How Georgia County Fairs and Youth Livestock Shows Work
Georgia's youth livestock season is a long ladder. It starts with small county jackpots and local shows, runs through regional fairs and the Georgia National Fair in Perry, and tops out at the Georgia Junior National Livestock Show, also in Perry. Most of the early rungs are run locally by county Extension offices, 4-H clubs, FFA chapters, alumni groups and young farmer associations, and each show posts its own rules. The facts below come from Georgia 4-H, Georgia FFA, UGA Extension and fair pages. Dates and rules change every season, so confirm with your county Extension agent or ag teacher before you load the trailer.
The Georgia National Fair
The 37th annual Georgia National Fair ran through October 18, 2026, at the Georgia National Fairgrounds and Agricenter, 401 Larry Walker Parkway, Perry, per a WTOC report. The 2026 theme was "America250: Georgia Grown." The fair advertised massive livestock shows, agricultural and competitive exhibits including youth competitions, the Baby Barn and the Stories of Agriculture exhibit. Parking was free, and spectator gate prices in 2026 were $15 by card or $20 cash for adults, $10 for seniors 60 and up, $5 for children 3 to 10 and free for children 2 and under.
Georgia FFA keeps a Georgia National Fair show information page at georgiaffa.org/GNF. Exhibitors in places like Grady County usually show at the Georgia National Fair in Perry and the Exchange Club Fair in Albany, both typically in October or early November, per the Grady County Extension livestock page. That page says entries for steers, heifers, market hogs and breeding gilts for the Georgia National Fair are due by September 1.
Regional Fairs: The Southwest Georgia Example
The Southwest Georgia Regional Fair in Albany ran October 28 to November 1 in 2026, per its 2026 fair rules. It is open to 4-H and FFA members from Georgia, North Florida and Eastern Alabama, and the entry fee is $30 for all species. Highlights of its rules:
- Ownership: the exhibitor, a parent or guardian and the agent or advisor sign that the exhibitor owned and cared for the animal at least 60 days before the fair. Prospect swine are exempt.
- Purebred animals need registration papers in the exhibitor's name showing ownership before September 1.
- Market hogs must weigh 200 to 290 pounds, commercial gilts 220 to 350 and prospect pigs 199 or under. Lambs have a 75 pound minimum. There are no re-weighs.
- Commercial gilts, market hogs, commercial heifers and steers need ear tags that match the entry form, with no exceptions.
- Goats and sheep need a Georgia-style veterinary inspection certificate, and all goats and sheep except wethers need USDA-approved scrapie tags.
- Entry limits: up to 4 market goats, 4 lambs, 4 swine in market and breeding classes (no more than 2 market hogs) plus up to 3 prospect pigs, and up to 6 heifers and 4 steers.
Your own county fair will have its own numbers, so treat these as an example of what a fair book contains.
Local Jackpots and County Shows
Between the big fairs, Georgia has a dense calendar of local shows. The Georgia 4-H livestock calendar listed dozens of shows in January and February 2026 alone. Examples:
- January 3: South Georgia Showdown Breeding Doe and Ewe Show in Moultrie, and the Cook County Swine Skirmish in Sparks
- January 10: Hart EMC Swine Classic in Carnesville and the Ware County Young Farmer Jackpot Hog Show in Waycross
- January 16 and 17: Carroll County Young Farmers 37th Winter Classic Livestock Show in Carrollton
- January 24: West Central Georgia Steer and Heifer Show in Thomaston and the Apple Capital Dairy Show in Ellijay
- January 31: Houston County High FFA Dairy Show in Perry and the Two Rivers Pig Jig in Sylvania
- February 7: Lumpkin County FFA Heifers in the Hills in Dahlonega
The Georgia FFA livestock events page links to beef, dairy, hog and sheep and goat show pages, and carries a livestock Google calendar. Some counties also hold a county show. Grady County, for example, holds its show in Cairo on the third Monday of January.
Georgia Junior Beef Futurity
The Georgia Junior Beef Futurity ran June 25 to 27, 2026, in the Multipurpose Building and Sutherland Arena, per the Georgia National Fairgrounds event page. Georgia FFA and 4-H members compete with steers and heifers, and spectator admission is free. The page does not list entry rules, so ask Georgia FFA through the Futurity page.
The Georgia Junior National Livestock Show
The Georgia Junior National Livestock Show is hosted by Georgia 4-H, Georgia FFA and the UGA Rhodes Animal and Dairy Science Department at the Georgia National Fairgrounds and Agricenter in Perry, per the GJNLS page. The 2026-2027 season, per the Georgia 4-H state livestock show rules, has two parts:
- October 7 to 11, 2026: market lambs and market goats
- February 17 to 20, 2027: market hogs, breeding heifers, market beef, dairy heifers, breeding ewes and breeding does
The GJNLS page lists the next dates as February 17 to 20, 2027, then February 23 to 26, 2028.
