What the Tennessee State Junior Dairy Show Is
The Tennessee State Junior Dairy Show is the state championship for young dairy exhibitors. Youth show their animals' genetics, showmanship and fitting skills in a two-day event at the Wilson County Fairgrounds in Lebanon. Friday is for learning contests, showmanship and the recognition banquet. Saturday is the main show. The 2026 show was held October 9 and 10, and the next State 4-H Dairy Show is listed for October 8 and 9, 2027, at the James E. Ward Ag Center in Lebanon.
Who Can Enter and Rules
- 4-H members in 4th grade or later, or FFA members enrolled in agriculture education courses on January 1 of the show year.
- Exhibitors cannot be past 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 exhibitors need a current Tennessee Youth Quality Assurance (TYQA) certification.
- Cattle must be in the exhibitor's regular care by July 1 (grade heifers by September 1). Registered animals must be registered, and lease agreements in place, by July 1.
- Every animal needs a Certificate of Veterinary Inspection dated within 90 days of the show and an 840-RFID tag.
- Registered animals must meet breed purity minimums, for example 87 percent Holstein or 87.5 percent Guernsey, Ayrshire or Milking Shorthorn. Unregistered heifers go to a breed sifting committee.
- There is no limit on total animals, but an exhibitor may show two per class. Exhibitors show their own animals, and a substitute showman form is needed at check-in when two animals are in one class.
- Bedding must be shavings only.
Classes and Divisions
Heifer classes run from Summer Heifer Calf (born June 1, 2026 or later) through Fall Yearling Heifer, then Yearling in Milk and the cow classes from Two-Year-Old to Aged Cow (5 years and over). Cows show first on Saturday, and no heifers show before 11 a.m. Junior, Senior and Grand Champions are chosen, along with Bred by Exhibitor (BBE) champions for animals the exhibitor both bred and owns. A production award goes to the top cow of each breed with official records.
How It Works: The Timeline
- July 1: animals in the exhibitor's care, registrations and leases complete.
- August 1: completed entry forms must reach the UT Animal Science Department, sent through the county Extension office with registration or lease copies.
- October 1: current or previous lactation records must be available for production awards.
- Friday, October 9: cattle may not arrive before 4 p.m. on Thursday, and check-in with RFID tags, registration papers and health papers runs 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., and all cattle must be checked in by 1 p.m. Skillathon and Sales Talk and Career Development Contests run 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. State Showmanship starts at 3 p.m., followed by Dairy Cattle Capers at 5, the Parade of Future Champions at 5:30, the Tennessee Dairy Recognition Banquet at 6 and a product auction at 7 p.m.
- Saturday, October 10: skillathon stations open 7 to 10 a.m. and the show starts at 9 a.m.
Showmanship, Skillathon and Premier Exhibitor
Showmanship is open to every exhibitor with an entered animal and is split by grade: Explorer (4th), Junior Level I (5th-6th), Junior Level II (7th-8th), Senior Level I (9th-10th) and Senior Level II (11th-12th). The skillathon is a 100-point individual test of feed, breed and equipment identification, health and production practices and record keeping, with study materials posted by UT. Premier Exhibitor goes to the youth with the highest combined points from the animal show, showmanship and the skillathon in each division.
Fees, Awards and What You Get
Placings are scored from 100 points for first, dropping 2 per place through 10th among the blue ribbons, with a floor of 80. Showmanship runs from 100 for first to 91 for tenth. The Dairy Alliance provides Senior Premier Exhibitor scholarships of $1,000 for first and $500 for second. The Ray Spann Outstanding Junior Exhibitor Scholarship is $1,000 for a high school junior or senior, or a college freshman, who shows at the state show, judged on sportsmanship, animal care and 4-H dairy participation. Show entry fees are not published in the handbook, so check with the Extension office.
Where
Wilson County Fairgrounds, Lebanon, Tennessee.
Questions
Can I enter a grade heifer?
Yes. Grade heifers are grouped by height at check-in and have their own grand and reserve champions.
What if I entered but cannot attend?
Contact Aaron Fisher at the UT dairy office, 865-974-7260.
Who do I call about the dairy program?
Liz Eckelkamp, UT Animal Science, 865-974-8167, or your county Extension office.
Official Links
- 2026 Dairy Show schedule
- 2026 Dairy Handbook
- Tennessee 4-H dairy youth programs
- Wilson County 4-H livestock page: 2027 show dates
Other Upcoming Events Nearby
- 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 - Wilson County 4-H Beef Show
County 4-H beef show for Wilson County youth, held June 8 in the 2026 show season and a step toward the Central Region beef show.
Lebanon, TN | Organizer: UT Extension Wilson County 4-H Official event details - Tennessee State 4-H Beef Expo
Statewide junior beef cattle show and contests for Tennessee 4-H members in Lebanon, July 9 to 11, 2026.
- Wilson County 4-H Sheep and Goat Show
County sheep and goat show on July 13, 2026, where Wilson County 4-H members show market animals before regional and state competition.
Lebanon, TN | Organizer: UT Extension Wilson County 4-H Official event details - Central Region 4-H Beef Show
Regional qualifying beef show for Middle Tennessee 4-H members, held July 8 and 9, 2026, in Lebanon just ahead of the state beef expo.
Lebanon, TN | Organizer: UT Extension 4-H Official event details
Listing checked Nov. 11, 2026 against this source. Details can change; confirm with the organizer.