Thursday, March 12, 2026
Important Dates
- October 1, 2025 – Registration Opens
- November 7, 2025 - Registration Closes for Cattle
- November 10, 2025 - Selecting Animals for 4-H Livestock Show Zoom Meeting from 6:00-7:00 p.m.
- November 12, 2025 – On Site Date for Heifers and Steers
- December 15, 2025 – Registration Closes for Hogs, Goats, & Lambs
- December 18, 2025 - Livestock Care Clinic
- January 9, 2026 – Registration Fee Due
- January 9, 2026 – Application for Sandra L. Boyd Livestock Scholarship Due
- January 11, 2026 – On Site Date for Hogs, Goats, and Lambs
- February 13, 2026 – Program Cover Designs Due
- March 6, 2026 – Photos Due for 4-H Farm Friends Photography Contest
- May 1, 2026 – Animal Books & Thank You Letters Due to Extension Office
Important Changes for 2026
- All species will be modeled how cattle was in 2025. The showmanship classes will be the same but if youth have a male animal they will show it in the regular market class, and if they have a female animal they will show it in the breeding class.
- Youth have the option of opting out of the auction. They can choose to do the project only and not raise funds, or they can choose to raise funds, not participate in the auction, and turn collected money in by the following Monday after the show.
- Youth have the option of showing multiple species (previously only 2). However, they can only take one animal through the auction unless they place as a champion with multiple species.
Requirements
- Pay $20 registration fee per child per species.
- Be an enrolled member in 4-HOnline for 2026 year.
- Register for and attend ONE parent information clinic if this is your child’s first or second year showing (youth are welcome to attend but it is not required). Location: N.C. Cooperative Extension, Beaufort County Center 155 Airport Rd. Washington.
- Have animals on site by the on site dates.
- Complete a livestock animal book and turn in with thank you notes by the May 1, 2026.
- Have child attend a care/showmanship clinic if they have not shown competitively for at least 3 years (showing as a cloverbud does not count).
- County Care Clinic - Thursday, December 18 at 6:00 p.m. (Zoom) Register
- NC Showmanship Clinic for Sheep & Goats - Saturday, February 14 (Kinston) - Website for More Info & Registration
- County Showmanship Clinic - Saturday, February 21 from 3:00-4:00 p.m. Register
Required Animal Books
- Cloverbud (4-H Age 5-7)
- Junior (4-H Age 8-12)
- Senior (4-H Age 13-18)
Financial Assistance
Resources
- 2026 Rules & Regulations (Highlighted rules indicate there was a change from previous year).
- Need Help Finding an Animal
- Care & Showmanship Booklets
More information coming soon!
