What the Junior Market Lamb Show Is
The Junior Market Lamb Show (Division 564) is the 4-H and FFA market lamb ring at the State Fair of West Virginia. Lambs are judged by weight group without regard to breed, and the best of the show are crowned Grand and Reserve Grand Champion Market Lamb. The most recent show was Saturday, August 15, 2026 in the Small Stock 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.
- Market show exhibitors must be 9 years old on or before the show date.
Lamb Rules
- Ownership by June 10, 2026. Lambs must be tagged with the official RFID tag and a visual tag.
- Lambs must weigh at least 100 pounds. Each exhibitor is encouraged to tag at least two and may tag no more than three, must weigh at least one at the fair, and may show up to three single lambs.
- Lambs may be ewes or wethers. They must carry all lamb teeth, which are checked by mouthing at weigh-in, and wethers are checked for testicular tissue; an animal with testicular tissue cannot show.
- Lambs must be skin clipped before arrival so they can be inspected. A West Virginia Department of Agriculture inspector is at the unloading dock from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Lambs with signs of infectious disease or club lamb fungus can be turned away, and one infectious animal can get an entire shipment rejected.
- No muzzles are allowed, and pens need absorbent bedding.
- All sheep need scrapie ID (ear tag or tattoo) before leaving the farm, and out-of-state sheep need a veterinary inspection certificate good for 30 days.
- A lamb shown in market classes cannot be shown in purebred classes.
Classes
Market lambs are split into light, medium and heavy weight groups, each with a champion and reserve, then Grand and Reserve Grand Champion Market Lamb. Weigh-in times are on the fair's livestock schedule, and the exhibitor or a representative must be present at weighing. Market lamb showmanship is Division 573.
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.
The Grand and Reserve Grand Champion in each species are terminal: they must be harvested in Greenbrier County within seven days of the sale. Those animals sell at the Greenbrier/Monroe Youth Livestock Auction on Monday, August 17, 2026 at 1:00 p.m. in the Tractor Supply Small Stock Arena. Each junior may consign one animal of any species, and consignment forms are due within 30 minutes after the show for that species. Questions: SFWV Entry Department, 304-645-1090, or the Greenbrier County Extension Office, 304-647-7408.
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
Small Stock 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.