4-H/FFA Fair Information

Everything you need to know in preparation for the Big Sky Country State Fair

*Fair information is uploaded and updated April-June for the current year

SAVE THE DATES: 4-H/FFA Fair Events will be July 10-20, 2025

On this Page: 

• Fair Schedules 
• Exhibitor Fairbook (Fair and 4-H/FFA Exhibitor Rules, divisions/classes you can enter and compete in, etc)
• How to register 4-H/FFA youth exhibitors for Fair
• Requirements to register for Fair (record books, interviews, 4-H/FFA project requirements)
• Fair Admission (wristbands and passes)
• Fairgrounds Parking Procedures and Policies during Fair
• Indoor Project Silent Auction
• Market Livestock Sale & Buyer Information
• 4-H Promotional Booth & Club Displays
• Family Fun Night Dance!

Big Sky Country State Fair 4-H/FFA Events Schedule and Information

•  2025 Full 4-H/FFA Fair Schedule (as of 05-12-25)
• 2025 4-H/FFA Livestock/Small Animal Events Schedule ONLY (as of 05-12-25)
• Fairgrounds Map

Registering for Fair

The 4-H/FFA Exhibitor Fairbook (linked below) contains ALL the exhibitor rules, divisions and classes you can enter, and the schedules for the 2025 4-H/FFA Fair. This document is CRUCIAL to navigating the next few months. You MUST utilize the Fairbook when registering your exhibits and animal projects to ensure you register correctly!

2025 4-H/FFA Exhibitor Fairbook

Need help making sure you are ready for Fair? Follow our Are You Ready For Fair Checklist

• 4-H/FFA Exhibitor Fair Registration will OPEN on Monday, May 19, 2025
• 4-H/FFA Exhibitor Fair Registration will CLOSE on Friday, June 20, 2025 at 5pm - ABSOLUTELY NO ENTRIES 
  ACCEPTED AFTER THE DEADLINE! NO EXCEPTIONS!!

When you are ready to register, use our online ShoWorks fair platform: 2025 Fair Registration Website 

• Click the red “Sign In” button, then select either Exhibitor (for one youth) or Quick Group (for families with multiple youth) from the drop-down menu.
  • **EVERYONE WILL CREATE A NEW ACCOUNT EACH YEAR
  • Exhibitor registration fees must be paid by June 25^th by 5pm (via card online through ShoWorks or we accept card/cash/check at the Extension Office)

Requirements to Enter into Fair

1: Turn In Completed Record Books to Office

DUE: Wednesday, June 25, 2025 BY 5pm

• My 4-H- One per youth, per year.
• Non-Animal Project Journal - if you are bringing a non-animal project to fair.
• Animal Project Journal - if you are bringing an animal project to fair.
• Project Workbook- Most all 4-H projects have a curriculum book issued through 4- H Office. (7 activities required each year)
  • Example Record Book and Record Book Video          

2. Interview in each Department you are entering. 

• Livestock/Small Animal (Dog/Cat included) and Horse Project Interviews:
  • Thursday, July 10, 2025 4pm-8pm in Exhibit Building #4 or Friday, July 11, 2025 4pm-8pm in Exhibit Building #4
  • Animal Projects Interview SignUp link: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C084DA9A92AABFE3-56192691-2025 
    • If you are planning to exhibit multiple Livestock species (sheep, beef, swine, goat, rabbit, poultry) you will only need to sign up for one interview slot and you will talk about all your livestock projects with one judge.
    • If you are in the Horse project, you will need to sign up for an additional and separate interview 
      slot from your livestock interview.
    • If you are in the Dog or Cat Project, you will need to sign up for an additional and separate 
      interview slot from any Horse and Livestock interviews you may have.
      • *2025 Change - Dog/Cat exhibitors will no longer have their Educational Poster judged during their project interview, but still must bring their posters to their interview to drop it off in the Exhibit Building.
• Indoor Project Interviews & Exhibit Judging:
  • 2025 Date & Location CHANGE: SUNDAY, July 13, 2025 12pm-5pm in Exhibit Building #4 - please plan accordingly
  • PROCEDURE CHANGE IN 2025 – All 4-H/FFA Indoor Project Exhibitors must pick-up their Exhibit Entry Tags PRIOR to their interviews/exhibit judging.
    • Tags will be available and must be picked up from the 4-H Office between July 7-July 11 (you’ll already be picking up your scored record books from the office during this time).
    • Entry tags must be securely attached to the appropriate exhibit upon arrival to your Interview
  • Indoor Projects Interview & Exhibit Judging SignUp link: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C084DA9A92AABFE3-55390514-2025 

