What the Kittitas County Fair Is
The Kittitas County Fair in Ellensburg is the county's Labor Day fair, held at the Kittitas Valley Event Center, 901 E. Seventh Ave., alongside the Ellensburg Rodeo. The 2026 edition ran September 3-7 under the theme "Ewe Ain't Seen Nothin' Yet!", with 4-H livestock check-in beginning September 2. For 4-H youth it is the showcase for a summer of projects: market animals, horses, dogs, shooting sports, fashion revue, demonstrations and more.
How It Works: The Timeline
- August 1-15: 4-H fair entries open, in person or online; the entry deadline is August 15
- August 8, 9, 15 and 29: shooting sports days (air rifle and pistol August 8, shotgun August 9, archery August 15, .22 smallbore rifle and pistol August 29)
- August 16: dog agility, 10:00 a.m.
- August 20-23: Junior Horse Fair. Vet check and haul-in August 20, 7:00-8:30 a.m. at the 5th Avenue Gate, horses in place by 9:00 a.m.
- August 25: fashion revue modeling practice, 10:15 a.m.; demonstration time requests due
- August 28: fashion revue judging, 9:00 a.m.
- September 2: livestock vet check and haul-in from 7:00 a.m.; animals are not accepted after 3:00 p.m. A mandatory leaders' meeting is at 5:30 p.m. in front of the 4-H Concession Booth
- September 3-7: dog showmanship, obedience, rally, tricks and farm dog classes, 10:00 a.m.
- September 4: market poultry silent auction, 11:00 a.m.
- September 7: fashion revue, 2:00 p.m., 4-H Building
Who Can Enter and Rules
Exhibitors follow the 4-H/FFA dress code. Dogs need all rabies and parvo immunizations; dog exhibitors must be enrolled in the dog project by February 1 and submit a record book by the last Monday in July. Minimum weights for market animals: lambs 110 lbs, goats 70 lbs, standard steers 1,150 lbs, miniature steers 650 lbs and hogs 230-310 lbs. Paper animal health records are required at vet check and do not need to be uploaded to ShoWorks. Small animal exhibitors should bring carpet squares. Clubs with eligible exhibits in the 4-H Building must host a shift of two youth and one adult. Demonstrations register online (Department 73, Division 73-A) with fair entries.
Awards and What You Get
- Record books are due to the Extension office by September 28 for Medal of Honor consideration
- All-Star Achiever applications are due September 28
- Beyond the Call of Duty and I'm TeRRiFiCC nominations are due September 21 through the club leader
- Memorial Award nominations are due Sunday evening of fair and are awarded at the Labor Day awards ceremony
- Cash awards go to deserving juniors, intermediates and seniors through the record book award
The Cryptic Cookie activity is entered in ShoWorks (Department 73, Division F, Class 1), with a time scheduled on Saturday or Sunday of the fair.
Where
Kittitas Valley Event Center, 901 E. Seventh Ave., Ellensburg. Shooting sports are held at the Cascade Field and Stream Range, 2380 Hayward Road, Cle Elum. The 4-H office is the WSU Extension Kittitas County office on E 7th Avenue, Suite 2, Ellensburg, WA 98926.
Questions
When is the last day to enter?
August 15. Entries open August 1.
When do I bring my market animal?
September 2, starting at 7:00 a.m. Animals are not accepted after 3:00 p.m.
What is the minimum market steer weight?
1,150 lbs for standard steers and 650 lbs for miniature steers.
Official Links
- Kittitas Valley Event Center
- August-September 2026 4-H Focus newsletter
- Kittitas County 4-H fair and exhibits
- Eastern Washington fair guide 2026
Washington County Fairs and Youth Livestock Shows: The Essentials
Washington's fair season runs from spring youth fairs to the Central Washington State Fair in Yakima, September 25 to October 4 in 2026, per a fair calendar. The Washington State Fair in Puyallup ran September 4 to 27.
Who can show
The state 4-H handbook requires members to be eight by October 1 to compete in livestock shows or sales. Cloverbuds, ages 5 to 7, cannot compete.
Rules to know
Animals sold at a junior livestock auction cannot be leased. Market steers must be polled or dehorned. Washington 4-H recommends YQCA training. Ownership dates vary: San Juan County's 2026 auction guide lists beef by April 15 and swine, lamb and goat by June 14.
Next steps
Ask your county WSU Extension office for your fair book. Dates, weights and sale rules change, so confirm with the organizer.
Read the full guide: Washington County Fairs and Youth Livestock Shows
Other Upcoming Events Nearby
- Kittitas Beef Pre-Show, Weigh-In and Judging Contest
Spring day where 4-H, FFA and Grange members weigh and tag fair steers (1,150 lb minimum), compete in a beef judging contest and show heifers. Most recent date: March 21, 2026.
Ellensburg, WA | Organizer: Kittitas County 4-H Official event details - Cle Elum Roundup
Held each year in Cle Elum; the most recent dates were July 24-25, 2026.
Cle Elum, WA Official event details - Ellensburg Rodeo
Held each year over Labor Day weekend at the Kittitas Valley Event Center; the most recent dates were September 3-7, 2026.
- Washington Cattlemen and Cattlewomen Annual Convention and Tradeshow
Held each year; the most recent dates verified were November 12-14, 2025, the 100th convention, at the Wenatchee Convention Center.
Wenatchee, WA | Organizer: Washington Cattlemen's Association Official event details - Washington State Spring Fair
Held each year in Puyallup over two spring weekends; the most recent dates were April 9-12 and April 16-19, 2026.
Puyallup, WA Official event details
Listing checked Nov. 11, 2026 against this source. Details can change; confirm with the organizer.