Livestock Exhibitor

Contact University of Idaho Extension, Canyon County at 208-459-6003 or email canyoncounty@uidaho.edu if you have questions about:

• Participating in 4-H
• 4-H Family and Consumer Sciences (FCS) Projects

Contact the Canyon County Fair at 208-455-8500 or email livestock@canyoncountyfair.org if you have questions about:

• Showing livestock at fair
• Junior Livestock Program

Market Livestock Sale Committee

• All livestock sale, add-on, and buyer questions can be answered by the Market Livestock Sale Committee by calling Sam Shaw at 208-880-9044.

Each exhibitor must be a member, in good standing, of the Fair Junior Livestock Program, a 4-H club, or FFA chapter in Canyon County. Exhibitors must declare their organization at declaration and Fair entry deadlines. All exhibitors must read and abide by the IAFE Code of Show Ring Ethics.

Canyon County Fair Junior Livestock Program

• Youth must be 8 to 18 years old as of January 1 of the current year and must reside in Canyon County.
• To participate in Junior Livestock Program, contact the Fair Office at 208-455-8500 or email livestock@canyoncountyfair.org.

4-H Participation

• An individual must be 8 to 18 years old at the beginning of the calendar year (January 1 of the current year).
• 4-H Cloverbuds (5 to 7 years old on January 1, current year) are eligible to exhibit small animals in the showmanship class only. This class is participation only and applies to cavies, dogs (that weight less than the exhibitor), mini goats, poultry, pygmy goats, and rabbits. Cloverbuds may not be involved in large animal projects, competitive situations, and projects involving firearms or motorized vehicles.
• To participate in 4-H and/or 4-H Family and Consumer Sciences (FCS), contact University of Idaho Extension, Canyon County at 208-459-6003 or email canyon@uidaho.edu

FFA Participation

• FFA members must have completed one year of Ag Science Education to be an exhibitor at the Fair.
• To participate in FFA contact your high school FFA advisor.

Eligibility Exceptions

• Ada County 4-H and FFA members may exhibit market livestock, breeding livestock (except horse) and small animals.
• FFA members that are Canyon County residents (but not members of a Canyon or Ada County FFA chapter) and denied entry to the Owyhee County Fair may exhibit market livestock, breeding livestock and small animals. Proof of Canyon County residency and proof of official denial from the Owyhee County Fair are required.

2027 Livestock Show – Important Dates and Deadlines

Information is tentative and subject to change

Tag Requests open November 1, 2026

• Request tags at https://www.canyoncountyfair.org/tag/
• NEW FOR 2027 – NO DESIGNATED TAG PICK UP DAYS
• Tags are available for pick-up Monday – Friday, 8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m., beginning Monday, January 4
• LOCATION: Fair Office, The Center, 110 County Fair Avenue, Caldwell
• TAG PICK-UP DEADLINES
  • Market Beef – Wednesday, February 24
  • Market Swine – Wednesday, April 14
  • Market Goat / Market Sheep – Wednesday, May 12
• Please request only the number of tags necessary for animals that will be officially declared for the 2027 Canyon County Fair.
• Questions? Contact the Canyon County Fair Office at 208-455-8500 or livestock@canyoncountyfair.org. 

Declaration information for: Market Beef, Market Broilers, Market Goat, Market Sheep, Market Swine, Horse

Market Beef

• Deadline to pick up tags is February 24, 2027 by 4:00 p.m.
• Tags are available for pick-up Monday – Friday, 8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m., beginning Monday, January 4 at The Center (110 County Fair Avenue, Caldwell, ID
• Online declarations open January 11, 2027
• Declaration Instructions
• Deadline to submit online declaration is February 24, 2027 at 11:59 p.m.
• Market Animal Care and Wellness Compliance – Submit for Each Animal Declared

Market Broilers

• Deadline to reserve chicks is March 31, 2027. Call Dunlap Hatchery directly, 208-459-9088
• Chicks must be picked up from Dunlap Hatchery on June 2, 2027
• Fair entries are open June 1 – 15, 2027 – Submit Online
• Fair Entry Instructions
• Market Animal Care and Wellness Compliance – Submit one per Pen

