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ALL ENTRIES WILL BE PRE-ENTERED AND DUE IN EXTENSION OFFICE JUNE 15, 2026.
THIS INCLUDES LIVESTOCK AND EXHIBITS IN THE 4-H BUILDING. SEE ALSO “LATE ENTRY FEE POLICY”.
GENERAL 4-H INSTRUCTIONS ELIGIBILITY
- 4-H is open to all youth between the ages 5 and18 (4-H Age), regardless of race, color, national origin, gender, religion, age, disability, political beliefs, and marital or family status as determined by the following age criteria: 4-H members 5-7 years of age on January 1 of current year may exhibit in the Clover Kid area, regular 4-H age by January 1 of current year 8-year-old. To exhibit at county fair, 4- H members had to be enrolled in the project area by June 15, 2026.
- ASTERISKED (*) CLASSES ARE FOR COUNTY FAIR EXHIBITS THAT ARE NOT STATE FAIR EILIGBLE.
- Exhibits must be owned by the exhibitor working under Extension 4-H club rules or be part of a Vo-Ag department program.
- Any boy or girl living outside of Dixon County but is a member of a Dixon County 4-H club is eligible to show at the Fair. Youth who belong to a Dixon County School District-FFA chapter and/or a 4-H member of the Dixon County program are eligible to exhibit at the Dixon County Fair.
- Multiple County: A 4-H'er can only exhibit a project in the county of enrollment of said project. A 4-H'er is allowed to be enrolled in the 4-H program in more than one county, however, must be in different and specific project areas in each county, i.e. beef in only one county not in two counties.
- The exhibit entry must be the result of a 4-H or FFA project started after last year's fair.
- FFA exhibits must be part of the exhibitor's supervised farming program or have been completed as part of the shop program during the past year. Records are required by the Vo-Ag and FFA State Association and must be complete, accurate and up to date.
- Only articles mentioned in the premium list will be judged. 4-H members must be enrolled in the project to be eligible for exhibiting. Except where indicated otherwise, a member may exhibit only one animal or article under each premium number.
- FFA exhibitor numbers will be assigned when the entries are made.
- 4-H eligibility rules for State Fair: 4-H exhibits which are not starred and do not require the accompaniment of the 4-H members at State Fair are eligible for selection for State Fair. State Fair livestock exhibits are eligible between 8 to 18 (4-H age). Contests (speech, presentations, etc.) are eligible between 8-18 (4-H age). A 4-H'er becomes ineligible when he/she at the 4-H age of 18.
LATE ENTRIES
- See the “LATE ENTRY FEE POLICY”.
PRE-FAIR FAMILY PACKET PICK UP
- These contain project entry tags, back tag numbers, purchased T-shirts, youth fair passes, and etc. They will be available at the fairgrounds during Fair Cleanup on July 1, during Static judging on July 8, or at the extension office. Horticulture entry tags will not be available until Static Judging Day on July 8. Any unclaimed packets will be available at the Ag Hall the morning of Static Judging, July 8, then kept at the office.
PUBLIC FASHION REVUE
- Fashion Revue, Clothing, Knitting & Crocheting, and Photography entries will be judged on Saturday, June 27, at the Allen Methodist Church. All exhibits need to be checked in by 10:30 AM to be judged.
- The 4-H Public Fashion Revue is open to the public. It will be recorded for playback in the Ag Hall during the Fair.
4-H CONSUMER & FAMILY SCIENCE
- Only articles mentioned in the premium list will be judged. Members must be enrolled in the project to be eligible for exhibiting. A member may exhibit one article only under each premium number, unless otherwise noted.
- Entry day for all Consumer and Family Science exhibits (except Clothing, Knitting & Crocheting, and Photography) will be Wednesday, July 8, judging will begin at 8:30 AM.
LIVESTOCK, HORSES, and COMPANION ANIMALS
- Livestock exhibits must be owned or in the possession of the exhibitor on or before June 1 of the current year.
