How Kansas County Fairs Work
Kansas has a long fair tradition. According to the Kansas Historical Society, the first fairs were held shortly after Kansas Territory opened in 1854, and by the 1870s most counties held an annual fair. Today a county fair is a community partnership. K-State's policy on the Extension role at fairs and shows says the fair board or association manages the facilities, open class divisions, vendors, entertainment and funding, while Extension staff run the 4-H division. Fairs generally run through the summer; the Kansas Department of Agriculture notes that fairs run across the state throughout the summer, starting in late June, with tractor pulls, demolition derbies, carnival rides, livestock and small animal judging and food.
Under Kansas law, a county fair association is a nonprofit that the county commissioners officially recognize. The statute on fair associations allows only one recognized association per county.
The Kansas Fairs and Festivals Association
Fairs across the state have a statewide group, the Kansas Fairs and Festivals Association. The Kansas Department of Agriculture's fair-season release points readers to the association's website, kansasfairsassociation.com, for a complete list of fairs. If you are planning a trip or wondering where the next fair is, start there and then check each fair's own page for current dates.
Open Class, 4-H and FFA
Most Kansas fairs combine several divisions in one fair book (also called a premium list).
- Open class. Open to the public, subject to residency rules. Mitchell County's 2024 fair book let residents of Mitchell County and adjoining counties compete for premiums, and open class non-livestock entries did not need pre-entry. Open class livestock was pre-entered with stall rent paid.
- 4-H. Run by Extension under state 4-H policy. In Mitchell County, only Kansas 4-H and FFA members enrolled in that county could compete, fully approved in 4-H Online, with a May 1 enrollment deadline in the 2024 book.
- FFA. Mitchell County's book says FFA members follow the 4-H deadlines and rules. Your chapter advisor and county book will say how it works where you live.
Static Exhibits and Livestock
Fairs split exhibits into two broad kinds. Static exhibits are things you make or grow and hand in: baked goods, photography, sewing, woodworking, fruits and vegetables, banners and the like. Livestock and animal shows cover cattle, sheep, swine, goats, horses, poultry, rabbits and pets.
The Scott County 2026 4-H book shows how a county organizes them. Age divisions are counted as of January 1: Clover Bud 5-6, Junior 7-9, Intermediate 10-13 and Senior 14 and up. Entry cards come from the Extension office, and livestock and auction entries also go through the showman app. The book requires all 4-H youth in animal projects to complete YQCA training and submit the certificate, and livestock must be tagged with an official Kansas 4-H tag by the county tagging date.
Sedgwick County's 2024 page shows how online entry can work. All entries were submitted through the FairEntry system, with different deadlines for different departments.
Entry Deadlines in General
There is no single Kansas deadline. Each fair sets its own, and livestock usually comes first. Examples from recent fair books:
- Sedgwick County, 2024. Livestock and Horse Show entries were due May 31, Style Revue, Creative Tables and Pets June 14, and other static entries June 28, for a fair July 10-13.
- Mitchell County, 2024. 4-H enrollment was due May 1, and livestock pre-entry, stall rent, ownership verification and Fashion Revue pre-entries were due July 8 for a fair July 24-27.
- Scott County, 2026. The book gives fair dates of July 18-25 and warns that consultation judging needs pre-entry; exhibitors who do not pre-enter are judged at the end of the day and their ribbon is lowered one placing.
Read your own county's book as soon as it is posted, and note enrollment, tagging and training dates early.
Premiums and Ribbons
Premiums are modest; the ribbon and the chance to advance matter more. Examples:
- Mitchell County 2024 open class. Blue $2.00, red $1.50, white $1.00, with grand and reserve champions earning $5.00 and $3.00 in most departments. 4-H paid blue $2.50, red $2.00 and white $1.75, and open class premiums were paid at check-out on Sunday.
- Scott County 2026. Standard premiums of blue $4, red $3 and white $2 unless a division says otherwise, with higher amounts for showmanship, livestock placings and booths.
- Danish and American systems. Scott County uses the Danish system for most 4-H and open class exhibits, where an exhibit needs a blue ribbon to be named champion or reserve, and the American system for cattle, goats, poultry, rabbits, sheep and swine.
- Pickup. Scott County exhibits not picked up in the release window forfeit premiums unless arranged beforehand.
The Kansas State Fair Tie-In
The Kansas State Fair is held in Hutchinson, September 11-20 in 2026 per the Kansas FFA page, with 4-H and FFA members showing cattle, sheep, goats and swine in the Grand Drive during opening weekend. County fairs feed it.
The Kansas State Fair's 4-H handbook (the 2024 edition) sets these rules:
- Eligibility. Be enrolled in a local 4-H program, be 9 before January 1 of the current year and not 19 before that date, and have exhibited in that division at your local fair.
- Qualifying. Only purple ribbon exhibits, or state fair blue exhibits selected in a designated competition, may be shown. Beef, sheep, swine and meat goat entries must be blue ribbon quality.
- Deadlines. Beef, sheep, swine and meat goat entries were due July 15, most other pre-entries generally August 15, and State 4-H Horse Show pre-entries August 1. Non-livestock entries go through the local Extension office.