Market Goat

• Deadline to pick up tags is May 12, 2027 by 4:00 p.m.
• Tags are available for pick-up Monday – Friday, 8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m., beginning Monday, January 4 at The Center (110 County Fair Avenue, Caldwell, ID
• Online declarations open April 16, 2027
• Declaration Instructions
• Deadline to submit online declaration is May 12, 2027 at 11:59 p.m.
• Market Animal Care and Wellness Compliance – Submit for Each Animal Declared

Market Sheep

• Deadline to pick up tags is May 12, 2027 by 4:00 p.m.
• Tags are available for pick-up Monday – Friday, 8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m., beginning Monday, January 4 at The Center (110 County Fair Avenue, Caldwell, ID
• Online declarations open April 16, 2027
• Declaration Instructions
• Deadline to submit online declaration is May 12, 2027 at 11:59 p.m.
• Market Animal Care and Wellness Compliance – Submit for Each Animal Declared

Market Swine

• Deadline to pick up tags is April 14, 2027 by 4:00 p.m.
• Tags are available for pick-up Monday – Friday, 8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m., beginning Monday, January 4 at The Center (110 County Fair Avenue, Caldwell, ID
• Online declarations open March 12, 2027
• Declaration Instructions
• Deadline to submit online declaration is April 14, 2027 at 11:59 p.m.
• Market Animal Care and Wellness Compliance – Submit for Each Animal Declared

Horse

• Online declarations open February 1, 2027
• Declaration Instructions
• Deadline to submit online declaration is April 14, 2027 at 11:59 p.m.

2027 Tentative Livestock Show Schedule (per species)

2026 Livestock Exhibitor Guide

The complete 2026 Livestock Exhibitor Guide is now available. Please continue to check back periodically for any updates or additional information.

What is a Bucket Calf? A Bucket Calf is an orphan or newborn calf acquired when it is one (1) to ten (10) days old. The calf may be male or female, and may be a beef calf or a dairy calf. The calf is started on a bottle/bucket and nipple. No calves that are nursing should be used for the Bucket Calf Program.

What is the Bucket Calf Program? The Bucket Calf Program is designed to introduce youth ages 5 to 7 years of age, to beef and dairy cattle. By allowing younger children the experience of working with a bucket calf, youth exhibitors are provided an opportunity to become comfortable with their own cattle project, working with a smaller, less intimidating size animal as it grows.

This program is designed to be a short-term project with calves acquired in the spring and finalized with showing them at the Canyon County Fair. The Bucket Calf Program will follow the general rules, livestock health requirements, and information outlined in the Livestock Exhibitor Guide.

Requirements for entering a Bucket Calf at the Canyon County Fair:

• Participants must be Canyon County residents and be between the ages of 5 and 7 as of January 1 of the current year.
• Enroll in the Canyon County Fair Bucket Calf Program – Submit Online
• Submit Livestock Entry Online: Entry link will become available on June 1 and closes June 15.
• Calves must be born between February 15 and April 15 of the current year.
• Exhibitors participating in the Bucket Calf Program are limited to showing one bucket calf at Fair.

Bucket Calf Show

• Date: Thursday, July 29
• Time: 5:30 p.m.
• Location: D&B Show Ring located in O’Connor Field House (2207 Blaine Street, Caldwell, ID 83605)

• 2027 Horse Show Patterns will become available July 1.
• Canyon County Horse Show Classes & Rules

• The Market Livestock Sale is Saturday, July 31 at 10:00 a.m. in the Fair Building located at 111 S. 22nd Avenue, Caldwell, ID 83605
• Market Livestock Sale Buyers are invited to a breakfast sponsored by the Caldwell/Nampa Chambers of Commerce Agri-Business Committee on Saturday, July 31 from 8:30 – 10:00 a.m. in O’Connor Field House located at 2207 Blaine Street, Caldwell, ID 83605. Buyers should enter the Fair through Gate 1 (red ticket booth) on S 22nd Avenue.
• All livestock sale, add-on, and buyer questions can be answered by the Market Livestock Sale Committee by calling Stephanie Malson at 208-996-9981.
• 2026 Market Livestock Sale Supporters
• 2025 Market Livestock Sale Supporters
• Market Livestock Sale Add-On Form