What a Texas County or Regional Fair Is
Texas fairs range from small county youth fairs run by a local fair association to large regional events with midways, concerts and rodeos. Many of them center on the same core: youth livestock and creative arts exhibits by 4-H, FFA and FCCLA members, an auction or premium sale, and community events around them. The Texas Association of Fairs & Events (TAF&E) reports more than 100 member fairs, festivals, livestock shows and rodeos, and says member events include petting zoos, barbecue cook-offs, agriculture exhibits, carnivals, art displays, concerts and dances.
Because every fair writes its own rules, the details below are examples from published rulebooks, not a universal standard. Always read the current rulebook for the fair you plan to enter.
Open and Youth Divisions
Some fairs are youth-only. The 2026 Jack County Youth Fair rules describe a Livestock Show, Creative Arts (food, collections, creative hobbies, art and photography), Floral Design and a scholarship. Those documents describe youth exhibitors only, with Creative Arts split into Junior, Intermediate and Senior age groups.
Others add an open category. The 2026 Central Texas Youth Fair rulebook for Bosque County lists a Junior Livestock Show and a Home Economics Show. Home Economics has Junior, Senior and Open divisions, and the rulebook defines Open as any age. Check each department's rules, because an "open" class at one fair may not exist at another.
Livestock and Agriculture Exhibits
Youth livestock shows usually sit at the heart of the schedule. The Jack County rules list market steers, beef breeding heifers, market lambs, ewe lambs, barrows, gilts, meat goats, breeding does, breeding and meat rabbits, and Ag Mechanics. The Central Texas Youth Fair sets weight minimums, for example steers at least 1,000 pounds, hogs 200 to 300 pounds, goats at least 55 pounds and lambs at least 60 pounds.
Many fairs expect market animals to be validated. Jack County requires state validation for all animals except rabbits, and the Central Texas Youth Fair says animals must be validated by the county validation date. The Texas 4-H and FFA sheep and goat program is explained at sheepandgoatvalidation.tamu.edu. Some fairs also require ownership and care rules: Jack County requires that the exhibitor personally fed and cared for the animal under supervision, and Ag Mechanics projects must be solely owned and mostly constructed by the individual.
Creative arts and food exhibits have their own rules. Jack County, for instance, disqualifies food entries that require refrigeration for food safety reasons.
Premium Lists and Rulebooks
A premium list (sometimes called a premium book or rulebook) is the fair's published list of classes, rules, fees, deadlines and the money or ribbons awarded. Read it before you enter. In the Central Texas Youth Fair rulebook, premiums and ribbons are awarded by the number of projects shown in each class, and premium amounts depend on sponsorships and the number of entries. Fairs that run a premium sale may limit it: Central Texas allows each exhibitor to sell only one item, and Jack County limits each exhibitor to one Premium Sale entry, with an exception for multiple Grand Champions.
Use the premium list to confirm eligibility. The Central Texas rulebook requires that the exhibitor be in third grade by May 1 and be a member in good standing of 4-H, FFA or FCCLA, while Jack County requires age nine by September 1 or enrollment in third grade. Jack County also requires exhibitors to attend a county public school or live in the county, and the Central Texas premium sale is limited to exhibitors attending Bosque County schools, Valley Mills ISD or Bosque County 4-H.
Entry Deadlines and Fees
Deadlines can fall months before the fair. Jack County's 2026 fair ran January 6 to 10, and its livestock entry cards and fees were due December 1 to the exhibitor's advisor. Its Creative Arts rules state that no late entries will be accepted. The Central Texas Youth Fair, held June 2 to 6, 2026, set entries, fees and livestock entries due May 1, and many departments double fees after that date.
The lesson is simple: find the deadline the day you pick a project, then count backward through validation and tag dates.
Check-In, Weigh-In and Show Week
Show week is tightly scheduled. At the Central Texas Youth Fair, barns opened at 6:00 am on check-in day, official livestock weigh-in ran from 5:30 to 7:00 pm, and the Sale of Champions was at 1:00 pm Saturday. At Jack County, pens opened at 8 a.m. on the first day, livestock had to be in place by 6 p.m., and hogs weighed in from 4 to 6 p.m. Exhibitors should expect a dress code at some fairs. Central Texas requires long pants or skirts below the knee, collared shirts and no tank tops.
Health paperwork also varies. The Central Texas rulebook says a Certificate of Veterinary Inspection is not required for cattle, sheep, swine, goats or rabbits, requires drug-residue-free animals at weigh-in and throughout the fair, and does not permit out-of-state animals. Do not assume your fair has the same rule.
Carnival, Midway and Family Events
Larger fairs add a carnival, concerts and food vendors. TAF&E's membership includes associate members such as carnival and entertainment providers, food concessions and equipment companies. For families, the practical point is that the livestock barns and the midway are usually separate parts of the grounds, so plan which days you attend for exhibiting, for the sale, or just for fun, and check the fair's own schedule for gate hours and admission.
