What the Benton County Fair Is
The Benton County Fair in Corvallis is a 4-H fair held at the Benton County Fairgrounds. The 2026 edition ran Wednesday, July 29 through Saturday, August 1 under the theme "Stars, Stripes and Summer Nights." Members show market beef, sheep, swine and meat goats, enter static exhibits, compete in judging and marketing contests, and finish with the Lee Allen Memorial Youth Market Auction.
Ways to Take Part
- Market animal projects: beef, sheep, swine and meat goats. Horse is a separate 4-H project with its own horse fair held in July.
- Static exhibits: Family, Consumer Science, Arts and Sciences projects, open to all 4-H members. Members choose classes online and reserve an interview judging time slot. Judging was Saturday, July 25, 2026.
- Livestock judging contest: open to all 4-H members; tests selection of beef, sheep, swine and meat goats, with handbooks available.
- Marketing contest: open to animal science members. Members promote their animal to judges for presentation purposes only; no sale takes place and the animal must be present. Sign-up opens online in mid-July, and openings are first come on the fair-week bulletin board.
- Herdsmanship: a team contest where clubs are judged twice daily. Members do the work; parents and leaders may only supervise and teach.
- Master Showmanship: chooses top showmen to represent each species.
- Table setting contest: covers table setting, meal planning, theme creativity, public speaking and food safety.
- Milk Chug-A-Lug: teams of up to six; open to members, leaders and parents, sponsored by the Linn-Benton County Dairy Women.
Key Dates and Deadlines (2026 Edition)
| Date | What |
|---|---|
| May 26 | Online registration opens |
| June 1 | YQCA training deadline |
| June 12, midnight | Registration closes |
| July 15 | Auction book cover submissions due to the Extension office |
| July 25 | Static exhibit judging at the fairgrounds |
| July 29 to August 1 | Fair |
| August 1, 3:00 p.m. | Lee Allen Memorial Youth Market Auction |
Rules and Fees
Each member must register online to select classes, including horse. YQCA (Youth for the Quality Care of Animals) is required for all members in animal science projects; it is a statewide Oregon 4-H policy covering food safety, animal well-being and character awareness, and certificates are valid for three years. A judges' fee of $10 per member (not per species) applies to beef, sheep, swine and meat goat projects, collected at check-in in exact cash or check. Eligibility for the auction is spelled out in the 4-H Fair Book.
The Auction and Book Cover Contest
The Lee Allen Memorial Youth Market Auction helps 4-H and FFA members build life skills, responsibility, decision-making and record-keeping, and profits typically go back into projects or future educational expenses. Benton County 4-H members can also enter the auction book cover contest, which carries cash awards sponsored by the Dowless Family. Entries are black ink or pencil on 8.5 by 11 inch white paper with a small white border, must carry the title "2026 Lee Allen Memorial Youth Market Auction," the date, time and theme.
Camping
RV and tent camping is in the Oak Grove area for 4-H members and families. RVs 30 feet or shorter get priority placement, larger RVs go on a waitlist, and each club may be limited to a set number of trailers. Reservations go through the 4-H office with the fairgrounds. A fair information and camping packet is released in late May.
Questions
Is there an age limit?
No age requirements or divisions are published for the Benton County fair classes.
Does the marketing contest sell my animal?
No. It is a presentation contest only.
Who runs it?
Benton County 4-H, through the OSU Extension office.
Official Links
Tennessee County Fairs and Youth Livestock Shows: The Essentials
Tennessee county fairs run from mid-July into the fall, with the Wilson County-Tennessee State Fair in Lebanon set for August 13 to 22 in 2026, per a fair roundup. Confirm dates with each fair.
Statewide junior shows
UT Extension runs swine, cattle, goat, sheep and dairy shows, including the State Junior Dairy Show on October 9 and 10 in Lebanon, per its youth livestock page.
Who can show
4-H members need to be in 4th grade or later, FFA members must be enrolled in agriculture education on January 1, and everyone needs TYQA certification, per the goat show handbook. Goats carry a June 1 ownership deadline.
Health papers
Every animal needs a Certificate of Veterinary Inspection dated within 90 days of the show.
Next steps
Ask your county Extension office or FFA advisor for entry forms and tagging days.
Tagging
Steers and heifers need an 840-RFID tag and a matching tattoo, and steers must attend a regional tagging day, per the 2026 Beef Expo handbook.
Other 2026 fairs
Williamson County ran August 7 to 15, the Tennessee Valley Fair in Knoxville ran September 11 to 20 and the Middle Tennessee District Fair in Lawrenceburg ran September 24 to October 3.
Read the full guide: Tennessee County Fairs and Youth Livestock Shows
Other Upcoming Events Nearby
- Middle Tennessee Hereford Association Fall Sale
Breeders and buyers meet in Cross Plains for the Middle Tennessee Hereford Association Fall Sale, dated November 21, 2026.
Cross Plains, TN Official event details - Farmington Angus Bull and Female Sale
Farmington Angus Bull and Female Sale is a Tennessee cattle sale in Normandy, set for November 21, 2026.
Normandy, TN Official event details - BOPAT Fall Bull Sale
Cattle buyers head to Bradford for the BOPAT Fall Bull Sale, scheduled for November 28, 2026.
Bradford, TN Official event details - Boys From the South Sale
Lebanon hosts the Boys From the South Sale on November 28, 2026, one of the sales on the Tennessee Cattlemen's calendar.
Lebanon, TN Official event details - Platinum Alliance Sale
The Platinum Alliance Sale takes place in Cookeville, Tennessee on December 5, 2026.
Cookeville, TN Official event details
Listing checked Nov. 11, 2026 against this source. Details can change; confirm with the organizer.