How West Virginia County Fairs and Youth Livestock Shows Work
West Virginia's summer fair season runs from June into September, and the biggest junior livestock show of the year is at the State Fair of West Virginia in Lewisburg in August. County fairs are run locally by fair boards, with 4-H clubs, FFA chapters and county WVU Extension offices handling youth projects. Each fair publishes its own book of rules. The examples below come from published fair, state agriculture department and Extension pages, and dates change each year, so confirm with your fair board and Extension agent before you load a trailer.
2026 County Fair Dates
A sample of 2026 fairs, from event listings and local news:
- Mineral County Fair, Fort Ashby: June 16-20, per its listing. Admission was listed at $20 daily, $65 weekly and $10 for seniors.
- Putnam County Fair, Eleanor: July 10-18, per the state tourism listing, with livestock shows and 4-H and FFA competitions.
- Wood County 4-H and FFA Summer Showcase, Mineral Wells: July 14-18, per the Marietta Times. Goat and sheep on Tuesday, poultry Wednesday, rabbit and swine Thursday, horses Friday, and the junior livestock sale Saturday at noon.
- Cabell County Fair, Milton: July 21-25, per its listing, with free parking.
- Tyler County Fair, Middlebourne: July 27 to August 1, per its listing, the 63rd edition.
Every fair sets its own calendar, so check the fair board's page for the current year.
The State Fair of West Virginia
The 101st State Fair of West Virginia ran August 13 to 22, 2026, at the fairgrounds in Lewisburg, per a fair preview. The fair's 2026 Livestock Exhibitors Guide and Premium Book lists these junior show days:
- Market goats: Thursday and Friday, August 13-14
- Market lambs and junior beef heifers: Saturday, August 15
- Market hogs, market steers and heifers, and the prospect steer and heifer show: Sunday, August 16
- Junior purebred sheep: Tuesday, August 18, 6 p.m.
- Youth Livestock Auction: Monday, August 17, 1 p.m.
Questions go to the fair office at 304-645-1090.
Who Can Show
For State Fair junior shows, youth must be current members of a West Virginia 4-H club or FFA chapter and enrolled by March 1 of the current year, with exceptions for the junior dairy and rabbit shows. Junior market show exhibitors must turn 9 on or before the date of the show they enter. Showmanship divisions are Novice, Junior, Intermediate, Senior and Master, based on age as of January 1. Exhibitors must show their own animal, and every junior must take part in showmanship for each species shown, or they cannot show in other classes or join the Youth Livestock Sale.
Entries and Fees
Junior entries at the State Fair are online only. In 2026 they opened May 27 and closed at midnight July 8, with a late period through July 15 and a $50 late fee per junior exhibitor. The junior entry fee is $15, plus a one-time $10 processing fee. Swine and sheep are $6 per head, and beef is $20 per head. Only animals entered may be shown, and substitutes are not allowed.
Ownership, Tags and Limits
The State Fair book sets these 2026 deadlines:
- Market steers, market heifers and performance steers: March 1
- Junior beef heifers, feeder steers, dairy, swine, market goats, market lambs and purebred sheep: June 10
All market animals need an official RFID tag and a visual tag. Purchased sheep must have the transfer recorded at least 30 days before the fair. Limits per exhibitor include 3 market steers or heifers (one must be the opposite sex), 2 market hogs and 2 market goats, and up to 3 single market lambs.
Weights and Requirements
- Market steers, heifers and performance steers: minimum 1,000 pounds.
- Market hogs: 225 to 295 pounds.
- Market lambs: minimum 100 pounds, skin clipped, with all lamb teeth.
- Market goats: 60 to 110 pounds, with all kid teeth and tipped horns.
- Market heifers: must be open and are pregnancy checked at weigh-in.
Grand and Reserve Grand Champions in market classes are terminal, must be harvested, and are subject to drug testing.
Health Rules
The West Virginia Department of Agriculture's fair and festival rules require animals to show no signs of infectious or contagious disease. Out-of-state livestock need an official Certificate of Veterinary Inspection, valid for 30 days. Official identification is required for interstate movement of cattle, swine, sheep and goats. Sheep and goats need official scrapie ID for fair entry. The department recommends calling Animal Health at (304) 558-2214 before moving animals, since requirements can change during outbreaks.
