Small Animal Herdsmanship
Department G
Superintendent: Christine Karell (Little Red Barn)
The purpose of Herdsmanship is for 4-H exhibitors to properly care for their livestock, small animals, pens & equipment, ensure safety of animals and others, and always keep the animals and surrounding areas clean and attractive.
Educational displays and public relations are also an important component of Herdsmanship. Herdsmanship judging begins when animals are entered on entry day (Tuesday, August 4, 2026) and ends when the animal is loaded out on Sunday. Judging will be at times not to interfere with the time of that species being shown.
Guidelines for selecting a herdsmanship winner includes:
- Animal clean always with grooming apparent.
- Animals adequately cared for with proper feeding, clean and proper amount of bedding for stalls and cages and adequate equipment.
- Tack and feed area clean and neatly arranged. Fork handles and similar equipment hung, or kept in a secure and safe manner.
- Proper courtesy and conduct shown by exhibitors at all times and at all places. All exhibitors are expected to participate in herdsmanship.
- Exhibitors share of alley area kept clean. Wheelbarrows and equipment kept from aisle.
- EDUCATIONAL DISPLAYS
- Exhibitors are invited to create a poster highlighting an educational aspect of their animal project. You can score extra points by displaying a poster in the little red barn.
- Posters will be judged for a premium and a ribbon placing awarded.
- The poster could focus on a current issue, animal industry career, animal care or health, economic impacts of the industry, etc. All educational display entries must match the specie the 4-H member is exhibiting. For example, if a 4-H member is exhibiting poultry, their entry must be about poultry and not another species. It could also be entered in the Veterinary Science fair category as well.
- Posters will be displayed in the barns to increase the educational experiences of both the 4-H member and the public by increasing agricultural literacy and promoting good will at the county fair. Due to space requirements posters should be no larger than 14” x 22”. Refer to the “Posters” section of the fair book for poster guidelines.
- Posters are due to the Herdsmanship Superintendent on entry day (August 4, 2026, or at the request of the superintendent.)
- Educational displays are NOT ELIGIBLE for the Nebraska State Fair unless entered in the Veterinary Science Project. Entries will be a county only project.
A volunteer will serve as superintendent for Herdsmanship and will schedule volunteers to judge the barns. A score sheet will be provided to each of the volunteer judges.
Winners will be announced at the annual 4-H Achievement Celebration in November. Awards will be given to the top individual in each species and an overall award for the exhibitor with the most points. The top individuals in each species will receive a $125 cash award and the Overall winner a $300 cash award. If the Overall winner was also the top in a species, the top species award will move to the second place.
Any animal not receiving proper care (feed, water, etc) will be cared for by the species superintendent after a verbal warning has been given and consulting the superintendent committee. The exhibitor will be assessed $50 per day with payment being deducted from livestock auction proceeds.
If the animal does not sell at the livestock auction, the $50 assessment will be due and payable when the animal is checked out and before leaving the fairgrounds.
Pens, Stalls and Cages:
Exhibitors may not advertise or sell animals or other products at the Box Butte County Fair.
EDUCATIONAL DISPLAYS (county only)
G 090001 Educational displays for Small Animal Entries