What the State 4-H Junior Swine Show Is
The State 4-H Junior Swine Show, formally the Tennessee State Junior Swine Show, is the statewide youth hog show run by University of Tennessee Extension. Tennessee 4-H and FFA members bring breeding gilts and market hogs to the Hyder-Burks Pavilion in Cookeville to compete by breed, in showmanship and for overall championships. The 2026 show ran January 8-10, 2026. The next show is set for January 7-9, 2027.
Exhibitors can also take part in a skillathon and in the Premier Exhibitor program, and one hog per exhibitor can go through a voluntary ultrasound carcass show.
Divisions and Classes
| Class | Details |
|---|---|
| Breeding gilts | Purebred gilts farrowed June 1 or later, with a permanent ear notch and valid registration papers; must be guaranteed open; classes split by farrowing date |
| Market hogs (barrows) | Castrated and completely healed; prospect pigs 195-229 lb, market hogs 230-305 lb |
| Crossbred breeding gilts | 230-335 lb |
| Showmanship | Grade divisions of 4th; 5th-6th; 7th-8th; 9th-10th; 11th-12th (grade as of January 1) |
| Tennessee Bred | Dam owned by a Tennessee swine producer at conception and the hog born in Tennessee |
Breed classes are Berkshire, Chester White, Duroc, Hampshire, Hereford, Landrace, Poland China, Spot, Tamworth, Yorkshire and Crossbred. A breed gets its own division with 8 or more head from 3 or more exhibitors, or with a $100 sponsorship. Otherwise those hogs show in All Other Breeds.
How It Works
- Enter by November 1. Entries go through the local UT Extension office using the online entry system on the UT Animal Science Animal Exhibitions page (Swine tab).
- Tag and validate. Every hog needs an 840-RFID tag and a legible ear notch matching the entry form. Tags are sent to county Extension offices, and an Extension agent or FFA advisor supervises tagging.
- Get a health certificate. A Certificate of Veterinary Inspection is required for every animal and must be dated within 90 days of the show.
- Check in. Tag numbers and ear notches are checked against the entry form, and animals are inspected on arrival. A hog showing signs of contagious disease can be quarantined or sent home.
- Show. Market hogs are weighed against declared weights; the top three in each class are weighed in the ring, and a hog more than 15 lb over or under its declared weight is dismissed from the class.
- Championship. Breed champions and reserves enter the Overall Champion Drive, which takes the top 5 breeding gilts and top 5 market hogs from the 11 breeds.
Who Can Enter and Rules
- Tennessee 4-H members enrolled in 4th grade or later, or FFA members enrolled in agriculture education courses on January 1.
- Exhibitors cannot have reached the end of the calendar year of high school graduation or of their 20th birthday, whichever comes first.
- An Extension agent or FFA advisor must supervise and sign the entry, along with the exhibitor and a parent or guardian.
- Exhibitors must be Tennessee Youth Quality Assurance (TYQA) certified.
- An exhibitor may enter up to 12 hogs but show only 6.
- Hogs must be owned and in the exhibitor's possession by November 1, and registered gilts and barrows must be registered in the exhibitor's name by that date.
Fees, Awards and What You Get
The entry fee is $10.00 per head, sent with the entry forms, and there are no refunds for animals entered but not shown. Regional entry fees are paid separately to regional staff. The carcass show is voluntary: one hog per exhibitor, at least 230 lb, can be ultrasound-scanned.
The Premier Exhibitor program has five divisions (Explorer for 4th grade, Junior Level I, Junior Level II, Senior Level I and Senior Level II). To qualify, an exhibitor shows a gilt or market hog, competes in showmanship and takes the 100-point skillathon. A youth can win only one Premier Exhibitor award per year. Champion and Reserve Champion are also awarded for Tennessee Bred market hogs, commercial gilts and registered gilts.
Where
Hyder-Burks Pavilion, Cookeville, Tennessee, January 7-9, 2027. Stalls and pens are assigned by county and posted in the barn, and tying or penning in wash areas is not allowed.
Questions
Can I show a crossbred gilt?
Yes. Crossbred breeding gilts show at 230-335 lb, and purebred gilts that are not eligible can show in the crossbred class.
What if I lose an ear tag?
Tell your agent or advisor right away. The retagging is witnessed and reported to the Youth Livestock and Equine Specialist.
Are drug tests possible?
Yes. Hogs can be tested at any time, and refusing a test means disqualification.
Who do I contact?
Your county UT Extension office.
Official Links
- Swine Show Handbook 2027: eligibility, entry, classes and awards
- 2026 Eastern Region event dates: the January 2026 show dates
Tennessee UT and TSU Extension: The Essentials
Tennessee Extension has an office in each of the state's 95 counties, grouped into Eastern, Central and Western regions, per the County Connections guide.
What it offers
Programs cover agriculture and natural resources, family and consumer sciences, 4-H youth development and community economic development. Services include Master Gardener and pesticide safety education.
4-H and livestock
UT Extension runs the state junior livestock shows, and entries go through the county office, per the youth livestock page. Exhibitors need TYQA certification.
TSU Extension
Tennessee State University runs the Tennessee New Farmer Academy, a seven-month certificate program, per its Extension page.
Next steps
Call your county Extension office before you buy an animal, plant a crop or start a project.
Structure
Each county office is led by a County Extension Director who reports to a regional director. Regional offices are in Knoxville, Nashville and Jackson.
Youth programs
Tennessee 4-H builds skills through clubs, camps and afterschool programs under the motto "Learn by Doing."
Dates and rules change each year, so confirm details with your county Extension office or advisor.
Other Upcoming Events Nearby
- Platinum Alliance Sale
The Platinum Alliance Sale takes place in Cookeville, Tennessee on December 5, 2026.
Cookeville, TN Official event details - 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
Listing checked Nov. 11, 2026 against this source. Details can change; confirm with the organizer.