Premiums and Sales
State Fair standard class premiums run $80 for first down to $40 for fifth. Swine premiums run $45 to $25, and sheep $35 to $15. Checks not cashed within 90 days are voided. The Greenbrier/Monroe Youth Livestock Auction lets each junior consign one animal, and the champions from each species must be harvested in Greenbrier County within seven days of the sale.
Practical Tips
- Enroll in 4-H or FFA before March 1 if the State Fair is the goal.
- Ask your Extension agent or ag teacher in winter for county ownership and tagging dates.
- Keep tags, transfer papers and any health papers in one folder.
- Read the current premium book. Classes, dates and fees change every year.
Frequently Asked Questions
How old do I need to be to show at the State Fair?
Junior market show exhibitors must turn 9 on or before the show date, and must be enrolled in a West Virginia 4-H club or FFA chapter by March 1.
When must market hogs be tagged?
The 2026 book set June 10 for ownership and tagging of market hogs, market lambs and market goats.
Can I enter on paper?
No. State Fair junior entries are online only.
Where do I find my county fair book?
Ask your WVU Extension office, FFA advisor or the county fair board.
West Virginia Listings Covered by This Guide
- Mineral County Fair
Mineral County's annual fair, established in 1950, takes place at the fairgrounds in Fort Ashby; the most recent dates were June 16-20, 2026.
W Washington St, Fort Ashby, WV 26719 | Organizer: Mineral County Fair Board Official event details - Putnam County Fair
Annual fair at the Putnam County Fairgrounds in Eleanor, established in 1978; the most recent dates were July 10-18, 2026.
Park Road, Eleanor, WV 25070 | Organizer: Putnam County Fair Association Official event details - Taylor County Fair
Taylor County's fair dates to 1943 and is held at the fairgrounds in Grafton; the most recent dates were July 8-11, 2026.
317 Fairground Rd, Grafton, WV 26354 | Organizer: Taylor County Fair Association Official event details - Hampshire County Fair
Hampshire County's fair has run since 1956 at the fairgrounds in Augusta; the most recent dates were July 18-26, 2026.
Fairground Drive, Augusta, WV 26704 | Organizer: Hampshire County Fair Association Official event details - Cabell County Fair
Founded in 1983, the Cabell County Fair is held at the fairgrounds in Milton; the most recent dates were July 21-25, 2026.
1 Pumpkin Way, Milton, WV 25541 | Organizer: Cabell County Fair Association Official event details - Tyler County Fair
Six-day county fair at the Tyler County Fairgrounds in Middlebourne. Held each year; the most recent dates were July 27 to August 1, 2026.
4 Tyler County Drive, Middlebourne, WV Official event details - Nicholas County Fair
Held every July at Nicholas County Veterans Memorial Park in Summersville with rides, food, live music and exhibits; the most recent dates were July 22-25, 2026.
19 Memorial Park Dr, Summersville, WV Official event details - Ritchie County Fair and Expo
County fair and expo at the Ritchie County 4-H Grounds in Harrisville, with a pageant series leading up to fair week. Held each year; the most recent dates were July 30 to August 1, 2026.
Harrisville, WV Official event details - Tri-County Fair
One of the state's oldest fairs, started in 1920 and held at the Tri County Fairgrounds in Petersburg; the most recent dates were July 25 to August 1, 2026.
107 Rig Street, Petersburg, WV 26847 | Organizer: Tri-County Fair Association Official event details - Mason County Fair
Mason County's fair has run since 1962 at the fairgrounds in Point Pleasant; the most recent dates were August 10-15, 2026.
1277 Fairground Rd, Point Pleasant, WV 25550 | Organizer: Mason County Fair Association Official event details - Doddridge County Fair
Five-day county fair at Doddridge County Park in West Union, running since 1976; most recent dates were August 11-15, 2026, with evening hours of 5:30 to 10 p.m. and kids' activities.
1252 Snowbird Rd, West Union, WV 26456 | Organizer: Doddridge County Fair Commission Official event details - State Fair of West Virginia
Held each year at the fairgrounds near Lewisburg; the most recent dates were August 13-22, 2026, for the 101st annual fair. Livestock competitions, 4-H and FFA exhibits and concerts fill the ten days.
- State Fair of West Virginia Junior Market Goat Show
Youth market goat show (Division 575) in the Small Stock Arena; held each year, and the most recent show ran Thursday and Friday, August 13-14, 2026.
- State Fair of West Virginia Open Prospect Steer and Heifer Show
Open class prospect steer and heifer show opening the beef cattle week at the State Fair of West Virginia; most recent show was Sunday, August 16, 2026, in the Large Livestock Arena.
