Home For The Harvest
September 25th - 28th, 2024
Save The Dates!
California's Largest and Longest-Running Free-Gate Fair
Junior Livestock
The Junior Livestock Exhibit provides an opportunity for area 4-H and FFA youth to exhibit their animal projects. Four area high school FFA Chapters (Caruthers, Washington Union, Riverdale and Laton) and three area 4-H Clubs (American Union, Rural Route, and Country Club) participate in the three day event. Participants range in age from 9 years to 18 years and must have owned their animals for at least 60 days prior to the contest. last year 204 animals were exhibited by 130 area youth. Six different species of farm livestock are on exhibit; dairy cattle, beef cattle, sheep, swine, dairy goats, and pygmy goats.
THE CARUTHERS FAIR DAIRY SHOW IS CANCELED DUE TO THE BIRD BLU
Judging Process
Each species of animal are judged according to how well they represent their intended purpose. In addition to competing against the industry standards for a given breed, animals are judged against each other for final placement. Each species’ contest results in an overall Grand Champion crowned during the fair.
Livestock competition is not the only contest for these young contestants, each exhibitor has the opportunity to compete against each other in Showmanship competitions. This allows the exhibitors to be judges as to how well they train, fit, and show their livestock. Champion showman awards are given for each species with up to five age groups and classification in each species. Finally, after several events, and overall Round Robin Showmanship Champion is crowned in each of the five divisions. These individuals have demonstrated their abilities in showing all species of animals in order to win this award.
Chapters and Clubs also compete for a $50.00 prize and plaque signifying their superiority in Herdsmanship skills.
Junior Livestock Schedule & Information
Wednesday, September 25
2:00 pm – Registration and Weigh-in begins
5:00 pm – Registration and Weigh-in closes
Thursday, September 26
Showmanship – 9:00 AM Lamb (4-H followed by FFA
Swine (FFA followed by 4-H)
Class Shows – 10:30 AM Market Lamb (4-H followed by FFA)
Market Swine (FFA followed by 4-H)
1:00 PM –Beef Showmanship (FFA followed by 4-H)
Breeding Beef followed by Market Beef and Stockers and Feeders
4:00 pm –Pee Wee Showmanship
Friday,
September 27
Showmanship – 9:00 AM – Goats (4-H followed by FFA)
10:00 AM – Dairy Goat then Market Goat Shows (4-H followed by FFA
3:00 pm – Round Robin
Saturday, September 28
12:00 PM – Buyer Registration
1:15 PM – Cash Awards (premium) presentation – Chapter and Individual
1:30 PM – Market Beef, Swine,
Goat and Lamb Auction
Sunday, September 29
6:00 AM – Animal exhibits may begin leaving the fairgrounds
*NO EARLY RELEASES*
Registration
Additional Resources
Registration will be open from September 1 - 20, 2024.
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****PARTICIPATION -REQUIRED ****
In order to participate in a youth livestock program at any California Fair, all exhibitors must obtain annual certification
in the Youth for the Quality Care of Animals (YQCA) program, or a comparable fair run program approved by the
California Department of Food and Agriculture, Fairs and Expositions Branch.
Those not certified are not eligible to participate at a California Fair.