How Montana County Junior Livestock Shows Work
Montana has no single statewide rulebook for county shows. Each county 4-H and FFA program writes its own fair book through the local MSU Extension office, and the dates, weights and sale rules change from county to county. The pattern is similar everywhere, though: you enroll and tag early, complete Livestock Quality Assurance training, bring the animal to a fair weigh-in, show in market class and showmanship, and then sell at the junior livestock sale. The examples below come from published county rules, so treat them as models and get your own county's current book.
Quality Assurance Training
Most counties require Livestock Quality Assurance for market exhibitors. Marias Fair requires it every other year for market members. Chouteau County asks exhibitors to certify six weeks before the fair and retake it every two years, and uncertified exhibitors cannot show or sell market or breeding livestock at the county fair. Flathead County goes further: first-year market members attend training for their species once as a Junior and once as a Senior, and a parent or guardian must also be certified in the same species.
Species and Typical Rules
Beef
Flathead County requires beef members to be 10 years old by October 1, with a November 1 enrollment deadline. Broadwater County asks that steers be in your care by January 1 and present for tagging and weigh-in, usually the last weekend of December or first weekend of January. Chouteau County requires market males to be fully neutered and healed before the fair, with a halter and neck rope at the fair, and says brand inspection forms must be presented at the county brand inspector's weigh-in. Weight windows differ: Flathead lists 1,050 to 1,550 pounds at the first day of the Northwest Montana Fair, while Chouteau lists a maximum pay weight of 1,550 pounds.
Sheep
Flathead sets a lamb window of 110 to 160 pounds, with a February 1 enrollment deadline for sheep and swine and members at least 8 by October 1. Broadwater says lambs and goats must be in your care by May 15 and weighed in during mid-to-late May. Chouteau requires market sheep to be slick-shorn before weigh-in and shown in that coat, with a 90-pound minimum, and recommends a scrapie tag for sale animals. Marias Fair requires scrapie tags on market sheep and goats.
Meat goats
Chouteau lists sale goats as one year old or younger at 70 to 120 pounds, in wether and doe market classes. Marias Fair lists a maximum sale participation weight of 135 pounds for goats.
Swine
Flathead lists 220 to 295 pounds for fair weigh-in, Chouteau pays on 210 to 300 pounds and suggests 240 to 280, and Marias Fair sets a 220-pound minimum and 300-pound pay cap. Broadwater requires hogs to be in your care by April 15 and says no tagging or weigh-in event is held there for biosecurity reasons, so members tag their own hogs and return the form. Chouteau does not allow show boards for members.
Rabbits, poultry and small animals
Chouteau requires rabbits to be owned by the member by June 1 and bars bunnies under 6 weeks from being shown. Broadwater requires an Identification Form for poultry and rabbits by June 25. Poultry must be free of lice and signs of disease in Chouteau.
Tagging, Records and Deadlines
- Flathead lets members tag up to two animals per market project, a primary and a back-up, and only one goes to the fair. Siblings cannot swap them.
- Marias Fair requires a fair button with a green numbered tag in one ear, and market steers also need a tattoo with the current year in the other ear. Missing tags or tattoos mean disqualification.
- Broadwater requires seven activity points, a fair interview with your record book, and a finished record book. Books not complete by November 1 cannot sell an animal the next year.
- Flathead requires Commitment to Excellence and Drug Withdrawal forms by August 1, and records by September 30.
- Marias Fair requires a Montana 4-H Livestock Drug Withdrawal Form.
Health and Drug Rules
Chouteau tells exhibitors to follow FDA-regulated practices and withdrawal times. After arrival on fair premises, drug treatments for animal health must be given by a licensed veterinarian. Growth-enhancing drugs are strongly discouraged, and striking an animal to cause swelling and electrical devices are prohibited. Marias Fair says animals may be examined by the livestock committee or a veterinarian and removed, and animals on tranquilizers may be sent home.
Moving animals across county lines can also bring state rules. The Montana Department of Livestock requires a brand inspection before cattle or horses cross a county line, and the page does not mention a 4-H exemption. Cattle inspection is $1 per head. Call Brands Enforcement at (406) 444-2045 if you are unsure.
