Livestock Competitions

Livestock animal ownership dates

The deadline to enter livestock exhibitions is 1 p.m. on June 21, 2023, with the exception of the Junior Horse Show, which closes at 1 p.m. on July 1, 2023.

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 26
Market lambs – May 26
Market goats – May 1
Dairy feeders – May 26
Market rabbits – June 1
Market poultry – within 5 days of hatch

Breeding animals -

Breeding Beef – June 1
Breeding Swine – June 1
Breeding Sheep – June 1
Breeding Goats – June 1
Breeding Poultry – June 1
Breeding rabbits – June 1
Dairy Cattle – June 1

See the full livestock schedule here.

Livestock Competition Information

Online entry helpful hints

All entries must be submitted online.
Please allow time to complete the entry process, as the system will shut down at 12:59 p.m. on Tuesday, June 21. Entries will be locked automatically at 1 p.m.
Late entry fees will be charged ($75.00) beginning June 21 and late entries will be accepted through July 15. 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 your department division for more details and to see if late entries are accepted. No late entry for junior market animals.
All junior livestock exhibitors must provide their date of birth. Date of birth is not required for open entries.
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.
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.
All junior exhibitors should include their shirt size.
Reminder – All exhibitors who win more than $499 in premiums must use this link to visit the Ohio Supplier website. In the past, exhibitors were required to submit Vendor Information Forms and W-9 forms; this new process has been in place for the last couple of years. If not completed, your premium payment cannot be processed. If you have registered using the Ohio Supplier website in previous years and nothing has changed (such as your address or banking information), then it is not necessary to update this information or attempt to register again.

Beef

Open Division
- 2023 Competition Information - coming soon
Junior Division
- 2023 Competition Information - coming soon
Beef DUNF — The link will be available in July 2023
Species Judges — 2023 Judge Information Coming Soon

Boer Goats

Open Division
- 2023 Competition Information - coming soon
Junior Division
- 2023 Competition Information - coming soon
Boer Goats DUNF — The link will be available in July 2023
Species Judges — 2023 Judge Information Coming Soon

Cheese

Open Division
- 2023 Competition Information - coming soon

Dairy Cattle

Open Division
- 2023 Competition Information - coming soon
Junior Division
- 2023 Competition Information - coming soon
Dairy Cattle DUNF — The link will be available in July 2023
Species Judges — 2023 Judge Information Coming Soon

Dairy Goats

Open Division
- 2023 Competition Information - coming soon
Junior Division
- 2023 Competition Information - coming soon
Dairy Goats DUNF — The link will be available in July 2023
Species Judges — 2023 Judge Information Coming Soon

Dog Show

Junior Division
- 2023 Competition Information - coming soon
- Dog Online Entry Tutorial
- PLEASE READ: 2022 Information for entering dogs online

Horse Show

Draft Horses — 2023 Information Coming Soon
Junior 4-H Horse Division
- Learn more here: https://ohio4h.org/events/ohio-state-fair-junior-horse-show
- The deadline to enter the junior horse show is July 1 at 1 p.m.

Judging Teams

2023 Competition Information - coming soon

Llamas

Junior and Open Division
- 2023 Competition Information - coming soon
Species Judges — 2023 Judge Information Coming Soon

Poultry

Open Division
- 2023 Competition Information - coming soon
Junior Division
- 2023 Competition Information - coming soon
Poultry DUNF — The link will be available in July 2023
Species Judges — 2023 Judge Information Coming Soon

Rabbits

Open Division
- 2023 Competition Information - coming soon
Junior Division
- 2023 Competition Information - coming soon
Species Judges — 2023 Judge Information Coming Soon

Sheep

Open Division
- 2023 Competition Information - coming soon
Junior Division
- 2023 Competition Information - coming soon
Guys and Gals Commentary
Sheep DUNF — The link will be available in July 2023
Species Judges — 2023 Judge Information Coming Soon

Swine

Open Division
- 2023 Competition Information - coming soon
Junior Division
- 2023 Competition Information - coming soon
Swine DUNF — The link will be available in July 2023
Species Judges — 2023 Judge Information Coming Soon

Exhibitor Information and Supplemental Forms

All below documents will be updated by mid-May.

4-H Project Enrollment for showing animals at the Ohio State Fair
Health Regulations
Livestock Tampering
Outstanding Breeding Exhibitor
Outstanding Market Exhibitor
Record Book Contest
Rules, Regulations & Exhibitor Information
All exhibitors who win more than $499 in premiums must use this link to visit the new Supplier website to complete appropriate forms. In the past, exhibitors were required to submit Vendor Information Forms and W-9 forms; this is the new process. If not completed, your premium payment cannot be processed.)

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 in 2022. 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.

Golf Cart Permits

Golf Cart Permits will be pre-purchase ONLY in 2023. No golf cart permits will be available for sale upon arrival at the Ohio State Fair. Updated golf cart regulations will be available soon.

Competition Results

Archived competition results