How to Find a Fair
- Start with the TAF&E Calendar of Events, which links to a 2026 Calendar of Events PDF, and the association's membership directory.
- Use the association's Texas Fairs/Events listings to browse events.
- Ask your County Extension office or your agricultural science teacher. Many county fair rulebooks are posted on agrilifeextension.tamu.edu county pages.
- Contact TAF&E directly at PO Box 12170, College Station, TX 77842, or (979) 220-7237.
About the Texas Association of Fairs and Events
TAF&E describes itself as a volunteer-led association for the fair and special events industry, formed in 1926. It reports an annual convention, awards programs, Education Foundation scholarships, a leadership school and governmental affairs work. It is a trade group for fairs rather than a source of entry rules, so exhibitors should always go to the individual fair for its rulebook.
Quick Tips for Families
- Get the current premium list or rulebook and read the eligibility, validation and deadline sections first.
- Confirm every date with the fair office or your advisor, because dates and rules change each year.
- Check whether the fair expects Quality Counts, which is covered in our show-day checklist guide.
Texas Listings Covered by This Guide
- Atascosa County Fair Association
Fair association listed as organizer of the Atascosa County Fair Prospect Show for 4-H and FFA junior exhibitors in Jourdanton; also runs the county fair scholarship program.
Jourdanton, TX - East Texas State Fair Farmers Market
East Texas State Fair Farmers Market is a farmers market in Tyler, Smith County County, Texas. Address given as 2112 W. Front Street Large Pavilion. Open: Saturdays: 7am to 1pm Tuesdays: 7am to 1pm First Saturday in May through the last Saturday in July. Source: the Local Farm Markets Northeast Texas listings.
2112 W. Front Street Large Pavilion, Tyler, TX 75701 | (903) 881-9773 - Jim Hogg County Fair Association
Association behind the Jim Hogg County Fair in Hebbronville; its listing points to a fair website and Facebook page but gives no dates or venue. Included as the county fair organizer; check the fair site for current schedules.
Hebbronville, TX Website - Montgomery County Fair Association
Nonprofit behind the Montgomery County Fair and Rodeo that has supported local youth exhibitors since its 1957 founding.
Conroe, TX - Tom Green County Fair and Junior Livestock Show Association
Association established to support the Tom Green County Livestock Show and Fair, whose 93rd edition in January 2025 drew San Angelo ISD students with pigs, lambs, goats, rabbits and chickens.
San Angelo, TX - Tyler County Fair
Tyler County Fair is named as a local organization on the county AgriLife Extension page that also lists major livestock shows for exhibitors. City inferred from the county seat.
Woodville, TX - Walker County Fair Association
Fair association named on the Walker County AgriLife Extension page; the Walker County Fair and Rodeo is held at the county fairgrounds at 3925 State Hwy 30W.
Huntsville, TX - Brazos Valley Fair & Rodeo Livestock Show
Youth livestock show held with the Brazos Valley Fair & Rodeo on October 23-25, 2026 at the Brazos County Expo Complex. It gives exhibitors from across the region a place to compete and build leadership skills.
- Trinity Valley Expo Fair and Rodeo
Family fair with rodeo, carnival, live entertainment and agriculture exhibits, including the National Collegiate Champion Shootout; supports youth, education and agricultural programs in Liberty and Chambers counties.
- Brazoria County Fair
Brazoria County Fair, October 9 to 17, 2026, at the Brazoria County Fairgrounds, 901 S Downing St in Angleton, with rodeo, livestock shows, carnival and concerts.
- Heart O' Texas Fair and Rodeo
Heart O' Texas Fair and Rodeo in Waco, listed for October 8 to 18, 2026 on the High Plains Journal list of state fairs; Williamson County AgriLife lists entries due August 17, 2026.
- Bandera County Fair
Bandera County Fair, October 8 to 10, 2026, at the Bandera County Fair grounds, 2886 Hwy 16 N in Bandera.
- Guadalupe County Fair Master Gardener Plant Sale
Four-day plant sale inside the Coliseum at the Guadalupe County Fairgrounds during the county fair, Oct. 8-11, 2026. Most recent verified dates; next date not yet posted.
- Fannin County Fair
139th annual Fannin County Fair with petting zoos, rodeo events, games, live music, carnival and contests; admission 7 dollars adults and 5 dollars children, free parking. Dates inferred from Wednesday-through-Saturday run ending Oct 10.
- Austin County Fair and Rodeo
99th annual Austin County Fair and Rodeo with PRCA rodeo, livestock shows, carnival midway, mutton bustin and pageants, October 7 to 11, 2026.
- Ag Awareness Day State Fair of Texas
Ag Awareness Day at the State Fair of Texas on Wednesday October 7, 2026, with check-in at the hospitality tent inside Gate 15 and a food drive and trophy presentation at noon.