Showmanship and the Premium Sale
Most counties tie sale eligibility to showing in both market class and showmanship. Flathead and Marias Fair both say you must show your own animal in each to sell, and Flathead excludes white-ribbon animals from the sale. Chouteau requires a blue or red ribbon to sell, and animals that miss minimum weight cannot sell, though in Flathead and Marias Fair they can still show in showmanship. Flathead's sale organization takes a commission published before the sale, and sellers must visit the buyer with a thank-you and return a signed Thank You Confirmation Form by December 1.
Practical Tips
- Call your Extension office in the fall; beef deadlines can fall in November.
- Take Quality Assurance early, and bring a parent if your county requires it.
- Keep photos of tags and your feeding and health records.
- Watch weight windows, because overweight and underweight animals are treated differently.
- Confirm brand inspection or travel paperwork before hauling to a fair in another county.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are the rules the same in every Montana county?
No. Weights, age limits, deadlines and sale rules are set by each county, as the Flathead, Broadwater, Chouteau and Marias Fair examples show. Use your own county's fair book.
Can an underweight animal still show?
In Flathead and Marias Fair, yes, in showmanship and a feeder class, but it cannot sell at the sale.
How often is Quality Assurance required?
It varies. Marias Fair and Chouteau say every other year; Flathead requires attendance once as a Junior and once as a Senior.
Montana Listings Covered by This Guide
- Chouteau County 4-H and FFA Market Livestock Sale
Sunday, August 22, 2027 market sale at 2 p.m. in the Park Area off 4th St; buyers check in on site or bid online through Frontier Live Sale.
Fort Benton, MT Official event details - Teton County 4-H Livestock Auction
Teton County 4-H members sell market animals at the Weatherbeater Arena in Choteau, with buyer registration and a Meat & Greet from 5 p.m. and bidding at 6 p.m. Held each year; the most recent sale was June 27, 2026.
Choteau, MT Official event details - Teton County 4-H Livestock Sale
Saturday evening 4-H market animal auction in Choteau with a buyer barbecue at 5:00 PM and registration beforehand. Held each year; the most recent sale was June 27, 2026.
Choteau, MT | 406-466-2491 | Organizer: MSU Extension Teton County Official event details - Cascade County 4-H Livestock Show and Sale
Friday, July 10, 2026 sale themed Raising the Steaks, with bidder registration at 4:30 p.m. and bidding at 5:30 p.m.; rabbits, chickens, lambs, goats, pigs and beef.
Great Falls, MT Official event details - Gallatin County 4-H and FFA Livestock Sale
Live, in-person sale on Friday, July 17, 2026 from 4 p.m. in the AgWest Tent, after buyer check-in and barbecue and the 4-H Foundation scholarship announcements.
Bozeman, MT Official event details - Stillwater County 4-H Auction
Stillwater County 4-H and FFA youth sell their fair market animals at an afternoon auction starting at 2 p.m. Held each year; the most recent sale was Saturday, July 18, 2026.
Columbus, MT Official event details - Hill County 4-H Market Livestock Sale at Great Northern Fair
Hill County 4-H and FFA members sell market animals at the Great Northern Fair in Havre on Saturday morning, after a 9 a.m. buyer and breeder appreciation breakfast and 10:45 buyer registration; load-out follows Sunday.
Havre, MT | Organizer: Hill County 4-H Official event details - Stillwater County 4-H and FFA Livestock Sale
Saturday afternoon market animal sale in Columbus that follows the Round Robin, buyers lunch and senior recognition. Held each year; the most recent sale was July 18, 2026.
Columbus, MT | 406-322-8035 | Organizer: Stillwater County Extension Official event details - Judith Basin County Fair Livestock Sale
Climax of Judith Basin County Fair week: the junior livestock sale begins at 5 p.m. in the show arena on the fairgrounds. Held each year; the most recent sale was Friday, July 31, 2026.
