Douglas County Fair Updates

Learn about 4-H project name changes, project updates, and what project exhibits would look like.

2026 Douglas County Fair Book

Fair Entry How To Guide and Fair Entry Link - Click Here for How To Guide and Entry Link

Fair Entry Deadline
Fair Entry Deadline -  11:59 p.m., June 30 
Be sure to read below for county fair updates and clarifications!

Project Updates

2026 4-H Contest Day - The 4-H contests below will occur on Sunday, July 12, from 12:30 - 3:00 p.m. on the Douglas County Fairgrounds.
These contests will not take place during the Douglas County Fair.

Contest Include: Poultry Judging | Photography Judging | Horticulture Judging
Consumer Judging | Livestock Skill-a-Thon | Reading Contest
For information about these contest, contact Nickie Harding at nharding@ksu.edu

Douglas County FAIR ENTRY is a separate registration process than your 4-H Enrollment. Please note below:

4-H Enrollment/Project Enrollment Deadline | May 1 - 4-H’ers must establish project enrollment by 11:59 pm, May 1, to be eligible to exhibit in those project areas at the 2026 Douglas County Fair. This deadline is for all 4-H members. 4-H membership is open all year. However, after May 1, 4-H’ers who join or have an enrollment status that is still pending will not be eligible to exhibit in the 4-H division at the 2026 Douglas County Fair.

4-H Fair Entry | May 6 - June 30 - Beginning May 6, the FAIRENTRY system will begin accepting 4-H fair entries for the 2026 Douglas County Fair. All fair entries must be submitted by 11:59 p.m. on June 30. A users guide will be posted to assist with making your 2026 Douglas County Fair entries.

Please refer to the 2026 Douglas County Fair Book for all updates and 4-H project entry clarification and requirements.

Project Update:

Foods and Nutrition - Refer to the 2026 Douglas County Fair Book for all rules/requirements, classes, and updates.

Highlight:
There will be no Whole Wheat Class beginning in 2026.

Woodworking - Refer to the 2026 Douglas County Fair Book for all rules/requirements, classes, and updates.

Highlight:
There will no longer be a Repaired or Refurbished Furniture class option starting in 2026. Any items that would have been entered into this class should now be entered in Away With Waste.

Reminder: Please be sure to select Away With Waste as a project in your 4-H Online enrollment account by May 1.

Dairy Goats - The Dairy Goat Show has been moved to Wednesday, July 29 immediate following the Dairy Cattle Show(11:00 a.m.) in the Open Pavilion.

Horse - All equine must have a completed 4-H Horse ID form and photos submitted to the Extension Office by the official June 1 deadline and a negative coggins test within 12 months of the show date. See details below under the Horse Tab.

Poultry - PT testing will be Saturday, July 11 from 7:30 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. Registration to come.

All birds intended for exhibition must be tagged with a leg band identifier. Tags may be purchased at the Extension Office.

All other Livestock Updates/Reminders - See below and refer to the 2026 Douglas County Fair Book for all rules/requirements, classes, and updates.

Beef

Horse

All horse exhibitors must submit their Horse ID Papers by June 1 to the Extension Office to exhibit at the Douglas County Fair and/or Kansas State Fair.

First year 4-H Horse exhibitors must complete the Horse Safety Video and Quiz by June 1 if you intend to exhibit at the Douglas County Fair and/or Kansas State Fair.

Horse exhibitors must present a Negative Coggins Test within twelve months of the show date at show check-in.

Poultry

ALL POULTRY (except waterfowl & pigeons) are required to show proof of being P-T clean by one of the following:

Originate from a certified U.S. Pullorum-Typhoid clean flock if coming from a hatchery or out of state (certificate required at check-in).
Show proof of negative test at check-in of the county fair. Blood test must be within 90 days of show.

Pullorum-Typhoid testing will be held Saturday, July 11 from 7:30 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. on the Northeast side of the Community Buidling. Register for your testing spot by July 1 at: https://bit.ly/2026PoultryTesting

2026 County Fair Update: All birds intended for exhibition must be tagged with a leg band identifier. Tags are avaliable at the Extension Office.

Livestock General Rules Update

Douglas County Animal Leasing Option

Douglas County 4-H will allow the leasing of animal science projects to encourage a greater number of members to have the opportunity to experience the showing of livestock projects. This program is designed to make it possible for a 4-H member to have a non-owned 4-H project that can be exhibited at the Douglas County Fair.

Please refer to the Animal Lease Fact Sheet and Animal Lease Form below.

Animal Lease Fact Sheet

Animal Lease Form

Ribbon Premiums for 2026
Purple - $5
Blue - $5
Red - $4
White - $3