- Fort Bend County Fair Junior Livestock Auction
Junior Livestock Auction for Fort Bend County 4-H and FFA students, held Thursday October 1, 2026 as part of the Fort Bend County Fair, where the top projects are sold to buyers.
- East Texas State Fair Hay Show and Auction
Hay Show and Auction at the East Texas State Fair on Monday September 28, 2026 at 11:30 a.m. in the Exhibit Building. Proceeds benefit the ETSF Junior Livestock Show, East Texas Cattle-Ettes scholarships and soil and water conservation programs.
- Fort Bend County Fair Junior Livestock Show
Junior livestock shows at the Fort Bend County Fair run from rabbit, goat and replacement heifer shows on September 25, 2026 through steer checkout on October 4, 2026, for Fort Bend County 4-H and FFA exhibitors.
- State Fair of Texas
The State Fair of Texas runs September 25 to October 18, 2026 in Dallas, with livestock and agriculture exhibits, a major annual fair on the High Plains Journal state fair list.
- East Texas State Fair
East Texas State Fair in Tyler, listed for September 25 to October 4, 2026 on the High Plains Journal list of state fairs.
- Panhandle South Plains Fair
Panhandle South Plains Fair, nine days September 25 to October 3, 2026, at the fairgrounds at 105 E Broadway in Lubbock.
- Fort Bend County Fair
90th anniversary Fort Bend County Fair, September 25 to October 4, 2026, with live music, rodeo, carnival rides, exhibits and youth auctions at the fairgrounds at 4310 TX-36 S in Rosenberg.
- Waller County Fair and Rodeo
The 2026 Waller County Fair and Rodeo ran September 24 to October 3 at the Waller County Fairgrounds in Hempstead, with market goats, lambs, swine, rabbits, a rodeo, a parade and a carnival.
- Comal County Fair and Rodeo
The 2026 Comal County Fair and Rodeo ran September 23-27 at the Comal County Fairgrounds in New Braunfels, with market goats, market lambs, breeding cattle, junior prospect steers, a parade and a rodeo.
- Burleson County Fair
Burleson County Fair, September 19 to 26, 2026, opening with the parade on Saturday September 19 and live entertainment September 24 to 26.
- Tri-State Fair and Rodeo
Tri-State Fair and Rodeo in Amarillo, listed for September 18 to 27, 2026 on the High Plains Journal list of state fairs.
- Fort Bend County Fair Championship BBQ Weekend
Championship BBQ weekend preceding the Fort Bend County Fair, September 18 to 19, 2026, with concerts by Los Morales and Cole Phillips.
- Rains County Fair
Rains County Fair, September 15 to 19, 2026, at the Rains County Fair Grounds, 410 Tawakoni Drive in Emory.
- Colorado County Fair and Rodeo
45th annual Colorado County Fair and Rodeo with cook-off, livestock competitions and judging, artwork and carnival; contact the AgriLife Extension office for entry forms.
- East Texas State Fair Livestock Show
East Texas State Fair Livestock Show, most recently verified for September 10, 2026 to September 15, 2026 at Henderson County Fair Complex, Athens. This annual event repeats each year; next dates are not yet published.
- Permian Basin Fair and Exposition
Permian Basin Fair and Exposition in Odessa, listed for September 4 to 13, 2026 on the High Plains Journal list of state fairs.
- Gregg County Fair
Gregg County Fair, September 4 to 12, 2026, at the Gregg County Fairgrounds, 1123 Jaycee Drive in Longview.
- Central Texas State Fair
Central Texas State Fair in Belton, listed for September 3 to 6, 2026 on the High Plains Journal list of state fairs.
- West Texas Fair and Rodeo
West Texas Fair and Rodeo in Abilene, September 3 to 19, 2026, with open and junior breeding cattle, sheep, goat and swine shows, junior market steer show, skillathon and rodeo performances starting Sept 11.
- Fayette County Fair
Fayette County Fair, September 3 to 6, 2026, at the Fayette County Fairgrounds, 1899 N Jefferson St in La Grange.
- Kendall County Fair
120th Kendall County Fair over Labor Day weekend, September 3 to 6, 2026, at the Kendall County Fairgrounds, 1307 River Road, with a downtown Boerne parade.
- Gillespie County Fair
The 138th Gillespie County Fair, billed as the oldest continuous county fair in Texas, ran August 27-30, 2026 in Fredericksburg with livestock shows, ag exhibits, horse racing and a carnival. Next dates are not yet published.
- North Texas Fair and Rodeo
North Texas Fair and Rodeo in Denton, listed for August 21 to 30, 2026 on the High Plains Journal list of state fairs.
- Brazos County 4-H Club Fair
Free drop-in open house for kindergarten through 12th grade youth covering livestock, cooking, robotics and leadership projects, with new Clover Kids opportunities. Latest verified date Aug 15, 2026; assumed annual.
Plus 81 more. Find yours on your county's page in the Texas directory.
Guide checked Nov. 11, 2026. Rules and dates change; confirm with the organizer.