Stanford, MT Official event details - Judith Basin County 4-H Livestock Sale
The 4-H livestock sale starts at 5 p.m. in the arena and runs beef, sheep and goat, swine, then poultry; swine show Thursday at 7:30 a.m., sheep and goat shows Friday morning.
Stanford, MT | Organizer: Judith Basin County Extension Official event details - Lewis and Clark County 4-H Livestock Sale
Junior market livestock sale in the Multi-Purpose Sales Arena at 9 a.m., followed by the 4-H Indoor Project Auction at 3 p.m. in the Exhibit Hall. Held each year; the most recent sale was July 25, 2026.
Helena, MT Official event details - Powder River County 4-H Market Livestock Auction
The 4:00 p.m. market livestock auction follows round robin showmanship and the 4-H awards ceremony; in 2025, 120 projects sold for $200,000 and donors gave $9,407 to nonprofits.
Broadus, MT | Organizer: Powder River County Fairboard Official event details - MontanaFair 4-H and FFA Junior Livestock Shows
Two-week 4-H and FFA program at MontanaFair in Billings, from interview judging to horse, small animal, sheep, goat and livestock classes. Held each year; the most recent dates were August 3-15, 2026.
- MontanaFair 4-H and FFA Livestock Shows
Youth livestock program at MontanaFair: horse, rabbit, poultry, goat, beef, dairy, sheep and swine shows, round robin and beef fitting, ending with the Junior Livestock Sale on August 15. Dates are from the 2026 schedule.
- Madison County 4-H and FFA Market Animal Sale
Saturday 10 a.m. market animal sale for 4-H and FFA exhibitors at the Twin Bridges fairgrounds, held during the Madison County Fair and Rodeo.
2 Fairgrounds Loop, Twin Bridges, MT | Organizer: Madison County Fair Official event details - Broadwater County 4-H and FFA Livestock Sale
Saturday, August 8, 2026 sale of beef, swine, lamb, goat, poultry and rabbit projects, with a 3 p.m. buyers dinner, 4 p.m. sale and custom-cut or resale buyer options.
Townsend, MT | 406-266-9242 Official event details - MontanaFair Junior Livestock Sale
Closing-day auction of 4-H and FFA market animals at the Expo building, with a sale preview at 11:00 am and the sale starting at 12:30 pm on Saturday, August 15, 2026.
- Patrick K. Goggins 4-H and FFA Junior Livestock Sale
Billings sale of 4-H and FFA market swine, beef, lambs and goats with resale prices posted and add-on donations accepted. Held each year; the most recent sale was August 15, 2026.
Billings, MT | Organizer: Yellowstone County 4-H Foundation Official event details - Jefferson County 4-H Livestock Sale
Saturday of fair week in Boulder brings the 4-H livestock sale alongside the Main Street parade and beef barbecue, after 4-H livestock shows run on the Thursday opening day.
Boulder, MT | Organizer: Jefferson County 4-H Official event details - Lincoln County 4-H Youth Livestock Auction
The Saturday 1 p.m. auction is the 4-H market animal sale of fair week at the Eureka fairgrounds; animal barns close at noon Sunday and exhibits are removed that afternoon.
1050 Osloski Road, Eureka, MT 59917 | Organizer: Lincoln County 4-H Official event details - Beaverhead County 4-H Junior Livestock Sale
Youth market animal sale at the Beaverhead County Fairgrounds on September 5, 2026: buyers barbecue at 11:30 a.m., sale at 1:30 p.m. Local processors handle meat, and resale buyers can register through the Extension office.
Dillon, MT | 406-683-3785 Official event details - Sanders County 4-H Livestock Sale
Sunday morning market animal auction closing out the Sanders County Fair in Plains, following the 4-H Awards Presentation at 9:00 AM. Held each year; the most recent sale was September 6, 2026.
Plains, MT | Organizer: Sanders County 4-H Official event details - Northern International Livestock Exposition (NILE)
Nine-day NILE stock show and ranch rodeo at MetraPark in Billings, spread across the Expo Center, First Interstate Arena and Montana Pavilion. Held each year; the most recent dates were October 9-17, 2026.
Guide checked Nov. 11, 2026. Rules and dates change; confirm with the organizer.