Show Day Checklist for Nebraska Junior Exhibitors

Before You Leave Home

Show day goes smoothly when the paperwork is done weeks earlier. Nebraska 4-H guidance for State Fair and county fairs points to the same short list, drawn from the first-time State Fair livestock exhibitor guide and county checklists.

• YQCA certificate. Required for beef, dairy cattle, goats, poultry, rabbits, sheep and swine at county fairs in Lancaster and Buffalo counties, and by August 10 for State Fair. Keep a copy.
• Tags and tattoos. Ear tags and tattoos must match your online nomination. Confirm tags are intact and tattoos legible before you load.
• Premises ID. Lancaster County requires it for market animals with EID tags; State Fair requires it for animals with 840 EID tags.
• Registration papers. Bring breed association papers listing the exhibitor or an immediate family co-owner. Farm or ranch names are not accepted.
• DNA envelope copy. Keep a photo or copy of every envelope you submitted.
• Entry confirmation. State Fair entries close August 10 at 8 p.m., and no entries can be added or made late.
• Retags. Report any retag to the county Extension office before check-in.

Packing List

Packing needs differ by species. The first-timer guide gives these specifics: bring your own bedding for sheep and swine barns (bulk bedding is provided in the cattle barn and tie-out area), expect limited feed, hay and straw, and review the General Livestock Rules before bringing equipment like generators, fans or chutes. Beef exhibitors need a permit for a blocking chute and sheep and goat exhibitors need a stand permit. Add the basics you always use: grooming tools, show halter or whip, feed and water buckets, and a change of clothes.

Health and Loading

• At State Fair, animals are examined at the Livestock Trailer Lot south of the fairgrounds. Expect possible long waits and plan for weather.
• Nebraska-origin animals no longer need a certificate of veterinary inspection (CVI). Out-of-state animals need a current CVI listing official identification.
• The exhibitor does not need to be present for drop-off, and staff direct you to barns by an online map.
• Unloading time is limited. Passing load-in does not mean you are checked in.

Check-In

• Check in during the listed time for your species. At State Fair, animals not checked in on time are ineligible to show.
• Stall assignments are based on the county listed at entry and are first come, first served.
• Market lambs are classified by an assigned Classifier at check-in.
• Be ready for tattoo checks and weigh cards, as listed for your species.

County fairs publish their own times. Buffalo County's 2026 fair, for example, listed market lamb, meat goat and breeding sheep entry from 8 to 10 a.m. on Thursday, beef entry from 8 a.m. to noon, and hog weigh-in at 11 a.m., with rabbits and poultry checking in Friday morning. See the Buffalo County fair page.

Showmanship

At State Fair, 4-H showmanship is entered automatically for each livestock species you enter (dog exhibitors excepted). Age divisions are set by your age before January 1 of the current year:

• Junior: 8 to 10
• Intermediate: 11 to 13
• Senior: 14 to 18

County fairs schedule showmanship by species, and some end with a round robin. Buffalo County held its round robin and Outstanding awards on Sunday at 5 p.m. in 2026.

In the Ring

• Be on time. Classes will not wait. Have a substitute showman and an extra backtag ready if classes overlap.
• Listen. Follow the loudspeaker announcements about show order. Classes in the beef, sheep and goat ring often have 12 to 20 animals.
• Blow-and-go. Clipping, blowing, brushing and combing are allowed. Animals must be free of adhesive, glue, paint and powder, and officials may inspect or towel them.
• Weigh-back. In market classes and certain commercial breeding classes, an animal more than 5 percent above its declared check-in weight drops one ribbon group and cannot win champion awards.
• Testing. Grand and Reserve Grand Champion market beef, lamb, goat and swine are drug tested after Final Selection. Other market animals may be randomly tested, and any animal may have DNA pulled; a mismatch with the nomination sample is a violation.

After the Show

• Follow your assigned load-out schedule; you may wait in the Livestock Trailer Lot before entering the grounds.
• At county fairs with a sale, expect it after the shows. Buffalo County's sale order in 2026 was swine, goat, sheep and beef.
• Clean and disinfect equipment and trailers.
• Isolate show animals from others on your farm for at least 14 to 30 days and watch for illness.
• Ribbon premiums at State Fair are distributed through your local Extension office.

Frequently Asked Questions

Guide checked Nov. 11, 2026. Rules and dates change; confirm with the organizer.