4-H at the Hamilton County Fair

Hamilton County Youth

Livestock Resources & Forms

Livestock Information

4-H livestock includes beef cattle, bucket calves, goats, sheep and swine. For more information about the 4-H livestock program, contact 4-H Coordinator Hillary Fuhrman at 402-694-6174 or hillary.fuhrman@unl.edu.

ALL livestock exhibitors (showing beef, swine, sheep, goats, rabbits and poultry) must complete Youth for the Quality Care of Animals training. 

Beef, swine, sheep and goats being shown at the Hamilton County Fair must be identified by June 13, 2025. Please see the tabs above for specific information and to find forms for each species. 

Year-Round Resources

Premise ID - All Market animals will need to have a Premise ID on file with the Extension Office.  If you do not have a Premise ID, please go to https://nda.nebraska.gov/adt/premises.html to obtain yours.  Please email the Extension Office once you have received your Premise ID.

State Fair
State Fair Animal Nomination/Identification Requirements - Find step-by-step instructions for nominating your livestock for state fair exhibition and how to pull DNA for Cattle, Sheep, Goat and Swine.

State 4-H Resources 

Beef

4-H livestock includes beef cattle, bucket calves, goats, sheep and swine. For more information about the 4-H livestock program, contact 4-H Coordinator Hillary Fuhrman at 402-694-6174 or hillary.fuhrman@unl.edu.

ALL livestock exhibitors (showing beef, swine, sheep, goats, rabbits and poultry) must complete Youth for the Quality Care of Animals training. 

Beef, swine, sheep and goats being shown at the Hamilton County Fair must be identified by June 13, 2025. See 2025 Livestock Checklist handout for complete requirements.

Forms: 

  • 2025 Beef Requirement Chart- this chart shows the steps to be followed to show Beef at the 2025 Hamilton County Fair

  • Beef Identification Form Due to the Extension Office by June 13, 2025.  A family may submit one form for all their youth.

  • Livestock Pre-Fair Entry Form  Pre-Fair Entry form is due to the Extension Office on July 10, 2025.  A separate form is required for each youth. All Beef, Swine, Sheep, Goat, Poultry, Rabbit entries for a youth may be entered on one form. If you are using Online Entry, a paper form is not required.

  • Bucket Calf Record Book

Year-Round Resources

Premise ID - All Market animals will need to have a Premise ID on file with the Extension Office.  If you do not have a Premise ID, please go to https://nda.nebraska.gov/adt/premises.html to obtain yours.  Please email the Extension Office once you have received your Premise ID.

State Fair
State Fair Animal Nomination/Identification Requirements - Find step-by-step instructions for nominating your livestock for state fair exhibition and how to pull DNA for Cattle, Sheep, Goat and Swine.

State 4-H Resources 

Swine

4-H livestock includes beef cattle, bucket calves, goats, sheep and swine. For more information about the 4-H livestock program, contact 4-H Coordinator Hillary Fuhrman at 402-694-6174 or hillary.fuhrman@unl.edu.

ALL livestock exhibitors (showing beef, swine, sheep, goats, rabbits and poultry) must complete Youth for the Quality Care of Animals training. 

Beef, swine, sheep and goats being shown at the Hamilton County Fair must be identified by June 13, 2025. See 2025 Livestock Checklist handout for complete requirements.

Forms: 

  • 2025 Swine Requirement Chart- this chart shows the steps to be followed to show Swine at the 2025 Hamilton County Fair

  • Swine Identification Form Due to the Extension Office by June 13, 2025.  A family may submit one form for all their youth.

  • Livestock Pre-Fair Entry Form  Pre-Fair Entry form is due to the Extension Office on July 10, 2025.  A separate form is required for each youth. All Beef, Swine, Sheep, Goat, Poultry, Rabbit entries for a youth may be entered on one form. If you are using Online Entry, a paper form is not required.