- Livestock. Exhibitors must have nominated the animal and hold YQCA certification.
- Premiums. Static exhibits receive no premiums, though crop exhibits earning purple, blue or red ribbons do.
See the Kansas State Fair 4-H book and the Kansas FFA state fair page for the current year. FFA educational exhibits use the Kansas FFA entry site.
Practical Tips
- Get your county's fair book early and highlight every date.
- Confirm 4-H enrollment is approved in 4-H Online before the county deadline.
- Animal exhibitors: schedule YQCA training and tagging well ahead.
- Ask your Extension office which exhibits advance to the state fair.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who runs the county fair?
A fair board or association runs the fair and open class. Extension runs the 4-H division and sets its rules, and fair boards cannot set rules for 4-H participation.
Where do I find my county's fair book?
Many counties post it on their Extension or fair website, and entry cards are typically available at the Extension office. The Kansas 4-H county fair page lists 2026 county fair dates in a PDF.
Do I have to win purple to go to the state fair?
For most 4-H exhibits, yes: the handbook says only purple ribbon exhibits, or selected state fair blue exhibits, may be shown. Livestock needs blue ribbon quality.
Can an adult enter?
Open class is for the public, within each fair's residency rules. Check your fair book.
Kansas Listings Covered by This Guide
- Kansas FFA Opportunity Fair
Held each year; the most recent dates were in 2026. Opening of the 26th annual Kansas FFA Opportunity Fair on May 27, 2026 inside the K-State Student Union Grand Ballroom, held during the state FFA convention week in Manhattan.
- Bourbon County Fair
Bourbon County Fair at the fairgrounds on South Huntington Boulevard in Fort Scott, first held in 1860 and run by the Bourbon County Fair Board. Held each year; the most recent dates were July 11-17, 2026.
2102 S Huntington Blvd, Fort Scott, KS 66701 | 620-224-9717 Official event details - Woodson County Fair
The Woodson County Fair runs July 11-20, 2026, at the Woodson County Fairgrounds, 701 S Fry St in Yates Center, Kansas, with beef and dairy cattle on display.
701 S Fry St, Yates Center, KS 66783 Official event details - Jackson County Fair
The 101st Jackson County Fair runs July 13 to 16, 2026 at the Northeast Kansas Heritage Complex south of Holton, with 4-H and FFA exhibits entered online and a parade on Holton's Town Square July 15.
- Hamilton County Fair
Syracuse's nine-day Hamilton County Fair brings 4-H and FFA exhibitors to the fairgrounds on South Main Street. Held each year; the most recent dates were 2026-07-17 to 2026-07-25.
806 S Main St, Syracuse, KS 67878 Official event details - Grant County Free Fair
Ulysses hosts the Grant County Free Fair at the Civic Center for eight days, with 4-H and FFA exhibits and junior livestock shows. Held each year; the most recent dates were 2026-07-18 to 2026-07-25.
1000 W Patterson Ave, Ulysses, KS 67880 | 620-356-1808 Official event details - Wilson County Fair
The Wilson County Fair runs July 20-26, 2026, at the Wilson County Fairgrounds, 7390 Washington St in Fredonia, Kansas, with 4-H judging and sheep, goat, swine, dairy and bucket calf shows.
7390 Washington St, Fredonia, KS 66736 Official event details - Reno County Fair
Reno County Fair is held at the Kansas State Fairgrounds in Hutchinson, Reno County; the 2026 edition ran July 23-27, 2026, and the fair returns each year.
- Wyandotte County Fair
The Wyandotte County Fair runs at the fairgrounds on Polfer Road in Kansas City, Kansas, with a Thursday, July 23, 2026, schedule that includes 4-H and open class static exhibits, a carnival and a rodeo.
13700 Polfer Rd, Kansas City, KS 66109 Official event details - Douglas County Fair
Douglas County Fair at the fairgrounds in Lawrence, with exhibits in Building 21, the Open Pavilion, the Community Building and the Dreher Family 4-H Building. Held each year; the most recent dates were July 27 to August 1, 2026.
- Thomas County Fair
The Thomas County Fair runs July 27 to August 1, 2026, at the Thomas County Fairgrounds on S Range Avenue in Colby, Kansas.
S Range Ave, Colby, KS 67701 Official event details - Harvey County Free Fair
The 138th Harvey County Fair covers 4-H and open class exhibits at the Newton fairgrounds, with carnival, concert and demolition derby events in the second week, July 30 to August 9, 2026.
- Cowley County Fair
Cowley County Fair at the Winfield Fairgrounds on West 9th Avenue, organized by the Cowley County Fair Association. Held each year; the most recent dates were July 30 to August 3, 2026.
1105 W 9th Ave, Winfield, KS 67156 | 620-221-5500 Official event details - Sumner County Fair
The Sumner County Fair runs July 30 to August 2, 2026, at the Sumner County Fairgrounds, 721 W Ave A in Caldwell, Kansas, with 4-H and open class exhibits.
721 W Ave A, Caldwell, KS 67022 Official event details
Guide checked Nov. 11, 2026. Rules and dates change; confirm with the organizer.