- Purebred animal entries must be confirmed with an animal registration certificate or number of Dam or Sire.
- All livestock and judging contest regulations will apply to 4-H and FFA members.
- 4-H and FFA exhibitors may enter the fairgrounds by presenting their current year 4-H identification cards.
- No open class cats or dogs.
- Livestock Ear tags are to be purchased and the animal tagged by June 15, 2026. Same for swine ear notches. Ears should be healed by Fair, in order for the animal to be ineligible to exhibit. If a tag is missing or has pulled out, please contact the office BEFORE Fair for replacement.
- ONLY ONE YOUTH AND ONE ANIMAL PER ENTRY/CLASS
CHECK IN OF ENTRIES (Unless otherwise stated in the fair schedule.)
STATIC CHECKIN ENTRY TIMES FOR FCS AND AG STATIC EXHIBITS are on Wednesday, July 8, at 8 AM for exhibits not to be interview judged. Interview judging will begin at 8:30 AM all exhibits need to be checked in by 10:30 AM.
- All perishable foods should be entered in a self-sealing re-closeable bag.
- Label all Ag and Static exhibits, with the exhibitor’s name, age, and county on the back or bottom of the exhibits. Some categories (such as clothing, home environment, photography, etc.) will drop a ribbon placing if the label is not attached to the exhibit. Suggested ways to label exhibits are twist ties, string, strong tape and safety pins. DO NOT LAY ENTRY TAGS IN THE BAGS OR BOX OR BY THE EXHIBIT.
- Do not leave containers used for transporting exhibits in the Ag Hall, for they may be disposed.
LIVESTOCK CHECK IN: Market beef will be weigh-in on Wednesday, July 8, from 4:00-5:00 PM.
- Livestock, including poultry and rabbits, check in is on Wednesday, July 8, from 5:00-6:00 PM, with your respective superintendents.
- Check-in entry means that the specie superintendent has confirmed the animal is in its cage or stall, not just being on the fairgrounds.
- If you do not check in with your livestock superintendent, you will not be able to show your livestock.
4-H CONSUMER & FAMILY SCIENCE
- Only articles mentioned in the premium list will be judged. Members must be enrolled in the project to be eligible for exhibiting. A member may exhibit one article only under each premium number, unless otherwise noted.
- Entry day for all consumer and family science exhibits (except Clothing, Knitting & Crocheting, and Photography) will be Wed, July 8, judging will begin at 8:30 AM.
4-H INTERVIEW JUDGING
- 4-H'ers have the option to visit with the judge about their exhibits in the Exhibit Hall. Interview Judging is not required.
- Parents are welcome to be present but they are NOT to provide input or answer the questions.
- Official 4-H t-shirts are encouraged to be worn for interview judging 8:00 - 10:30 A.M.
- Please state to the Superintendent whether the exhibit will or will not be interview judged. Interview judged exhibits will be labeled to be saved for interview judging.
JUDGING OF EXHIBITS
- All exhibits, except where noted, will be placed by the judge on a Danish System of Recognition and will be judged on individual merit. 4-H and FFA livestock exhibits will be judged together.
TROPHIES/AWARDS
- All awards for contests will be awarded at the respective contest. All awards in livestock will be presented at the respective shows except Herdsmanship, which will be awarded during the fall achievement program. All exhibit hall trophies and awards will be presented on Sunday prior to the Bonus Auction.
- Trophies are awarded based on results of show -whether 4-H or FFA winner. Trophies will only be awarded to Purple or Blue ribbon winners in all classes. Only Purple ribbon winners are eligible to go to State Fair.
RELEASE OF EXHIBITS
- Release time will be Sunday, July 12, at 3:00 PM for Livestock entries and for all other entries. Superintendents and the Fair Board are not responsible for exhibits left after 6:00 P.M.
- No perishable products (food, garden, produce, etc.) will be saved after 6:00 PM, Sunday, July 12, 2026.