Year-Round Resources

Premise ID - All Market animals will need to have a Premise ID on file with the Extension Office.  If you do not have a Premise ID, please go to https://nda.nebraska.gov/adt/premises.html to obtain yours.  Please email the Extension Office once you have received your Premise ID.

State Fair
State Fair Animal Nomination/Identification Requirements - Find step-by-step instructions for nominating your livestock for state fair exhibition and how to pull DNA for Cattle, Sheep, Goat and Swine.

State 4-H Resources 

Sheep & Goats

4-H livestock includes beef cattle, bucket calves, goats, sheep and swine. For more information about the 4-H livestock program, contact 4-H Coordinator Hillary Fuhrman at 402-694-6174 or hillary.fuhrman@unl.edu.

ALL livestock exhibitors (showing beef, swine, sheep, goats, rabbits and poultry) must complete Youth for the Quality Care of Animals training. 

Beef, swine, sheep and goats being shown at the Hamilton County Fair must be identified by June 13, 2025. See 2025 Livestock Checklist handout for complete requirements.

Forms: 

  • 2025 Sheep & Goat Requirement Chart- this chart shows the steps to be followed to show Sheep & Goats at the 2025 Hamilton County Fair

  • Sheep Identification Form Due to the Extension Office by June 13, 2025.  A family may submit one form for all their youth.

  • Goat Identification Form Due to the Extension Office by June 13, 2025.  A family may submit one form for all their youth.

  • Dairy Goat Identification Form Due to the Extension Office by June 13, 2025.  A family may submit one form for all their youth.

  • Livestock Pre-Fair Entry Form  Pre-Fair Entry form is due to the Extension Office on July 10, 2025.  A separate form is required for each youth. All Beef, Swine, Sheep, Goat, Poultry, Rabbit entries for a youth may be entered on one form. If you are using Online Entry, a paper form is not required.

  • Online resource: Sheep & Goat Scrapie Tag
Year-Round Resources

Premise ID - All Market animals will need to have a Premise ID on file with the Extension Office.  If you do not have a Premise ID, please go to https://nda.nebraska.gov/adt/premises.html to obtain yours.  Please email the Extension Office once you have received your Premise ID.

State Fair
State Fair Animal Nomination/Identification Requirements - Find step-by-step instructions for nominating your livestock for state fair exhibition and how to pull DNA for Cattle, Sheep, Goat and Swine.

State 4-H Resources 

Poultry & Rabbit

Poultry

4-H poultry includes chickens, ducks, geese, turkeys, guineas, etc.

Limit of 5 entries (pen of 3 counts as 1 entry) plus showmanship

Forms: 

  • 2025 Poultry & Rabbit Requirement Chart- this chart shows the steps to be followed to show Poultry & Rabbit at the 2025 Hamilton County Fair

  • Poultry do not require an identification form. 

  • Livestock Pre-Fair Entry Form  Pre-Fair Entry form is due to the Extension Office on July 10, 2025.  A separate form is required for each youth. All Beef, Swine, Sheep, Goat, Poultry, Rabbit entries for a youth may be entered on one form. If you are using Online Entry, a paper form is not required.

Rabbit

ALL rabbit exhibitors must complete Youth for the Quality Care of Animals training. 

Limit of 5 rabbits per member

Forms: 

  • 2025 Poultry & Rabbit Requirement Chart- this chart shows the steps to be followed to show Poultry & Rabbit at the 2025 Hamilton County Fair

  • Rabbit do not require an identification form. 

  • Livestock Pre-Fair Entry Form  Pre-Fair Entry form is due to the Extension Office on July 10, 2025.  A separate form is required for each youth. All Beef, Swine, Sheep, Goat, Poultry, Rabbit entries for a youth may be entered on one form. If you are using Online Entry, a paper form is not required.

Year-Round Resources

Premise ID - All Market animals will need to have a Premise ID on file with the Extension Office.  If you do not have a Premise ID, please go to https://nda.nebraska.gov/adt/premises.html to obtain yours.  Please email the Extension Office once you have received your Premise ID.

