What the Green County Fair Is
The Green County Fair is a five-day traditional country fair in Monroe, run by the Green County Fair Association. It mixes youth livestock shows and auctions with grandstand motorsports, carnival rides, free music in the Entertainment Tent and a feature found almost nowhere else, a cheese auction. The 2026 fair ran July 15 to 19 under a Mardi Gras theme.
The Week at a Glance
| Day | What was on |
|---|---|
| Wed., July 15 | Swine show at 7 a.m. in the Farm Bureau and FS Stock Pavilion. Opening ceremonies at 6:30 p.m., then the CC Bucking Bulls full rodeo at 7 p.m. in front of the grandstand. |
| Thu., July 16 | Animal showings resume at 8 a.m. SWIRA ATV, UTV and dirt bike races at 7 p.m. in the grandstand. |
| Fri., July 17 | Beef and goat shows in the morning, a magic show in the afternoon and the Badger State Tractor Pull in the grandstand. |
| Sat., July 18 | Fur and Feather Auction at 9:30 a.m., then the meat animal auction about 30 minutes later. Local truck and tractor pull and lawn mower and ATV club pull at 9 a.m. Master Showmanship at 5 p.m. in Show Barn 7, then Adult Showmanship. Monster truck show at 7 p.m. |
| Sun., July 19 | Horse pull at 10 a.m. Cheese Auction and Dairy Youth Auction at 1 p.m. in the Entertainment Tent. Demolition derby at 5 p.m. in front of the grandstands. |
Live bands play the Entertainment Tent every evening, from 7 p.m. on weekdays and 8:30 p.m. on Friday. Rodini's magic shows run Saturday at 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. in the Commons, and a kiddie pedal pull is held at 10 a.m. Saturday in front of the Fair Office.
The Cheese Contest and Auction
Green County cheese gets its own contest, organized by the Foreign Type Cheesemaker's Association. Judges score entries in classes that include cheddar, Colby and Monterey Jack; Edam and Gouda; brick; Muenster; Havarti; Latin American style; fresh cheese curd; feta; flavored natural cheese; and an open lot. In 2026 two entries shared the grand champion title, a Roth Grand Cru Reserve wheel from Emmi Roth USA (99.80) and a white curd from Decatur Dairy (99.75).
The winning cheese is then sold. The 2026 auction drew 24 bidders and 86 lots, about 410 pounds of cheese in all, and raised $83,597.50. The Roth Grand Cru Reserve wheel went for $200 a pound. Unsold cheese went to the Monroe and Green County food pantries and the Green County Dairy Queens, and proceeds support the United Way, the National Historic Cheesemaking Center, the fair and other dairy and cheese events.
Tickets and Costs
- Daily admission is $10 for adults and $5 for children ages 8 to 12. Parking is $5 a day.
- Season passes are $35 for adults, $10 for children and $15 for parking.
- Pit passes for the tractor pulls and demolition derby cost extra.
- Lunch Gate deal, Wednesday to Friday, 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the West and North Gates only. Pay $10 cash, eat lunch, and leave by 1 p.m. to get the $10 back.
- Carnival megapasses were $75 when bought in advance online. At the fair each session (10 a.m. to 4 p.m. or 5 p.m. to 11 p.m.) was $35, or $85 for all five days.
Special Days
- July 15, Military Day. Free admission with a military ID.
- July 16, Educator Day.
- July 17, First Responder Day and Special Needs Day, with free parking, plus Kids Day with free admission until 1:30 p.m. The carnival opens 10 a.m. to noon for Special Needs Day.
- July 19, Pioneer Day. Adults 65 and older pay $5, and Junior Leaders with an ID get a $5 food voucher.
Kids and teens 20 and under can pick up a scavenger hunt card at the Camp of Champions tent, finish the challenges around the grounds and win prizes.
Where
Green County Fairgrounds, 2600 10th St., Monroe, WI 53566. Fair office phone: 608-325-9159.
Questions
Is the fair only for 4-H families?
No. Anyone can buy a gate ticket, and the cheese contest is run by a cheesemakers' association rather than the youth programs. Youth exhibitors from 4-H and FFA show animals and the fair holds livestock, fur and feather, and dairy youth auctions.
When can I see the youth auctions?
The Fur and Feather Auction and meat animal auction are Saturday morning, and the Dairy Youth Auction is Sunday at 1 p.m.
Where do I buy carnival tickets?
Once the fair opens, at the carnival booth. Advance megapasses were sold online only.
What time does the demolition derby start?
5 p.m. on Sunday, in front of the grandstands.
Official Links
- Green County Fair returns with 5 days of fun: daily schedule, admission and special days
- 2026 Green County Fair cheese contest results: winners and auction totals
- Green County Fair: fair overview and address
- Travel Wisconsin listing: dates and contact
Wisconsin County Fairs and Youth Livestock Shows: The Essentials
Wisconsin had 73 state-aided county and district fairs in 2025, with about 2 million visitors and 43,465 exhibitors, about 72 percent of exhibits from juniors.
Rules differ by county
Each county publishes its own fair book. In Clark County, for example, exhibitors must be 8 to 19, own and show their own animal, and follow species tagging, drug history and weight rules to sell.
Common requirements
Expect premise ID, ear tags or DNA ID, YQCA certification, health papers and early registration, per the Sauk County rules.
Sale day
Selling is its own set of rules. In Clark County you may weigh in several species but sell only one animal, complete three educational points, and sell your own animal in your assigned slot. Check your county's sale rules before you buy a project animal.
Next steps
Get your county's current fair book and mark the spring deadlines now. Dates and rules change each year.
Read the full guide: Wisconsin County Fairs and Youth Livestock Shows
Other Upcoming Events Nearby
- Wisconsin Farm Bureau Federation Annual Meeting and YFA Conference
The Wisconsin Farm Bureau annual meeting, where county delegates vote on policy, combined with the Young Farmer and Agriculturist Conference. Next edition December 4-7, 2026 at Kalahari in Wisconsin Dells.
- Wisconsin Farmers Union Annual State Convention
The Wisconsin Farmers Union state convention, with policy sessions and a Friday evening Farmers Union Camp fundraiser. Next edition December 11-13, 2026 in Appleton; the 95th convention was held December 12-14, 2025.
- Northern Wisconsin State Fair Meat Animal Program Beef Weigh-In
Initial beef weigh-in for youth in the fair's Meat Animal Program, held in Eau Claire.
Eau Claire, WI | Organizer: Northern Wisconsin State Fair Association Official event details - Wisconsin Corn-Soy Expo
Two-day winter trade show for corn, soybean and pork producers with over 150 booths and an education program. Next edition January 21-22, 2027 in Wisconsin Dells; the 2026 show ran January 29-30.
- Midwest Horse Fair
Three-day horse fair held since 1979 at the Alliant Energy Center, owned by the Wisconsin Horse Council with proceeds supporting the state equine industry. The next edition is April 16-18, 2027.
1919 Alliant Energy Center Way, Madison, WI 53713 | 920-623-5515 | Organizer: Wisconsin Horse Council Official event details
Listing checked Nov. 11, 2026 against this source. Details can change; confirm with the organizer.