    • Indoor Exhibits are judged, scored and awarded a ribbon based on point values. Check out the Indoor Exhibit Judging Rubrics for how those will be scored. *Note: static exhibits are scored separately from the interview and record books and does not factor into the overall project Composite Score.

      • General Indoor Exhibit
      • Baking/Cooking Exhibit
      • Cake Decorating Exhibit
      • Knitting/Crochet Exhibit
      • Leathercraft Exhibit
      • Photography Exhibit
      • Sewing Exhibit

3. Record Book & Interview Scoring Process

• Record Books: Upon turn-in of your Record Books, Project & Club leaders will sign, review and score your records based on completeness, content and project standards utilizing a record book rubric. This will be your Record Book score. 
  • What am I being scored on? Check out the Record Book scoring rubrics for your project area(s) below!
    • Livestock/Small Animal Project Record Book Rubric 
    • Horse Project Record Book Rubric
    • Dog/Cat Projects Record Book Rubric
    • Indoor Project(s) Record Book Rubric
    • Shooting Sports Project(s) Record Book Rubric
• Interviews: During the Project Interviews prior to Fair, a judge will evaluate members on their interview skills (eye contact, confidence, attire, ability to answer questions), their 4-H Year experience and project knowledge utilizing an interview rubric. This will be your Project Interview score. 
  • What am I being scored on? Check out the Project Interview Rubric below!
    • Project Interview Rubric
• Composite Score: The Record Book score (max points = 82) and the Project Interview score (max points = 48) will be totaled together for a Composite Score (max points = 130).
  • Members with a Composite Score of 110 points (85% or higher) will get nominated to be considered for a Project Award. Those nominated will be asked to re-turn in their completed Record Books in September for final review. Project Awards are presented at the end-of-year Awards Banquet.

4-H Seeking Community Members to be Project Interview Judges

Fair Admission

Discounted 4-H Youth Exhibitor Wristbands & 4-H Adult Week Passes - Available at the 4-H Extension Office and will continue to be sold through July 11^th.

4-H Prices are listed below:(cash, check or card accepted)

• 4-H Youth (exhibiting at fair) Week Wristbands = FREE (youth exhibitors will receive a green 4-H wristband to wear during fair week)
• 4-H Adult Week Wristbands = $20 each (immediate 4-H family members that will be at fair for the entire week will receive a green 4-H wristband to wear during fair week)
• Additional Youth (not exhibiting at fair) Week Wristband = $10 each

• Day-Passes for friends and extended family (grandparents, aunts/uncles, cousins, etc.) that come to support you during fair and Carnival Wristbands will be available for separate purchase through the Fairgrounds Website: Gallatin County Fairgrounds Tickets (etix.com)

Fairgrounds Parking

The Fairgrounds is very limited on parking during Fair, so please be mindful of the following policies:

2025 Policies:

• ALL exhibitors and spectators will need to park in the free general public lots, Tamarack (Gate A) and Oak St (Gate B). Both can be used to come in for shows, loading in supplies and such. The Tamarack Lot (Gate A) will be the one opening at 7am for early morning access and closer proximity to the showrings.
• ALL 4-H/FFA families will receive a FREE "Fast Pass" drop-off pass (Yellow Pass below) for use at West Oak (Gate C) when needed. This pass allows drive-in access to the livestock barns (i.e. to drop off supplies, feed, etc).  These passes only allow up to 2-hour parking/access to those areas until 10am when the gates close and the Fair opens to the public at 11am each day. Vehicles that are not moved out of the gated area by 10am will be towed.