Who can show
Exhibitors must be Georgia 4-H or FFA members who have not completed high school. Grade minimums as of September 1, 2026: 4th grade for market beef, heifers and commercial dairy heifers; 3rd grade for market hogs; 1st grade for market lambs, market goats, breeding ewes and breeding does. Market goat and breeding doe classes are open to Georgia exhibitors only. Animals must be pre-entered and registered with the county agent or ag teacher by the species deadline.
Ownership, tags and deadlines
Exhibitors must keep full ownership, possession and primary care of the animal from entry to show day, and cannot show it under another name. Per the 2026-2027 GJNLS rulebook:
- Market lambs and goats: official state ear tag by August 1, 2026; online entry August 1; signed forms and fees mailed by August 8
- Breeding heifers: owned by November 1, 2026; online entry November 1; forms and fees by November 8
- Market beef: tagged and tattooed by November 1, 2026
- Market hogs: official state ear tag by December 5, 2026; online entry December 5; forms and fees by December 12
- Breeding ewes and does: December 5 entry, with forms and fees by December 12
Official tags come from the State Show Manager's office, and lost tags must be reported there within 7 days. Tattoos must be readable and match the entry form, and fresh tattoos are not allowed at check-in.
Entries, fees and weights
Market lambs and goats: enter up to 5 and show up to 3, at $30 each for the first 3 and $35 for the 4th and 5th. Lambs have a 75 pound minimum (60 for hair sheep) and market goats a 40 pound minimum. Market hogs: enter up to 10 and bring 2 to the Georgia Junior National, at $30 for the first 3 and $35 for the 4th through 10th, with declared weights between 215 and 290 pounds. Breeding heifers are $30 each.
Health Papers
Livestock need a Certificate of Veterinary Inspection. In Georgia 4-H and FFA shows, cattle, swine and goat certificates are valid up to 4 months, and sheep certificates must be updated and signed every 30 days during the season, up to 4 months. Market swine and cattle need no certificate if no breeding livestock are on the grounds. Intact market lambs and goats need a certificate and official individual identification, and wethers need an owner-applied ear tag recorded on the certificate. Animals with visible warts or ringworm cannot enter, and lambs and goats without papers will not be unloaded. The rules were current as of May 2025, so check the Georgia Department of Agriculture animal health page for changes.
How to Prepare
- Call your county Extension office or ag teacher in early summer and ask for the fair book and tagging dates.
- Put the August 1, November 1 and December 5 deadlines on the calendar before you buy an animal.
- Keep record books honest. Market goat and lamb record books for the state show were due September 24, and the GJNLS page says the member must do all the work.
- Check the weight window for each show before you buy, since a hog that is legal at one fair may not be at another.
Georgia Listings Covered by This Guide
- Blue Ridge Cattle Classic
Two-day junior cattle show at the Union County Agricenter in Blairsville, part of the Georgia 4-H and FFA winter show circuit.
Blairsville, GA Official event details - Rockin The Ridge Market Hog Show
Market hog show for 4-H and FFA exhibitors at the Fannin County Ag Facility in Blue Ridge, run by the county FFA Alumni.
- Syrup City Harvest Classic Cattle and Pig Show
Three-day cattle and pig show in Cairo, the Syrup City, scheduled for November 13-15, 2026. Held each year as part of the fall youth livestock circuit.
Cairo, GA Official event details - MAC Attack Cattle Show
One-day junior cattle show held in the MAC Building in Hazlehurst, Jeff Davis County, on the Georgia 4-H show calendar.
Hazlehurst, GA Official event details - The MAC Attack Cattle Show
One-day cattle show at the MAC Building in Hazlehurst, scheduled for November 14, 2026. Held each year on the fall youth show calendar.
Hazlehurst, GA Official event details - Southern Elite Showdown
Three-day livestock showdown at the Cloud Livestock Facility in Bainbridge, set for November 20-22, 2026. Held each year in late November.
Bainbridge, GA Official event details - Small Town Showdown Swine Show
Junior swine show at the Stephens County Ag Center in Eastanollee, an early-season pig show for Georgia 4-H and FFA members.
Eastanollee, GA Official event details - ABAC Sigma Alpha Emerald Exhibition
Weekend livestock exhibition in Perry hosted by the ABAC Sigma Alpha chapter at the Georgia National Fairgrounds.
Perry, GA Official event details - Coastal Cattle Classic
Two-day junior cattle show in the Bulloch County Ag Arena in Statesboro.
Statesboro, GA Official event details - Hart EMC Steer and Heifer Show
One-day steer and heifer show at the Ferman Gregory Ag Center in Eastanollee, sponsored under the Hart EMC name.
Eastanollee, GA Official event details - Mountain Swine Throwdown
Two-day junior pig show in Blairsville at the Union County Agricenter, drawing north Georgia 4-H and FFA swine exhibitors.
Blairsville, GA Official event details - The Wildcard Jackpot Swine Show
Jackpot-format junior swine show at the Cook County Livestock Pavilion in Adel.
