Content
Refer to General 4-H Rules at the beginning of the 4-H Section which apply to all youth.
OWNERSHIP OF ANIMALS & POULTRY- All animals and poultry in the 4-H Show must be owned by the exhibitor who entered it. Ownership of beef, sheep, swine, dairy, dairy goats and rabbits must have certified where required on the appropriate forms in the Extension Office by June 15. In the case of dairy animals, some lease arrangements are acceptable, but must be certified on the appropriate forms in the Extension Office.
LIVESTOCK ID REQUIREMENTS
- MARKET BEEF
Affidavit/ID Sheet, 840 USDA EID Tag, DNA sample for State Fair & submitted online via Show Stock Manager database & Premises ID
- BREEDING BEEF
Affidavit/ID sheet, Tattoo (must be healed at time of entry), DNA sample for State Fair & submitted online via Show Stock Manager database & Premises ID
- COW/CALF
Affidavit/ID sheet, Family Ear Tag and/or Tattoo-cow for calf and cow along with birth dates
- BUCKET CALF
Affidavit/ID Sheet, Family or 4-H Ear Tag
- RETURN BUCKET CALF
Affidavit/ID sheet, Family or 4-H Ear Tag-same ear tag from the previous year
- FEEDER CALF
Affidavit/ID sheet, Family Ear Tag and/or Tattoo, 840 USDA EID tag or producer EID tag for State Fair, DNA sample for State Fair & submitted online via Show Stock Manager database & Premises ID
- MARKET SHEEP
Affidavit/ID sheet, Scrapie tag (does & wethers), DNA sample for State Fair & submitted online via Show Stock Manager database
- BREEDING SHEEP
Affidavit/ID sheet, Scrapie tag, DNA sample for State Fair & submitted online via Show Stock Manager database
- DAIRY GOAT
Affidavit/ID sheet, animal markings, and Scrapie tag (does and wethers)
- MARKET GOAT
Affidavit/ID sheet, Scrapie tag (does & wethers), DNA sample for State Fair & submitted online via Show Stock Manager database
- BREEDING GOAT
Affidavit/ID sheet, Scrapie tag (does & wethers), DNA sample for State Fair & submitted online via Show Stock Manager database
- MARKET SWINE
Affidavit/ID sheet, ear notches (universal ear notch system must be healed at time of entry), EID Tag and DNA sample for State Fair & submitted online via Show Stock Manager database & Premises ID
- DAIRY
Affidavit/ID sheet, animal markings
- HORSE
Affidavit/ID sheet, markings
- RABBIT
Affidavit/ID sheet, must have eligible tattoo and healed at time of entry.
IDENTIFICATION DEADLINES
June 15 Horse
June 15 Market Beef, Breeding Beef, Breeding Ewes, Market Lambs, Market Swine,
Cow-Calf, Feeder Calf, Bucket Calf, Return Bucket Calf, Goat, & Rabbit
QUALITY ASSURANCE TRAINING (YQCA) - Exhibitors in beef, dairy cattle, goats, poultry, rabbits, sheep and swine must have completed this approved food animal quality assurance training program. Exhibitors must have received YQCA online or face-to-face training by June 15 of the current year. Program attendance or completion of a test is required. Copies of the actual certificate must be provided to the extension office.
Instructions on how to submit copies is found on the extension website: https://extension.unl.edu/statewide/dixon/dixon-county-4-h/animal-scien…
REGISTRATION OF LIVESTOCK-A breeding animal to be eligible for show in a registered (purebred) class must be owned by the exhibitor by June 15 of the current year and be registered by the official breed association.
The registration certificate must show (1) the name of the exhibitor (2) the name of the exhibitor and/or a co-owner who is an immediate member of the exhibitor's family or (3) the family or ranch name or parent's name. REGISTRATION MUST BE COMPLETED BY JUNE 15th of the current year. Immediate family is defined as members of a household, including parents, brothers and sisters, and youth in care of the head of the household.
- 4-H DRESS CODE-Exhibitors showing beef, dairy, dairy goats, dogs, cats, sheep, swine, poultry, and rabbits are required to wear a white shirt (or blouse) with the official 4-H chevron attached or a Dixon County 4-H T-shirt (no club names or special events). Blue jeans (no holes) are required for beef, dog, cat, sheep, swine, poultry, goats, and rabbit exhibitors. Dairy and dairy goat exhibitors may wear dark blue jeans or white pants. Long jeans/pants are required for cat exhibitors. No hats, caps or other types of headgear are to be worn in the show ring.
- FFA DRESS CODE-FFA shirt and blue jeans (no holes). See 4-H dress code above for more details.
- FFA MEMBERSHIP-Youth that 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.