State Fair
State Fair Animal Nomination/Identification Requirements - Find step-by-step instructions for nominating your livestock for state fair exhibition and how to pull DNA for Cattle, Sheep, Goat and Swine.

State 4-H Resources 

Dog

Forms: 

  • 2025 Dog Requirement Chart- this chart shows the steps to be followed to show Dog at the 2025 Hamilton County Fair

  • Vaccination Form due June 13, 2025 (PDF): Nebraska 4-H Certificate of Vaccination for Dogs

  • Pre-Fair Entry Form  Pre-Fair Entry form is due to the Extension Office on July 10, 2025.  A separate form is required for each youth. All Dog, Cat & Companion entries for a youth may be entered on one form. If you are using Online Entry, a paper form is not required.

At the Hamilton County Fair, 4-H dog exhibitors must submit proof of immunizations (rabies, DHL and Parvo) by emailing the vaccination form to the hillary.fuhrman@unl.edu prior to the fair. Dogs will NOT be eligible to compete if certificate of vaccination is not provided.

1.  DOG ELIGIBILITY - Exhibitor should provide primary training for the dog.  The dog should be cared for by the exhibitor the majority of the year by the exhibitor.  It is the dog exhibitor’s responsibility to pick up after their dogs at all times. Dogs soiling in the show ring (during a class) will be lowered one ribbon placing. Dogs soiling anywhere on the show grounds with no pick up will be disqualified from all entered classes on that show day regardless of the person who is holding the dog leash. 

2. VACCINATION -- All dogs must be immunized for distemper, hepatitis, parvo and rabies. The Nebraska must be filled out and signed by a veterinarian and returned as part of the Advanced Entry. The Nebraska State Fair Show Vaccination Record Form (SF 263) must document all vaccinations within 1 year or 3 years depending on the vaccine given. All required vaccinations must be given within 1 to 3 years of the show date based on label guidelines. All vaccinations must be in effect at the time of the State Fair Dog Show. Explanation: Some vaccinations are viable for one year and some vaccinations are viable for three years but are specifically designed and administered according to their label. It is not acceptable nor allowed to vaccinate a dog with a 1-year vaccine and plan to have it in effect for 3 years. The SF263 Dog Vaccination Certification form must be submitted for each dog according to the entry guideline due date or will not be allowed to show.

3.  NUMBER OF ENTRIES PER EXHIBITOR - Youth may enter one showmanship class, two agility classes (using different dogs and in different level of classes) and two obedience classes (using different dogs and in different level of classes).

4.  DISQUALIFIED DOGS - Females in season will not be permitted to be shown.  Overly aggressive dogs may be disqualified at the discretion of the judge or superintendent.  Lame or crippled dogs will not be permitted to show if it is determined by a show superintendent that it is affecting the health of the dog.

5.  All dogs must be kept on a leash at all times, except when appropriate during a show.

Cat

Forms: 

  • 2025 Cat Requirement Chart- this chart shows the steps to be followed to show Cat at the 2025 Hamilton County Fair

  • Vaccination Form due June 13, 2025 (PDF)

  • Pre-Fair Entry Form  Pre-Fair Entry form is due to the Extension Office on July 10, 2025.  A separate form is required for each youth. All Dog, Cat & Companion entries for a youth may be entered on one form. If you are using Online Entry, a paper form is not required.

At the Hamilton County Fair, 4-H cat exhibitors must submit proof of immunizations by emailing the vaccination form to the hillary.fuhrman@unl.edu prior to the fair. Cats will NOT be eligible to compete if certificate of vaccination is not provided.