- State Fair of West Virginia Junior Market Steer and Heifer Show
Market steers, market heifers and performance steers (Divisions 560-562) are judged in the Large Stock Arena; most recent show was Sunday, August 16, 2026.
- State Fair of West Virginia Junior Market Hog Show
Youth market hog show (Division 563) in the Small Stock Arena on the same Sunday as the market steer class; the most recent date was August 16, 2026.
- State Fair of West Virginia Limousin Show
Purebred Limousin beef cattle division at the State Fair of West Virginia, held each year in the Large Livestock Arena; most recent show was Monday, August 17, 2026.
Lewisburg, WV | 304-645-1090 | Organizer: State Fair of West Virginia Official event details - State Fair of West Virginia Charolais Show
Charolais breeding cattle compete in Division 102 at the State Fair of West Virginia; the most recent show followed the Limousin class on Monday, August 17, 2026.
Lewisburg, WV | 304-645-1090 | Organizer: State Fair of West Virginia Official event details - State Fair of West Virginia Angus Show
Angus beef cattle show (Division 101) at the Lewisburg fairgrounds; held each year, with the most recent show on Tuesday, August 18, 2026.
- State Fair of West Virginia Junior Purebred Sheep Show
Junior purebred sheep show held in the Small Stock Arena; the most recent show was Tuesday, August 18, 2026, starting at 6 p.m.
- State Fair of West Virginia Shepherd's Lead Competition
Shepherd's Lead contest (Division 10) where youth lead sheep in the Small Stock Arena; contestants rehearse at 2 p.m. before the 5 p.m. event, most recently on August 18, 2026.
Lewisburg, WV | 304-645-1090 | Organizer: State Fair of West Virginia Official event details - State Fair of West Virginia Simmental Show
Purebred Simmental show (Division 106) with a percentage Simmental class following; most recent date was Wednesday, August 19, 2026, in the Large Livestock Arena.
Lewisburg, WV | 304-645-1090 | Organizer: State Fair of West Virginia Official event details - State Fair of West Virginia Dairy Costume Contest
Best-Dressed Cow and Dairy Goat costume contest (Division 207) at 5:30 p.m. in the Large Livestock Arena; most recent contest was Wednesday, August 19, 2026.
Lewisburg, WV | 304-645-1090 | Organizer: State Fair of West Virginia Official event details - State Fair of West Virginia Shorthorn Show
Shorthorn and Shorthorn Plus cattle classes (Divisions 105 and 105A) at the State Fair of West Virginia; most recent show was Friday, August 21, 2026.
Lewisburg, WV | 304-645-1090 | Organizer: State Fair of West Virginia Official event details - State Fair of West Virginia Junior Market Lamb Show
Junior market lamb show (Division 564) in the Small Stock Arena; most recent show on Saturday, August 15, 2026, with sale animals chosen for the youth auction.
- State Fair of West Virginia Junior Beef Heifer Show
Junior beef heifer show for 4-H and FFA exhibitors in the Large Stock Arena; the most recent show was held Saturday, August 15, 2026.
- State Fair of West Virginia Hereford Show
Hereford cattle division (Division 103) that closes out the fair beef shows; held each year, with the most recent show on Saturday, August 22, 2026.
Lewisburg, WV | 304-645-1090 | Organizer: State Fair of West Virginia Official event details - State Fair of West Virginia Sheep Shearing Contest
Sheep shearing contest staged on the final Saturday evening of the fair in the Large Livestock Arena; the most recent contest was August 22, 2026, at 6 p.m.
Lewisburg, WV | 304-645-1090 | Organizer: State Fair of West Virginia Official event details - State Fair of West Virginia JABGA Junior Boer Goat Showmanship
Junior Boer goat showmanship class (Division 610) run by the junior Boer goat association in the Tractor Supply Small Stock Arena; most recent date was August 22, 2026, at 2 p.m.
- Brooke County Fair
Weekend county fair at Brooke Hills Park near Wellsburg, normally held in September. Held each year; the most recent dates were September 18 to 20, 2026.
140 Gist Lane, Wellsburg, WV Official event details - Marshall County Fair Grounds Market
Saturday morning farmers market, 8a-noon, at the Marshall County Fair Grounds. Based on the 2023 West Virginia market list.
Fair Grounds, WV
Guide checked Nov. 11, 2026. Rules and dates change; confirm with the organizer.