What the South Carolina State Fair Livestock Shows Are
The South Carolina State Fair fills eleven days at the State Fairgrounds in Columbia, and its barns host open and junior shows for beef cattle, dairy cattle, swine, goats, sheep, youth horses and small stock. Open classes are open to anyone. Junior classes are for 4-H, FFA and breed association youth, and the junior shows carry scholarships for South Carolina exhibitors. The 2026 fair ran October 15-25, and the 2027 fair is set for October 14-24.
Shows and Divisions
| Show | 2026 dates | Where |
|---|---|---|
| Dairy cattle (open and junior) | Oct. 16-18 | Nutt Cattle Arena |
| Swine (open and junior) | Oct. 17-18 | Swine, Sheep and Goat Barn |
| Junior market hogs | Oct. 19 | Swine, Sheep and Goat Barn |
| Junior market goats | Oct. 21 | Swine, Sheep and Goat Barn |
| Junior commercial ewes | Oct. 22 | Swine, Sheep and Goat Barn |
| Open beef cattle | Oct. 22-23 | Nutt Cattle Arena |
| Junior beef cattle, including junior steers | Oct. 24 | Nutt Cattle Arena |
| Youth horse | Oct. 16-18 | Abernathy Arena |
| 4-H poultry and rabbit showmanship | Oct. 17 | Academic Avenue Field |
Dairy breeds include Ayrshire, Brown Swiss, Guernsey, Holstein and Jersey, and beef on dairy is a junior-only division. Swine breeds are Duroc, Hampshire, Berkshire, Yorkshire, other breeds and commercial gilts.
Who Can Enter and Rules
- Open shows are open to the world.
- Junior beef and swine shows are open to 4-H, FFA and breed association members. Junior swine accepts South Carolina and out-of-state members.
- Showmanship age groups are Novice (5-9), Junior (10-14), Senior (15-18, in high school) and Collegiate (17-21, in college or technical school). Beef ages are counted as of January 1, 2026.
- Youth horse exhibitors must be 19 or younger.
- Junior beef classes are for weaned heifers, except senior yearling females with a calf at side. Exhibitors must show their own animals.
- Beef registration papers must show the exhibitor as owner, and animals with pending registrations are not accepted. Out-of-state cattle need a Certificate of Veterinary Inspection written within 30 days of the show.
- Swine need a veterinary inspection on the farm of origin and a certificate valid for 30 days. Out-of-state swine need an entry permit from the State Veterinarian (803-788-2260).
- Anyone showing swine, including in showmanship, must be registered under their own name to collect premiums.
How It Works: The Timeline (2026 Edition)
- Open entries ran July 1 to September 1, and late entries were not accepted.
- Swine check-in was October 14 from noon to 4:00 p.m. and October 15 until noon at Gate 1. Junior market hogs weighed in Monday, October 19, 8:00-9:00 a.m.
- Beef cattle checked in Tuesday, October 20 after 10:00 a.m., with books closing Wednesday at 4:00 p.m. Junior-only beef entries could check in through Friday, October 23 at 4:00 p.m.
- Dairy check-in ran October 14 to October 15 at 4:00 p.m., with books closing then. Dairy was released after the Junior Dairy Supreme contest on October 18.
- Beef exhibitors enter through Gate 4 on George Rogers Blvd.
Fees, Premiums and Scholarships
- Beef: $20 per class. Showmanship has no registration charge, but exhibitors must show cattle in a breed show.
- Swine: $5 per head.
- Beef premiums totaled $95,316 in 2026. Junior beef classes paid $70 for first down to $20 for seventh. The junior grand champion received a banner and a $50 gift card.
- Swine premiums totaled $35,385. Junior market hogs paid $80 for first. The swine costume contest paid $85 for first.
- The President's Choice Award pays $450 plus a silver belt buckle in junior beef and $125 plus a buckle in junior swine.
- South Carolina Farm Bureau Federation scholarships are awarded each year: two of $2,500 in beef, one of $2,000 in dairy, one of $2,500 in swine. Beef also has the $2,000 Stan Clements Showmanship Scholarship and other named awards. Scholarships are limited to South Carolina youth, and winners must be present.
- Premiums are paid within 30 days of the fair. A signed W-9 is required for winnings over $599.
Where
South Carolina State Fairgrounds, 1200 Rosewood Drive, Columbia, SC 29201. Exhibitors receive a complimentary vehicle pass, and RV parking is reserved through the fair's website. Alcohol, smoking in buildings and pets are not allowed in the exhibit areas, and youth follow the 4-H Code of Conduct.
Questions
Is there an entry deadline for the 2027 shows?
Exhibit guides for 2027 had not been published at last check. In 2026 entries closed September 1 and late entries were refused, so plan to enter by early September.
Can a South Carolina FFA member get into the fair free?
On SC FFA Day (October 15 in 2026) the fair admits South Carolina FFA members free with an official National FFA membership card. Parking was $5.
Who do I call?
The fair office: 803-799-3387 or 888-444-3247. For beef, premium and entry questions, the entry office is 803-851-4619.
Official Links
- Agriculture and Livestock: shows, dates and scholarships
- 2026 Beef Cattle Exhibit Guide
- 2026 Swine Exhibit Guide
- Dairy Cattle competition page
- SC FFA Day at the State Fair
- Hours and directions
South Carolina County Fairs and Youth Livestock Shows: The Essentials
South Carolina's youth livestock season runs through county fairs and 4-H projects to the State Fair in Columbia each October.
State Fair
The 2026 State Fair ran October 15 to 25, with swine October 17 to 19, junior market goats October 21 and beef October 22 to 24, per the Clemson 4-H calendar.
Who can show
Junior swine and goat exhibitors must be 4-H or FFA members, with showmanship divisions by age as of January 1, per the swine guide. Entries ran July 1 to September 1.
Hogs and health
Market hogs must be barrows or gilts with official identification and a veterinary inspection certificate, valid for 30 days.
County shows
The Orangeburg County Fair held 4-H livestock shows through October 11, 2026, per WRDW.
Next steps
Ask your Extension agent for local show dates, and watch the October entry window.
Read the full guide: South Carolina County Fairs and Youth Livestock Shows
Other Upcoming Events Nearby
- South Carolina 4-H State Engineering Challenge
Teams of 4-H members build and test design solutions at the State Engineering Challenge, held Feb. 10, 2027 at the State Fairgrounds in Columbia.
- State 4-H Engineering Challenge
State 4-H engineering challenge for youth teams at the State Fairgrounds in Columbia on February 10, 2027.
Columbia, SC | Organizer: Clemson 4-H Official event details - FFA Auctioneers CDE Semifinals
Semifinal round of the state FFA auctioneering contest in Columbia on February 22, 2027, with finalists moving on to the June state convention.
Columbia, SC | Organizer: SC FFA / Clemson Extension Official event details - FFA Legislative Day
FFA members meet lawmakers at the South Carolina Statehouse in Columbia on February 24, 2027.
Columbia, SC | Organizer: SC FFA / Clemson Extension Official event details - South Carolina 4-H Pinckney Leadership Roundup Columbia
The Columbia stop of the 4-H Pinckney Leadership Roundup, the last of three regional days for teen leaders, is set for March 6, 2027.
All South Carolina events by date
Listing checked Nov. 11, 2026 against this source. Details can change; confirm with the organizer.