All cats must be owned by the exhibitor by June 1, 2025. Refer to 4-H Cat/Small Animal Show Guidelines (4H341). ALL CATS MUST BE SHOWN ON A LEASH and must be on a leash at any time they are removed from the carrier/cage. HEALTH RULE - Health: If a cat is not declawed, the claws must be clipped. All animals should be free of fleas, ticks, ear mites, ringworm, any internal and external parasite and infectious disease. If any signs of external parasites or other contagious health conditions are present, exhibitors will be asked to leave without being allowed into the show area. If an animal shows the possibility of being contagious, it is considered a danger to other animals and will not be allowed to show. Animals that pose a danger to others will not be allowed in the building. Vaccinations: Cats are required to be current on rabies, panleukopenia, viral rhinotracheitis, and calicivirus vaccinations. Cats must have a current feline leukemia vaccination OR proof of a negative test within 180 days of the show. Proof of vaccination must be submitted to the Extension Office by June 13. Participants must have their veterinarian fill out and sign the “Nebraska State Fair Cat/Ferret Vaccination Record Form”. 4-H’ers vaccinating their own cats must provide proof by including a statement from their vet on the Vaccination Record or include the vaccination labels on the form and have it signed by a parent. The rabies vaccination is federally mandated to be given ONLY by a Certified Veterinarian. The vaccination must be current and include a veterinarian signature on the Vaccination Record.

 

Companion Animal

Forms: 

  • 2025 Companion Animal Requirement Chart- this chart shows the steps to be followed to show Companion Animal at the 2025 Hamilton County Fair

  • Vaccination Form for Ferret: due June 13, 2025 (PDF)

  • Pre-Fair Entry Form  Pre-Fair Entry form is due to the Extension Office on July 10, 2025.  A separate form is required for each youth. All Dog, Cat & Companion entries for a youth may be entered on one form. If you are using Online Entry, a paper form is not required.

All companion animals must be owned by the exhibitor by June 1, 2025. Exhibitors are required to be present during the judging of their exhibit. Score is based on presentation, handling of animals and exhibitor knowledge. Animals eligible for the show - Hamsters, Gerbils, Guinea Pigs, Ferret, Chinchilla, Mouse, Rat, Hedgehog, Fish, Reptiles, Amphibians, Birds and other animals approved by staff.  Therefore, no dogs, rabbits or poultry will be permitted in this show. Health requirements - animals shall be free of fleas, ticks, mites, lice, or other parasites. Animals shall be free of contagious diseases. Any animal showing signs of parasites or disease will not be judged. Ferrets must be vaccinated for rabies. Not more than one entry per category by any exhibitor. Please contact the Hamilton County Extension Office with any questions.

State Fair Nominations

Animal exhibitors (4-H ages 8–18, FFA ages 10–21) are eligible to participate at the Nebraska State Fair regardless of county fair placing. State Fair individual 4-H livestock special nomination requirements are at https://4h.unl.edu/state-fair-livestock-id . By June 15: breeding and market livestock nominations must be entered and paid online at https://showstockmgr.com and State Fair DNA envelopes must be submitted to the Hamilton County Extension office. Each livestock project must have a DNA envelope submitted and a $7 nomination paid on Show Stock Manager by June 15. This includes feeder calves, and all market and breeding livestock for ALL SPECIES (excluding rabbits and poultry). Livestock animals will automatically be eligible for both breeding and market. Nomination process step-by-step instructions are at https://go.unl.edu/04sp. By Aug. 10, 8 p.m. CT, 4-H/FFA youth or their families must submit their final animal entries in ShoWorks online at http://nebr.fairwire.com. The Nebraska 4-H website with information and instructions is https://4h.unl.edu/state-fair-livestock-exhibitor.

*The official State Fair nomination deadline is June 15; however, that is a Sunday. Our office WILL NOT be open or be able to answer questions on the 14th or 15th; therefore, we STRONGLY SUGGEST that you complete your nominations by June 13th.

State Fair Animal Nomination/Identification Requirements - Find step-by-step instructions for nominating your livestock for state fair exhibition and how to pull DNA for Cattle, Sheep, Goat and Swine.

State Fair Livestock ID & Nomination Resources (pdf):