steers, swine, sheep, goats, dairy cattle, horses, rabbits and poultry including turkeys.
- Showmanship is required for each species a member exhibits. Market animals are shown in market and showmanship classes, and a livestock judging contest and the sale ring are required to sell.
- Purebred breeding stock needs registration certificates; non-market sheep and goats need a scrapie tag and/or tattoo.
- Out-of-state livestock and poultry must meet Oregon interstate requirements. Misuse of animal health products disqualifies livestock.
Key Dates and Deadlines (2026 Edition)
| Date | What happens |
|---|---|
| March 14 | Steer weigh-in at Hermiston, Milton-Freewater and Pendleton; steers weighed here are eligible for the AIBAA/Steer of Merit Award |
| May 16 | Rabbits and poultry banded and tattooed |
| June 6-7 | Lamb, goat and hog weigh-ins at Pendleton, Milton-Freewater, Hermiston and Athena |
| June 19 | FFA entries due in ShoWorks |
| June 30 | 4-H entries due in ShoWorks; open class livestock pre-registration |
| July 15 | Camping applications due (online only) |
| August 10 | Market animal scale check-in, 7 a.m. to noon and 5 to 8 p.m. |
| August 16 | Release and tear-down: livestock 7 to 10 a.m., 4-H exhibits 8 to 11 a.m., open class by noon |
| September 11 | Photos for buyers due; premium checks are held until photos arrive |
Sale Weights
Sale weight is scale weight less 3 percent shrink. Minimums and ranges at the show: steers 1,150 lbs minimum, swine 240 to 315 lbs, lambs 110 lbs minimum, goats 70 to 100 lbs, fryer rabbits 4 to 5 1/2 lbs (not over 80 days), fryer poultry 4 to 6 lbs (under 8 weeks) and turkeys 20 lbs minimum. Market hogs must not be shaved and need at least 1/2 inch of hair. All animals except steers must be under one year old at sale, and lambs with yearling teeth cannot sell.
The Youth Livestock Auction
Each exhibitor may sell one lot, one species. Sale order runs lambs, goats, beef, then hogs, with rabbits and poultry placed between species. The sale is terminal. Lots carry a 4 percent commission. Exhibitors choose the species they will sell before 9 a.m. on Thursday of fair week and must write thank-you notes to buyers and add-on supporters.
Awards and Premiums
Premium points follow ribbon placing, and market classes earn no points. Premium values are set after the fair, and not every entry receives a premium or ribbon. Official dress is expected at the awards program.
Camping and Check-In
Exhibitor campers may move in August 6 and 7 and must stay on the grounds until Sunday morning. Preference goes to exhibitors housing animals more than 20 miles from the fairgrounds. Approvals usually come the last week of July. Market animals arrive Monday, August 10, and are weighed first come, first served; they must be clean, dry and without blankets, and lambs must be slick-shorn.
Questions
What if my animal dies or is lost?
Tell the 4-H Extension Office or FFA advisor within 48 hours. No replacements are allowed within 30 days of the fair.
Who do I call?
Fair office, 541-567-6121. Umatilla County 4-H Extension Office, 541-278-5404.
Official Links
Oregon County Fairs and Youth Livestock Shows: The Essentials
Oregon county fairs are where most 4-H and FFA exhibitors show and sell market animals. Each fair has its own book, but a few patterns hold.
Timing
Northeast Oregon fairs cluster from late July into early September, per a regional byway listing. The 2026 Oregon State Fair ran August 28 to September 7 in Salem, per KPTV.
Rules to watch
Union County's 2026 fair book requires 4-H enrollment by February 1, YQCA training, 60 days of care for sheep, goats and swine, and 120 for steers. Only blue and red ribbon animals sell, with a 4 percent commission.
State Fair
At the state level, the Oregon State Fair 4-H handbook says market hogs, steers, goats, lambs, rabbits and chickens go home with the exhibitor rather than selling, and 4-H animals need a YQCA certificate at check-in, per the combined fair book.
Next steps
Get your county fair book from the Extension 4-H office and mark every deadline. Dates and weights change each year.
Read the full guide: Oregon County Fairs and Youth Livestock Shows
Other Upcoming Events Nearby
- Old Iron Show
Antique tractor and farm machinery show at Heritage Station Museum in Pendleton. Held each year; the most recent dates posted were 2027-06-04 to 2027-06-06, and organizers may adjust them.
Pendleton, OR Official event details - Heart of the Country Rodeo
Heart of the Country Rodeo brings professional and community rodeo action to Helix in Umatilla County. Held each year; the most recent dates posted were 2027-06-05, and organizers may adjust them.
Helix, OR Official event details - Ukiah Rodeo
Ukiah Rodeo brings professional and community rodeo action to Ukiah in Umatilla County. Held each year; the most recent dates posted were 2027-06-26 to 2027-06-27, and organizers may adjust them.
Ukiah, OR Official event details - Farm-City Pro Rodeo
Farm-City Pro Rodeo brings professional and community rodeo action to Hermiston in Umatilla County. Held each year; the most recent dates posted were 2027-08-11 to 2027-08-14, and organizers may adjust them.
Hermiston, OR Official event details - Hermiston Melon Fest
Festival honoring Hermiston's famous watermelons and muskmelons. Held each year; the most recent dates posted were 2027-08-21, and organizers may adjust them.
Hermiston, OR Official event details
Listing checked Nov. 11, 2026 against this source. Details can change; confirm with the organizer.