- LIVESTOCK CHECK-IN- Market Beef Weigh-In will begin at 4:00 PM and all other beef animals must be checked in from 5:00-6:00 PM on Wednesday, July 8, 2026. This means check-in with the show superintendent, not just being present on the fairgrounds. All Livestock Exhibitors will check-in entries between 5:00 to 6:00 PM on Wednesday, July 8, 2026, with Livestock Superintendents inside the Livestock Show Arena. If you are not going to show your animal that you pre-register, you need to tell the superintendent before 6:00 PM on Wednesday, July 8, 2026. Those not checked in will not be able to show.
- GROOMING - All beef, swine, sheep, and goats (showmanship, market, feeder and breeding) will be shown Blow & Go. Animals may be clipped, blown, brushed, or combed to enhance their appearance. All animals will be shown free of any adhesive, glue, paint, or powder products.
HERDSMANSHIP
The purpose is to encourage cooperation, fellowship and teamwork among exhibitors in developing and maintaining a display of livestock and stalling areas. It also promotes pride and enthusiasm for the industry and rewards those exhibitors that achieve this purpose.
Herdsmanship awards will be made to clubs who keep their alleys, pens and exhibits neat, clean and attractive. A display of courtesies to visitors and other exhibitors will be considered. This is a total club effort, and Herdsmanship duties are those of exhibitors rather than leaders and parents.
At least one exhibitor is encouraged to be present from each club from 8 A.M. to 9 P.M.
Judging will be done by selected individuals. Judging will take place between 8 A.M. and 9 P.M.
Herdsmanship judging will use the following scoring guide:
*Animals: (4 points)
Clean at all times with proper grooming, feed, bedding and care apparent, properly penned and secured.
*Stalls: (4 points)
Clean and neat, clean bedding, full water bucket, feed and feed pans and buckets clean and in place, no manure in stall area, exhibitor signs clearly in place.
*Tack/Feed Area: (4 points)
Kept clean and neatly arranged, grooming and tie-out areas kept clean, personal items out of sight or neatly stored.
*Alleyways: (4 points)
Exhibitors designated alleys and commons areas kept clean, free of equipment, loose dirt and dust kept under control with proper sweeping and/or sprinkling, no manure in piles.
*Exhibitors: (4 points)
Proper courtesy and conduct shown by exhibitors at all times and in all places including with the public and other exhibitors. All exhibitors are expected to participate in Herdsmanship.
Purple: 18-20 points
Blue: 15-17 points
Red: 12-14 points
White: 0-11 points
G-10-901 BEEF HERDSMANSHIP
G-30-901 SHEEP HERDSMANSHIP
G-35-901 SWINE HERDSMANSHIP
G-40-910 DAIRY HERDSMANSHIP
G-50-901 GOAT HERDSMANSHIP
G-60-933 HORSE HERDSMANSHIP
G-70-911 POULTRY HERDSMANSHIP
G-80-902 RABBIT HERDSMANSHIP
Individual ribbons will be given for purple herdsmanship. $3.00 to club for each class receiving purple in herdsmanship.
SHOWMANSHIP
If you are exhibiting livestock in any area you are required to also be in the Showmanship class. Club members taking part in these contests will be judged for their skill as a showman and the appearance of their animals. Grooming counts, but breed or individual excellence of the animal does not.
- ELIGIBILITY-All 4-H livestock exhibitors must show their own animals to be considered as participants in the Showmanship Contest. Any animal can only be shown in one class. This means that whatever animal you exhibit for judging is the animal you must show in the Showmanship class. (FFA members must show their FFA animal in showmanship and 4-H members must show their 4-H animal in showmanship).
- SUBSTITUTE SHOWMAN POLICY-A substitute showman must be a Dixon County 4-H/FFA member that has completed YQCA. Circumstances will be approved by the department superintendent as the situation arises. Approval must be made prior to the start of the show.
- BASIS FOR JUDGING-Showmanship judging is based on preparation of animals for show, their apparent training and the appearance and behavior of the showman. Minor technical points are not to be over-emphasized, nor do minor infractions disqualify. Primarily in showmanship it is the skill of the showman in presenting the animal before the Judge that counts, while individual excellence of the animal does not.
- EXHIBITOR DRESS CODE- See rule F & G, General Animal Rules.
- 4-H AGE- Determined by the exhibitor’s age, as of January 1 of the current year.
Junior Division: Ages 8 through 10
Intermediate Division: Ages 11 through 13
Senior Division: Ages 14 through 18
- Need to pre-enter by June 15, 2025. Please note the listing for the showmanship classes in each species area of the fair book.
SPECIAL AWARDS WILL BE AWARDED AT CONCLUSION OF EACH INDIVIDUAL PROJECT SHOW.