What the Union County Fair Is
The Union County Fair in La Grande is a 4-H and FFA youth fair with an open class division for the public. The 2026 edition ran under the theme "Country Pride, County Wide" and is sponsored by Union County 4-H and the Union County Extension Office. Young exhibitors bring market animals, breeding stock, horses, dogs, food projects, sewing, record books and more, and the week ends with the junior market auction.
Who Can Enter and Rules
- Members must be enrolled in a 4-H project by February 1.
- Age divisions are set by age as of September 1 of the previous year: Cloverbud 5-8, Junior 9-11, Intermediate 12-14, Senior 15-19 (19-year-olds must still be in high school). Cloverbuds take part for participation only and are not judged competitively.
- Novice livestock classes are for first-year showmen. Novice horse exhibitors are first-year riders of any age.
- Every member must complete YQCA training to show, either at the Extension Office or through an approved ag instructor.
- Market animals must be owned and cared for at least 60 days (sheep, goats, swine) or 120 days (beef). Sheep and goats are limited to five per exhibitor, including market animals.
- Exhibitors do their own fitting, training, care and showing, and every animal exhibitor must enter and place in a showmanship contest.
- Judging uses the Danish system: blue ribbon worth 12 points, red 10, white 8.
Key Dates and Deadlines (2026 Edition)
| Date | What happens |
|---|---|
| July 1 | Entries close; forms are available at the Extension Office |
| July 16-17 | Horse shows at Maverick Arena (western, English, gaming) |
| July 25 | 4-H dog show, 8 a.m. |
| July 27 | Small animal check-in 8 a.m. and show 8:30 a.m.; record books and open class entries |
| July 28 | Market animal weigh-in 4 to 7 p.m.; all livestock in place by 7 p.m. |
| July 29 | Fair opens 8 a.m.; market beef, swine, goat and lamb classes |
| July 30 | Showmanship for beef, swine, goats and sheep; fair closes 10 p.m. |
| July 31 | Livestock judging contest 8 to 10 a.m.; adult showmanship 6:30 p.m. |
| August 1 | FFA and 4-H awards from 10 a.m.; buyer dinner 3:30 p.m.; junior market auction 5:15 p.m. |
| August 2 | Static exhibit pickup 9 a.m. to noon |
Market Animals, Weights and the Auction
Official sale weight is arrival weight less 3 percent shrink. Sale weight ranges are steers 1,050 to 1,700 lbs, lambs 100 to 170 lbs, hogs 230 to 310 lbs and goats 70 to 130 lbs. Steers must be under 24 months and grade select or better. Steer paperwork (COOL form, market health form and change-of-ownership e-slip) is due at weigh-in.
Only blue and red ribbon market animals may sell; white ribbon animals may not. Lambs and goats must grade choice or better, and hogs must grade US 1 or 2. The auction takes a 4 percent commission, exhibitors must sell their own animals, and the sale is terminal. Thank-you letters to buyers are required. Payments are made within 90 days. In 2026 the FFA sale went first, since FFA leads in even years and 4-H in odd years.
Awards
- Vernon DeLong Memorial Award for the outstanding junior livestock exhibitor (application, record book, judging, showmanship, herdsmanship and interview all count).
- Ruth Becker Memorial Award for the outstanding intermediate home economics member.
- Hereford Award buckle, Western States Angus Auxiliary award, Quilt Questers overall quilt award, and free dairy goat conference certificates for showmanship winners.
- Champion and reserve showmanship awards in each species, a round robin for large animals, and a herdsmanship contest for clubs.
Questions
Can a 4-H member bring a market steer with 60 days of ownership?
No. Beef must be owned and cared for at least 120 days. The 60-day rule is for sheep, goats and swine.
What happens if I use a white-ribbon animal?
It can be shown but cannot sell in the auction.
When do checks arrive?
Checks are distributed no sooner than four weeks after the show.
Who do I call?
The Union County Extension Office, 541-963-1010.
Official Links
- 2026 Union County Fair Book
- Union County 4-H: Union County Fair
- Union County Fair general information
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
- Union County 4-H Livestock Tag-In
Evening tag-in sessions for sheep, goat and swine projects held at the Union County Fair Grounds in late May before the fair. Next dates are May 19, 20 and 26, 2027.
La Grande, OR | 541-786-1788 | Organizer: Union County 4-H Official event details - Eastern Oregon Livestock Show
Eastern Oregon Livestock Show in Union, a 4-H and FFA junior show for market beef, lambs, goats, hogs, horses and small animal breeding stock. Held each year in early June; dates shown are June 6-12, 2027.
- Elgin Stampede
Elgin Stampede brings professional and community rodeo action to Elgin in Union County. Held each year; the most recent dates posted were 2027-07-07 to 2027-07-10, and organizers may adjust them.
- Cove Cherry Fair
Cherry fair in Cove, a small fruit-growing town in the Grande Ronde valley. Held each year; the most recent dates posted were 2027-08-14, and organizers may adjust them.
Cove, OR Official event details - High Desert Stampede
High Desert Stampede brings professional and community rodeo action to Redmond in Deschutes County. Held each year; the most recent dates posted were 2027-03-31 to 2027-04-03, and organizers may adjust them.
Redmond, OR Official event details
Listing checked Nov. 11, 2026 against this source. Details can change; confirm with the organizer.