What Wyoming's Big Show Is
The Sweetwater County Fair, billed as Wyoming's Big Show, ran July 28 to August 1 in 2026 at the Sweetwater Events Complex in Rock Springs. It combines the 4-H and FFA shows for Sweetwater and Daggett Counties with a midway, a carnival, a concert and exhibits, and it ends on Saturday with the junior livestock auction.
How Youth Enter
Entries for the 2026 fair have closed, and the 2027 fair is announced as the next. Youth classes cover livestock, fashion, agriculture and mechanics shows. Exhibits are judged in showmanship, where the judge looks at how well exhibitors control and lead their animals, and in market classes, which judge weight and appearance.
Opening Day: Tuesday, July 28
- 6:30 a.m. Youth 4-H/FFA swine weigh-in
- 8:00 a.m. Open and youth poultry, rabbit, sheep and goat check-in
- 9:30 a.m. Livestock judging clinic
- 10:00 a.m. Youth steer weigh-in
- 10:30 a.m. Youth horse events: goat tying, breakaway roping and team roping
- 2:00 p.m. Gates, Exhibit Hall and Midway open
- 5:00 p.m. Open and youth miniature costume class
- 6:00 p.m. Open horse barrel race, pole bending and flag race
- 8:30 p.m. Concert with Ned LeDoux
Gate, Hours and Carnival
Gate admission July 28 to August 1 was $16 for adults, $12 for children and seniors, and free for children under 6. The Exhibit Hall is open 10:30 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. daily after opening day, and the Midway 10:30 a.m. to midnight. Carnival wristbands were $45, or tokens at $1 each with rides taking 3 to 5 tokens. Carnival hours: Wednesday noon to 11 p.m., Thursday 5 to 11 p.m. (Buddy Night 5 to 7 p.m.), Friday 4 to 11 p.m., Saturday 1 p.m. to midnight.
The Junior Livestock Auction
The auction closes the fair on Saturday, August 1, 2026. A complimentary buyers BBQ is served at noon, and the auction starts at 2 p.m. in the indoor arena. Proceeds support the 4-H and FFA programs. In 2023, more than $492,000 was raised from 105 animals sold. The 2024 sale order ran rabbits, turkeys, sheep, goats, beef, then swine, with 57 market beef, 18 goats, 21 sheep, 131 swine, 8 turkeys and 4 rabbit pens offered.
For buyers
- Arrive early to register behind the auctioneer for a buyer number, or pre-register with an auction clerk who sends a purchase agreement. You can also arrange to buy without attending.
- Pay any time during the auction. Credit cards carry a 3% fee. Payment is due within 60 days, and unpaid balances accrue 2% interest a month.
- Mountain Meats of Craig, Colorado (970-824-4878) is contracted to process animals. Animals ship to Craig after the fair and are delivered back to Rock Springs. If you use another processor, pick up your animal Sunday, August 2, by 9:00 a.m.
What Youth Take Away
Projects start early: steers in November, swine, sheep and goats in March. One FFA member who raised pigs said, "I think pigs teach you a lot about responsibility and about holding yourself accountable." Members work with their animals almost daily to halter break, feed to finish and train them.
Where
Sweetwater Events Complex, 3320 Yellowstone Road, Rock Springs, WY 82901. Phone 307-352-6789.
Questions
Is the auction open to the public?
Yes. Buyers register at the auction and receive a buyer number.
Where do the proceeds go?
To support the 4-H and FFA programs.
Official Links
- Sweetwater Events Complex
- Livestock auction page
- Big Show schedule, Tuesday July 28
- 2024 auction preview
- 2024 exhibitor profiles
Wyoming County Fairs: The Essentials
Wyoming county fairs run mostly from late July into early August, and most 4-H and FFA divisions are run through the county UW Extension office. In 2026, Park County opened July 21-25, Albany County ran July 22 to August 1, Laramie County ran July 29 to August 8 and the Wyoming State Fair in Douglas ran August 11-15.
Examples
Teton County's 2026 entries were due July 1 at 11:59 pm with no late entries. Niobrara County's 4-H and FFA entries closed July 10. Sweetwater County charged a $25 late fee in 2024. Teton counts interview judging as 40 percent of the exhibit score.
Livestock
Ownership deadlines of February 1 for market beef and June 1 for many other species are common. Laramie County requires YQCA for livestock projects, and Teton requires tagging photos. Tags, weigh-in, minimum weights and sale rules differ by county, so read your fair book early.
Sale and premiums
Teton members may sell one animal per species and no more than two in total, and a white ribbon cannot sell. Niobrara charges 3 percent commission and requires a thank-you note delivered to the Extension office before payment.
Other Upcoming Events Nearby
- Hummel Cattle Company Annual Bull and Commercial Bred Heifer Sale
Fall bull and commercial bred heifer sale held at the Snowy Range Equestrian Center in Laramie.
Laramie, WY Official event details - Wyoming Women in Ag Symposium
The 33rd annual Wyoming Women in Ag Symposium brings women producers and ag professionals together in Casper for a day of speakers and networking. Held each year in November; the most recent date was November 12, 2026.
Casper, WY Official event details - Wyoming Food Coalition Annual Conference
Statewide conference for Wyoming growers, food producers and local-food advocates, hosted at the Agricultural Resource and Learning Center in Casper. Held each year; the most recent dates were November 12-14, 2026.
2011 Fairgrounds Road, Casper, WY 82604 | Organizer: Wyoming Food Coalition Official event details - Cheyenne Livestock Exposition
Two-week fall livestock exposition in Cheyenne at the Event Center at Archer.
Cheyenne, WY Official event details - Southeast Wyoming Beef Symposium and Trade Show
Producer education day with beef industry speakers and a trade show, organized by University of Wyoming Extension and moving between southeast Wyoming counties. Held each year in November; the most recent date was November 17, 2026 in Lusk.
Lusk, WY | Organizer: University of Wyoming Extension Official event details
Listing checked Nov. 11, 2026 against this source. Details can change; confirm with the organizer.