The Big Oklahoma Shows at a Glance
Oklahoma's major junior livestock events run from the Oklahoma Youth Expo in the spring to the state fairs in September. Rodeo fans have their own calendar, with youth finals held in Shawnee and Guthrie. Dates change each year, so confirm with the host before you travel.
Oklahoma Youth Expo (OYE)
OSU Extension's event listing describes the 2026 4-H Oklahoma Youth Expo as open to Oklahoma 4-H and FFA members ages 8 to 19, with more than 7,000 members bringing more than 13,000 head of cattle, sheep, pigs, goats and ag mechanics projects to the OKC State Fair Arena. It reports about $2 million going to exhibitors and more than $400,000 in academic scholarships.
- 2026 venue. According to Oklahoma Farm Report, the OG&E Coliseum hosted the Supreme Heifer Drive on Sunday evening, and the Ag Mechanics contest paid more than $30,000 in cash and prizes, with 270 entries in 2025.
- Sale of Champions. At the close of the 2026 Expo, 213 animals sold for a combined $1.4 million, in the first Sale of Champions held in the OG&E Coliseum.
- Gilt sale. The OYE sales page lists the Night of Stars Gilt Sale for Tuesday, March 16, 2027.
- Futurity sales. The Oklahoma Cattlemen's Association coordinates the steer and heifer futurity sales during the Expo.
- Skillathon. The OYE Skillathon, run with the Oklahoma Department of Agriculture, Food and Forestry, covers beef, swine, sheep and goats and awards $10,000 in scholarships. Students do not have to exhibit at OYE to compete.
How to enter
OYE uses its own online nomination, DNA samples and entry deadlines. See our Oklahoma county livestock show guide and the OYE nomination guide for the steps.
OYE Sales, Showbacks and Scholarships
The OYE sales page says all Champions' Tribute sales are open to Oklahoma consignors only. The Grand Champion Market Wether Goat, Wether Lamb and Barrow from those sales each receive a spot in the 2027 Sale of Champions, and sold wethers, does and barrows are eligible for the matching Champions' Tribute Showback.
For the OCA Futurity Show and Sale, the same page says showback animals must have been bought from the 2026 OYE Futurity Sale and carry the OYE Futurity tag, and that alley trade cattle are not permitted. Steer nominations were due November 12, 2026, online entries are due February 19, 2027, and late entries are accepted through February 26, 2027.
The Skillathon is a separate route to scholarship money. Per the ODAFF page, certification and registration must be finished by March 8 with no exceptions (the posted test day was Monday, March 17, so confirm the current year), and written tests are taken in the Barn 3 Sales Pavilion. Age brackets match OYE showmanship brackets, with junior, intermediate and senior divisions.
Oklahoma State Fair
The 2026 Oklahoma State Fair runs September 17-27. In the 2026 junior beef guide, junior steer entries were due Friday, August 21, junior beef showmanship was judged Thursday, September 17 at 4 p.m., and junior steers were judged Friday, September 18 at 8 a.m. Junior exhibitors generally must be bona fide 4-H or FFA members, or qualify as youth exhibitors, and animals sold at a premium auction at a preceding show are not eligible. The grand champion junior steer receives $2,500.
The State Fair also hosts the 2025 agricultural competitions such as Round Robin Showmanship and ag skillathons. Check the current year's guide for the schedule.
Tulsa State Fair
The Tulsa State Fair is held on the fourth Thursday after Labor Day and runs 11 days. Its site links to a Livestock and Horse Shows schedule, an Exhibitor Handbook, and separate nominations and entries pages. According to Tulsa County Extension, 4-H and FFA livestock exhibitors may enter the Tulsa State Fair regardless of county placing.
Youth Rodeos
- International Finals Youth Rodeo (IFYR), Shawnee. The 34th IFYR in 2026 drew more than 1,000 youth rodeo athletes and more than $277,740 in prize money. It is held at the Heart of Oklahoma Expo Center, with barrel racing, pole bending, breakaway roping, goat tying, team roping, tie-down roping, steer wrestling, bull riding, saddle bronc and bareback riding.
- National Junior High Finals Rodeo, Lazy E Arena. A 10-year run at Lazy E began June 18-27, 2026, and the National High School Finals Rodeo follows there starting in 2030.
- State 4-H Horse Show. The 2026 show ran Thursday, July 9 through Saturday, July 11.
Tips for Families
- Pull each show's exhibitor handbook as soon as it is posted; entry dates for state fair beef came months before the fair.
- Keep health papers and registration papers original and together.
- Budget for entry, late and tie-out fees; the State Fair's 2026 junior beef guide lists a $60 entry fee per head and a $20 tie-out.