• 4-H/FFA families with reserved RV camping spots ONLY:

  • Will receive two parking passes (Purple or Orange pass depending on your Camper location) per RV space rented. These passes will need to be filled out completely and left with each vehicle it is “registered” to. RV families may pick up RV parking passes from the Fairgrounds office when notified. Vehicles without these passes will be towed. 
  • Will be permitted to move onto the Fairgrounds beginning on Saturday, July 12^th. All RVs must be in place by no later than Monday, July 14^th at 6pm/ RVs will be allowed to leave the grounds at any time starting Sunday, July 20^th with attention to livestock transport trailers and load-out schedules.

  • FAQ: How do I get a Camping Spot? The Fairgrounds camping spots are handled by the Fairgrounds office. There is a waitlist for spots and that list grows longer and longer each year. It does not reset with each year unfortunately, so some families have been on the list for quite a few years. You can contact the fairgrounds to be put on the waiting list but they set reservations back in April. There is limited camping space/spots and the livestock leaders who oversee the barns are given priority spots. We apologize for the inconvenience. 

Silent Auction for Indoor Projects

If 4-H indoor project members would like to sell their indoor exhibit, exhibitors must declare their selected projects by Tuesday, July 15th at 1:00pm in the Indoor Exhibit Building.

• Members can enter up to FIVE exhibits into the Silent Auction. Items must have been judged and awarded a ribbon to qualify. 
• The Silent Auction bidding will run from Wednesday of Fair Week starting at 11am through Sunday of Fair Week ending at 5pm in the Indoor Exhibit Building. 

Market Livestock Auction Information - Friday, July 18, 2025

*The 2025 Market Sale will be a live, in-person ONLY sale. There will NOT be an online bidding component. 

4-H/FFA Market Sale Buyer Information Website

2025 Livestock Auction Schedule:

• 2:00pm – 6:00pm 4-H/FFA & Market Sale Buyers Check-In (near AgWest Tent)
• 3:00pm – 6:00pm 4-H/FFA Market Sale Buyers BBQ Served (Small Animal Tent).
  • 4-H families, to ensure there is enough food for our buyers, please plan to wait until 5pm to help yourself to the BBQ.
• 3:45pm 4-H Foundation Scholarship Winners Announced (AgWest Tent)
• 4:00pm – approx. 12:00am 4-H & FFA Livestock Market Sale (AgWest Tent)

Marketing Information and Resources:

• 2025 Save the Date - COMING SOON
• 2025 Buyer Invitation - COMING SOON
• Market Sale Buyers Guide - COMING SOON
  • Use Legal paper and printdouble sided on short edge and fold into trifold
• Proxy Buyer Form (Docusign)
• Proxy Buyer Form (printable)
• Add On Pledge Form (Google Form)
• Add On Form (printable)
• Market Photo Buyer Thank You Card (print on cardstock w/ market photo attached post-fair)

Booth Display Contest for Clubs and Individuals

2025 Fair Theme: "The MAGIC of Fair"

Booth Display set-up times (Exhibit Building #3):

• Monday, July 14 (9:00am - 12:00pm) and/or Tuesday, July 15 (8:00am - 12:00pm)

Divisions include:
1 - Best use of fair theme/4-H promotion by a club or project group
2 - Best use of fair theme/4-H promotion by an individual

4-H Promotional Booth

Please take a moment during fair to sit at our promotional booth in Exhibit Building #3. This booth is decorated to match our 4-H theme and has handouts and information to share with youth that are not currently enrolled in 4-H. SignUp COMING SOON

4-H Cafe Concessions Stand

4-H Family Fun Night Dance - Saturday Evening

Join our 4-H County Ambassadors & Teen Leaders on Saturday, July 19th from 6pm to 8:30pm under the AgWest Livestock Show Tent for a night of fun and dancing! Gallatin 4-H Ambassadors will be leading basic swing dance and line dance lessons before a free dance for all youth 4-H members!

2024 Big Sky Country State Fair Recap

Thank you to ALL of the Buyers that contributed to our 2024 Market Sale. We have remarkable 4-H 
youth who take pride in their projects. To see them rewarded for their work continually inspires us to create even more opportunities for them to learn and grow. Thank you for all that you do to ensure that our program has the resources to be strong & successful into the future. As a Market Livestock Committee, we want you to 
know how much we appreciate your outstanding support of our Gallatin County 4-H & FFA kids!

Click HERE to look inside the 2024 Thank You Tab!