Adel, GA Official event details - Mooey Christmas Commercial Dairy Heifer Show
Commercial dairy heifer show for junior exhibitors at the Dawson County Ag Facility in Dawsonville.
Dawsonville, GA Official event details - Holiday Havoc Breeding Ewe Show
Breeding ewe show for 4-H and FFA sheep exhibitors at the Pickens County Ag Facility in Jasper.
Jasper, GA Official event details - Winter Classic Invitational Pig Show
Invitational pig show at the Walker County Ag Center in Rock Spring.
Rock Spring, GA Official event details - Annual Lake Hartwell Pig Classic
Annual junior pig classic at the Hart County Ag Center in Hartwell.
- Swine in the Swamp
Junior swine show held at Charlton High School in Folkston, Charlton County.
Folkston, GA Official event details - Oglethorpe Christmas Classic
A breeding ewe and doe show held at the Oglethorpe County Ag Center; the 2026 edition is set for December 5.
- GJLF Expo
Four-day Georgia junior livestock expo at the Georgia National Fairgrounds in Perry, scheduled in the 4-H and FFA winter calendar.
- Jingle Bell Rockout
Two-day junior livestock show at the Madison County Ag Center in Danielsville.
Danielsville, GA Official event details - Hogs of Hazzard
Two-day junior hog show at the Newton County Ag Center in Covington.
Covington, GA Official event details - Georgia 4-H / FFA Rabbit Show
Statewide rabbit show for 4-H and FFA members held at the Georgia National Fairgrounds in Perry.
Perry, GA Official event details - Fannin County Young Farmers Breeding Ewe and Doe Holiday Classic
Breeding ewe and doe show run by Fannin County Young Farmers at the Fannin County Ag Facility in Blue Ridge.
- The Live Oak Classic Breeding Ewe and Doe Show
A breeding ewe and doe show at the Honey Ridge Ag Center in Guyton, scheduled for December 19, 2026.
Guyton, GA Official event details - Heard County Holiday Hog Bash
New Year hog show at Chestnut Oak Arena in Meansville, Heard County, the first of two holiday shows there.
Meansville, GA Official event details - Heard County Holiday Ewe Bash
Breeding ewe show at Chestnut Oak Arena in Meansville, Heard County, held the day after the Holiday Hog Bash.
Meansville, GA Official event details - Hart EMC Swine Classic
Two-day swine classic at the Franklin County Ag Center in Carnesville.
Carnesville, GA Official event details - Magnolia Classic ABGA Show and JABGA Area 4 Regional Show
Three-day American Boer Goat Association show in Covington that doubles as the JABGA Area 4 regional show.
Covington, GA Official event details - South Georgia Showdown Breeding Ewe and Doe Show
Breeding ewe and doe show at the Colquitt County Agriculture Center in Moultrie.
Moultrie, GA Official event details - Crawford County Young Farmer Winter Showdown
Winter hog showdown in Roberta organized by Crawford County Young Farmers.
Roberta, GA Official event details - Battle of Currahee Breeding Doe and Ewe Show
Breeding doe and ewe show at the Ferman Ag Facility in Eastanollee.
Eastanollee, GA Official event details - Cold Snap Classic Breeding Doe and Ewe Show
A winter breeding doe and breeding ewe show at the Habersham Fairgrounds, scheduled for January 9, 2027.
- West Central Georgia Steer and Heifer Show
Steer and heifer show at the Upson-Lee Ag Center in Thomaston serving west central Georgia exhibitors.
Thomaston, GA Official event details - The Jolly Roger Market Hog Show
Market hog show at Chestnut Oak Arena in Meansville, Heard County, in mid January.
Meansville, GA Official event details - Chattooga County Dairy Heifer Show
Junior dairy heifer show at the Chattooga Ag Center in Summerville.
Summerville, GA Official event details - Apple Capitol Dairy Heifer Show
Dairy heifer show at the Gilmer County Ag Center, held on the same Saturday as several other north Georgia shows.
- Hart County FFA Alumni Bulldog Showdown Heifer and Steer Show
Heifer and steer show hosted by the Hart County FFA Alumni at the Hart County Ag Center in Hartwell.
Hartwell, GA Official event details - Georgia Farm Bureau District 2 Farm Bureau Cattle Show
Georgia Farm Bureau District 2 cattle show at the Madison County Ag Center in Danielsville.
Danielsville, GA Official event details - ABAC Swine Classic
Swine classic at the Ben Hill Ag Pavilion in Fitzgerald, listed under the ABAC name on the 4-H calendar.
Fitzgerald, GA Official event details - Elbert County FFA Winter Dairy Showcase
Dairy show run by Elbert County FFA on the Athens Technical College Elberton campus.
Plus 18 more. Find yours on your county's page in the Georgia directory.
Guide checked Nov. 11, 2026. Rules and dates change; confirm with the organizer.