Official Resources
- Oklahoma State Fair - 2026 important dates: fair dates
- Tulsa State Fair - Livestock Show: schedule and handbook links
- OSU Extension - Youth Livestock Events: statewide contests
Oklahoma Listings Covered by This Guide
- Enid PRCA Rodeo
PRCA rodeo presented by TK Pro Rodeo Company at the Chisholm Trail Expo Center in Enid, scheduled for March 12-13, 2027.
201 W Owen K Garriott Rd, Enid, OK Official event details - Will Rogers Stampede PRCA Rodeo
Memorial Day weekend PRCA rodeo at Will Rogers Stampede Arena; the listed 2027 days come from a festival guide and the TravelOK listing shows May 24, 2026 as the latest verified date.
- Woodward Round-Up Club Winter Series and Finals
Winter series rodeo weekends and finals run April 10-12, April 24-26 and May 8-10 at the Woodward Round-Up Arena.
1715 Jim Ben Dr, Woodward, OK | Organizer: Woodward Round-Up Club Official event details - Heart of Youth Rodeo Association Rodeos
Youth rodeo association weekends in Woodward on April 17-19, July 31-August 2 and October 9-11 according to the city rodeo season guide.
Woodward, OK | Organizer: Heart of Youth Rodeo Association Official event details - Guymon Pioneer Days Rodeo
PRCA rodeo during Pioneer Days at Henry C. Hitch Pioneer Arena, with performances May 1 at 7:30 p.m., May 2 at 2 and 7:30 p.m. and May 3 at 2 p.m.
- Boley Rodeo and Festivities
Rodeo and festivities in historic Boley, listed for May 22. Dates come from a festival guide listing and are not yet confirmed by organizers.
- Henryetta Roy Madden Spring Round Up Open Rodeo
Open rodeo in Henryetta listed for June 4-5. Dates come from a festival guide listing and are not yet confirmed by organizers.
Henryetta, OK Official event details - Woodward Elks PRCA Rodeo
96th annual Woodward Elks PRCA Rodeo at Crystal Beach Arena, part of the summer rodeo season in northwest Oklahoma.
- Heritage Day Rodeo at Pauls Valley Round-Up Club
Heritage Day rodeo hosted by the Pauls Valley Round-Up Club, listed for June 25-26. Dates come from a festival guide listing and are not yet confirmed by organizers.
Pauls Valley, OK Official event details - Northwest Oklahoma Junior Rodeo
Junior rodeo series with events July 10-12 and September 4-7 on the Woodward rodeo season list.
Woodward, OK | Organizer: Northwest Oklahoma Junior Rodeo Association Official event details - Cavalcade Rodeo
Week-long Cavalcade rodeo in Pawhuska listed for July 13-18. Dates come from a festival guide listing and are not yet confirmed by organizers.
Pawhuska, OK Official event details - Whole Hawg Days and Rodeo
Rodeo and community festival in Eufaula listed for July 22-24. Dates come from a festival guide listing and are not yet confirmed by organizers.
Eufaula, OK Official event details - Poteau Frontier Rodeo
Pro rodeo at Phil Gardenhire Memorial Arena in Poteau; the ticket site marks the dates as estimated.
Poteau, OK Official event details - Will Rogers Memorial Rodeo
Historic rodeo in Vinita listed for August 2-7. Dates come from a festival guide listing and are not yet confirmed by organizers.
Vinita, OK Official event details - Lawton Rangers Rodeo
PRCA rodeo in Lawton at 2004 SE 60th Street; the dates are marked as estimated by the ticket site.
2004 SE 60th Street, Lawton, OK Official event details - Okmulgee Roy LeBlanc Invitational Rodeo
Invitational rodeo in Okmulgee listed for August 6-7. Dates come from a festival guide listing and are not yet confirmed by organizers.
Okmulgee, OK Official event details - Freedom Rodeo and Old Cowhand Reunion
Rodeo and cowhand reunion in the small town of Freedom, listed for August 12-14. Dates come from a festival guide listing and are not yet confirmed by organizers.
Freedom, OK Official event details - Elk City Rodeo of Champions
Labor Day weekend PRCA rodeo in Elk City, listed for September 3-5. Dates come from a festival guide listing and are not yet confirmed by organizers.
Elk City, OK Official event details - Oklahoma High School and Junior High Rodeo Finals
State finals for school rodeo athletes, listed for September 18-20 on the Woodward rodeo season guide.
Woodward, OK Official event details - OSU Rodeo Team
OSU rodeo program named in the agriculture college site map, based in Stillwater.
Stillwater, OK - Pauls Valley Round Up Club
Round Up Club behind the Pauls Valley Heritage Days Rodeo, a seven-event family rodeo (bronc, bareback, roping, steer wrestling, barrels, bulls) with about 3,000 attendance.
2007 N Willow St, Pauls Valley, OK 73075 | 405-238-7425 Website
Guide checked Nov. 11, 2026. Rules and dates change; confirm with the organizer.