What the Junior Beef Heifer Show Is
The Junior Beef Heifer Show is the 4-H and FFA breeding heifer ring at the State Fair of West Virginia. Unlike the market steer show, these are registered or commercial heifers judged on breed type and quality, with cow/calf pairs shown first. The most recent show was Saturday, August 15, 2026 in the Large Livestock Arena.
Who Can Enter
- Exhibitors must be current members of a West Virginia 4-H club or FFA chapter, enrolled by March 1 of the show year, with a current project that meets State Fair requirements. 4-H members are youth born between October 1, 2004 and June 30, 2017. FFA members stay eligible until November 30 following the fourth National FFA Convention after high school graduation.
Breed Divisions
| Division | Breed |
|---|---|
| 501 to 504 | Angus, Charolais, Hereford (horned and polled), Limousin |
| 505 to 507 | Maintainer, Shorthorn, Shorthorn Plus |
| 508 and 509 | Simmental, Percentage Simmental |
| 510 and 511 | All Other Breeds, Commercial Heifers |
A breed show needs 5 or more head; otherwise the animals are shown in the All Other Breeds division (cow/calf pairs are not included in that division).
Rules
- Ownership deadline: June 10, 2026. Purebred heifers need registration papers, a copy uploaded with the online entry and the original at check-in, and the tattoo must be correct. Registration must be in the name of the 4-H or FFA member, the club or chapter, or the family farm name.
- New for 2026: a Bred and Owned Division, shown within each breed. The exhibitor must be listed as breeder and owner on the registration papers.
- Exhibitors are limited to two entries per class, and classes are arranged by birth date. Management may adjust or combine classes.
- Heifers check in with the superintendent in the Large Livestock Arena. Commercial heifers check in at the same time.
- A heifer shown in the open show must show in the same purebred class in the junior show. A heifer shown in the market class may not enter the junior beef heifer classes.
- Only exhibitors are allowed in the make-up area, and aerosol products may not be used on animals in the arenas.
Classes
The cow/calf class opens the show, with calves (heifers or bulls) born on or after January 1, 2025. Heifer classes then run from calves born March 1, 2026 and after, through senior calves, summer yearlings, and single-month yearling classes from January to April 2025, to senior yearlings born September to December 2024. Champion and reserve Bred and Owned heifers per breed lead to a Grand Champion Heifer, a Reserve Grand Champion, and 3rd, 4th and 5th overall heifers, and Supreme Champion Heifer and Supreme Champion Cow/Calf Pair. Premiums are paid in classes 1 to 21, except championship classes.
Entering and Fees
- Junior entries are online only; paper entries are not accepted. 2026 entries opened May 27 and closed at midnight on July 8. Late entries were accepted until midnight on July 15 with a $50 late fee per junior exhibitor, and none after that.
- Fees: $15 entry fee for every exhibitor in the Junior Show, plus a one-time $10 processing fee. Exhibitors collect an exhibitor packet when they arrive at the fair.
- Each junior livestock exhibitor receives a five-day complimentary admission ticket.
Showmanship, Premier Exhibitor and the Sale
Every junior must show in the showmanship contest for each species they exhibit. Skipping showmanship means no other classes and no part in the Youth Livestock Sale. Showmanship, a one-time multi-species livestock skillathon and the animal classes also decide the Junior and Senior Premier Exhibitor awards.
Questions
Is there a scholarship for junior exhibitors?
Yes. The State Fair awards five four-year scholarships of up to $1,000 a year to youth who took part in the junior livestock show, equine programs or the 4-H and FFA exhibit program within the previous five years. Applicants must be pursuing a vocational trade, associate or bachelor degree, and applications are due March 15. Call 304-645-1090.
Where and When
Large Livestock Arena, State Fair of West Virginia fairgrounds, 947 Maplewood Ave, Lewisburg, WV 24901, 3 miles south of Interstate 64 exit 169. Saturday, August 15, 2026 gate admission was $15. Livestock trailers use Gate 5 (the Livestock Gate on 219 North); the parking permit costs $10 a day, with no overnight parking.
The fair's next edition is set for August 12-21, 2027.
Official Links
- Livestock Exhibitor's Guide and Premium Book 2026: classes, rules, fees and premiums
- Livestock Competitions: entry status and judges list
- Tickets: gate prices and fair week specials
- Fair FAQs and directions: location and policies
- Scholarship and Awards: State Fair scholarships for junior show participants
West Virginia County Fairs and Youth Livestock Shows: The Essentials
West Virginia county fairs run from June into September, with samples in 2026 from the Mineral County Fair on June 16-20 to the Tyler County Fair July 27 to August 1, per their listings. Dates change yearly.
State Fair
The State Fair of West Virginia ran August 13 to 22, 2026, in Lewisburg. Junior shows ran from market goats on August 13-14 to market hogs and steers on August 16, per the livestock exhibitors guide.
Who can show
State Fair juniors must be enrolled in a West Virginia 4-H club or FFA chapter by March 1 and be at least 9 on the show date. Entries are online only.
Ownership and tags
Market steers and heifers had a March 1 ownership deadline in 2026, and most other market animals June 10. All market animals need an official RFID tag and a visual tag.
Health
Out-of-state animals need a Certificate of Veterinary Inspection, per the state agriculture department. Sheep and goats need scrapie ID.
Next steps
Ask your county Extension office or FFA advisor for your fair book, tagging dates and sale rules. Weights and entry rules differ by fair.
Premiums, entry fees and showmanship rules vary, so read the current premium book before you pay.
Read the full guide: West Virginia County Fairs and Youth Livestock Shows
Other Upcoming Events Nearby
- Greenbrier Valley GLCI Pasture Management Workshop
Pasture management workshop and field day at Master's Farm in Ronceverte with food and free raffles for attendees. Held each year; the most recent workshop ran June 20, 2026, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
635 Horshoe Bend Rd, Ronceverte, WV 24970 | Organizer: Greenbrier Valley GLCI Official event details - State Fair of West Virginia
Held each year at the fairgrounds near Lewisburg; the most recent dates were August 13-22, 2026, for the 101st annual fair. Livestock competitions, 4-H and FFA exhibits and concerts fill the ten days.
- State Fair of West Virginia Junior Market Goat Show
Youth market goat show (Division 575) in the Small Stock Arena; held each year, and the most recent show ran Thursday and Friday, August 13-14, 2026.
- State Fair of West Virginia Open Prospect Steer and Heifer Show
Open class prospect steer and heifer show opening the beef cattle week at the State Fair of West Virginia; most recent show was Sunday, August 16, 2026, in the Large Livestock Arena.
- State Fair of West Virginia Junior Market Steer and Heifer Show
Market steers, market heifers and performance steers (Divisions 560-562) are judged in the Large Stock Arena; most recent show was Sunday, August 16, 2026.
All West Virginia events by date
Listing checked Nov. 11, 2026 against this source. Details can change; confirm with the organizer.