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Livestock Competitions

ALERT

Please note some rules changed in 2025. All exhibitors are encouraged to thoroughly read and review all rule books, as there may be some changes, outlined below, as well as changes that impact your species show specifically. A few 2025 changes of note include:

  • Parking – general parking is now $10 per day, and on-grounds parking (such as on the Gilligan Complex) is $15 per day. Exhibitor parking passes are still available for purchase as they have been in previous years. General parking can be paid for on-site as well as in advance.
  • Pass pickup – passes won’t be mailed, this year, you will pick the up upon arrival when dropping off your animals (see below).
  • Tents – pop-up tents around the barns will be limited in the areas they can be placed. A new map is included in your rule books to show you where tents can, and cannot, be placed.
  • Trailer parking – trailer parking will be in the same areas as last year, however, we had some people parking in non-trailer areas last year. Trailers parked in unauthorized areas are subject to towing.
  • Sale of Champions time – this year, we’ll celebrate our champions at 1 p.m. on Sunday, Aug. 9. Join us in person, or watch online on ohiochannel.org, ocj.com, or on Facebook.

Livestock Exhibitor Pass Pick Up

In effort to reduce delivery concerns and streamline the on-site arrival process, all passes (including admission passes and parking permits) purchased through ShoWorks or through the entry department will not be mailed and must be picked up on grounds.

Livestock animal ownership dates

The deadline to enter livestock exhibitions is 1 p.m. on June 21 with the exception of the Junior Horse Show, which closes at 1 p.m. on July 1, 2026. Entries open May 15 at 6 a.m.

In order to be more consistent with statewide livestock exhibition ownership rules, the Ohio State Fair has listed animal ownership dates below:

Market animals

  • Market beef – January 1
  • Market swine – May 23
  • Market lambs – May 23
  • Market goats – May 1
  • Dairy feeders – June 1
  • Market rabbits – June 1
  • Market chickens – within 5 days of hatch
  • Market turkey - April 1

Breeding animals

  • Breeding Beef – May 22
  • Breeding Swine – May 22
  • Breeding Sheep – May 22
  • Breeding Goats – May 16
  • Breeding Poultry – May 31
  • Breeding rabbits – May 31
  • Dairy Cattle (ownership means date of record) – May 22

See the full livestock schedule here.

Livestock Competition Information

Online entry helpful hints

  1. All entries must be submitted online.
  2. Please allow time to complete the entry process, as the system will shut down at 12:59 p.m. on Saturday, June 21. Entries will be locked automatically at 1 p.m.
  3. Late entry fees will be charged ($75.00) beginning June 21 and late entries will vary based on department. Late entries must be emailed to Barb Prince, Entry Department (b.prince@expo.ohio.gov). Upon receipt of the email the entry department will make contact to secure credit card information. Please reference the late entry document to see if you can make late entries into the division you are wanting to enter. No late entry for junior animals (breeding or market).
  4. While date of birth is required for all entries, all junior livestock exhibitors must provide their date of birth. Open entries just need to enter any date.
  5. Junior 4-H exhibitors must list the county in which the project is registered (in some cases, this is not the same as the county in which you live). You must list your county educator or extension agent as the contact to verify your entry, NOT your 4-H advisor.
  6. Junior FFA exhibitors must list the county in which the project is registered (in some cases, this is not the same as the county in which you live). You must list your FFA teacher/instructor as the contact to verify your entry.
  7. All exhibitors, junior and open, are asked for shirt size when entering. Junior exhibitor shirt sizing is used for the swag stop shirt you will receive after check-in at the Ohio State Fair. Open exhibitors pick N/A.

Beef

Boer Goats

Cheese

Dairy Cattle

Dairy Goats

Dog Show

Horse Show

Junior 4-H Horse Division
The deadline to enter the junior horse show is July 1 at 1 p.m.

Judging Teams

  • 2026 Competition Information forthcoming

Llamas

Poultry

  • Junior Division
  • Poultry DUNF
  • Species Judges - 2026 information forthcoming
  • Exhibitor letter
  • Premium Information

Pygmy Goats

Rabbits

Sheep

Swine

Exhibitor Information and Supplemental Forms

In-Person & Virtual Ohio Youth Skillathons

Open to any Ohio youth, age 8 and in the 3rd grade, or 9 years old and older regardless of grade level, to age 18, this is a separate virtual event to allow broader participation. You do not have to exhibit a particular species to participate in that species Skillathon. Virtual Skillathon participation does not qualify a youth participant for outstanding market exhibitor awards. Proctored Virtual Skillathon at the Ohio Expo Center will qualify for the Outstanding Breeding Exhibitor awards.

Golf Cart Permits

Golf cart permits will NOT be sold on-site at the Ohio State Fair in 2025.
Please read the updated Ohio State Fair Golf Cart Permit Rules and Regulations prior to purchasing a permit.
2025 OHIO STATE FAIR GOLF CART DOCUMENTATION FORM

Competition Results

Youth Reserve Program Payouts

2026 information forthcoming
  • Beef
  • Boer Goat
  • Dairy Cattle
  • Poultry
  • Rabbit
  • Sheep
  • Swine
  • Other Species
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