What the Tennessee State Junior Meat Goat Show Is
The Tennessee State Junior Meat Goat Show is the state-level youth goat show run by University of Tennessee Extension. Tennessee 4-H and FFA members bring market goats, commercial does and registered does to the Tennessee State Fair at the Wilson County Fairgrounds in Lebanon, where they compete in showmanship and breed and market classes, plus a skillathon and educational contests. The most recent show ran August 14-15, 2026, in Barn Y.
Exhibitors also earn points toward Premier Exhibitor awards, and the market goat division champions move on to the Market Animal Grand Drive on Saturday evening.
Ways to Enter
| Division | What it takes |
|---|---|
| Market goats | Wethers, castrated and fully healed, at least 30 lb on show day; classes by weight with up to 4 divisions per weight class; TJLE ear tag |
| Commercial does | Kid or yearling does with no more than 4 adult teeth, classed by age and weight; TJLE ear tag |
| Registered does | Individually identified by tattoo matching the registration paper, classed by age from 0-3 months through 20-24 months |
| Bred by Exhibitor (registered) | Exhibitor is the sole breeder and sole owner on the registration paper |
| County Group of Five | Five goats from at least 3 exhibitors; 4-H and FFA members from the same county may combine |
Showmanship is open to every youth with an entered animal, in market-type and registered doe versions. A doe may be shown in only one category: registered doe, commercial doe or market goat.
Who Can Enter and Rules
- 4-H: Tennessee 4-H members enrolled in 4th grade or later.
- FFA: Tennessee FFA members enrolled in agriculture education courses on January 1 of the show year.
- Age limit: exhibitors cannot have reached the end of the calendar year of high school graduation or of their 20th birthday, whichever comes first.
- Certification: exhibitors must be Tennessee Youth Quality Assurance (TYQA) certified and supervised by an Extension agent or FFA advisor.
- Ownership: animals must be owned by the exhibitor and in continuous possession from June 1 through the show. Leases are limited to 2 commercial does and 2 registered does, with lease agreements in place by June 1.
- Limit: 8 goats per exhibitor in any mix.
- Health: a Certificate of Veterinary Inspection dated within 90 days of the show, and a scrapie tag or official breed tattoo. Animals may not enter the barns until the certificate is checked.
Key Dates and Deadlines
- June 1: entries and animal ownership due through the local UT Extension office.
- Wednesday, August 12, 2026: facilities open at 4 PM; goats and sheep are penned in Barn Y1.
- Friday, August 14: goat check-in and weigh-in in Barn Y, 5 PM to 8 PM. Q Barn hosts the Sales Talk and Career Development Contest and the Goat Skillathon from 2 PM to 8 PM.
- Saturday, August 15: Goat Skillathon in Q Barn, 7 AM to 9 AM; goat shows begin at 8:30 AM in Barn Y; Market Animal Grand Drive at 6 PM.
The class list runs Market-Type Showmanship, Market Goat Show, Commercial Doe Show, Registered Doe Showmanship, Registered Doe Show and Goat County Group, with a 15-minute break after the first four.
Fees, Awards and What You Get
The entry fee is $10 per head, paid with the entry, and it is not refunded for animals that are not exhibited. Goats are placed in Blue, Red or White groups. Premier Exhibitor awards go to the youth with the most combined points from an animal, showmanship and the skillathon in each of five grade divisions: Explorer (4th grade), Junior Level I (5th-6th), Junior Level II (7th-8th), Senior Level I (9th-10th) and Senior Level II (11th-12th). The 100-point skillathon covers feed, breed and meat identification, health and production, and record keeping.
The Grand Drive at 6 PM on Saturday recognizes market goat division champions and reserves and the skillathon, Premier Exhibitor and educational contest winners.
Where
Tennessee State Fair, Wilson County Fairgrounds, Lebanon, Tennessee. Goat shows are in Barn Y and the skillathon and educational contests are in Q Barn. Stalls and tie space are assigned by county and posted in the barn.
Questions
Do I need an Extension agent to enter?
Yes. Entries go through the local UT Extension office and require signatures from the exhibitor, a parent or guardian, and an Extension agent or FFA advisor.
Can I show a leased goat?
Yes, up to 2 leased commercial does and 2 leased registered does, with the lease form turned in by the entry deadline.
Who do I contact?
Your county UT Extension office handles entries, lease forms and tag pickup.
Official Links
- 2026 Goat Show Handbook: eligibility, rules, classes and awards
- 2026 Goat Schedule: check-in times and show order
- Tennessee Youth Quality Assurance: TYQA certification
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.