General Livestock Rules

Read department pages for rules applicable to specific livestock species.

Youth Classes/Junior Exhibitors shall be Delaware residents who are 21 years old and younger as of January 1st of the fair year sought to be entered. JR. Exhibitors that show in the Jr. Show are also eligible to show in the Open Show. Active Delaware 4-H members are permitted to exhibit in open and junior livestock shows and in the horse department regardless of residency. 

PLEASE REFER TO THE INDIVIDUAL SPECIES SECTION OF OUR WEBSITE FOR SPECIFIC SHOW TIMES AND DATES ALONG WITH THE REQUIRED ENTRY FEE INFORMATION FOR SPECIFIC RULES AND SHOW TIMES.

Junior exhibitors must show their own animals in the Junior Show unless there is an emergency.  No exceptions!  No assistance in the show ring at any time in all junior livestock classes, except for assistance provided by a designated ring steward/master.  Livestock ear tag numbers will be checked before each exhibitor and animal enter the show ring.

ALL Showmen and/or Junior Exhibitors will wear clean, neat, appropriate show attire.  Neat, clean jeans or slacks are recommended along with a clean shirt with some type of sleeve.  SHORTS OF ANY TYPE ARE NOT PERMITTED to be worn during a show.  Exhibitors are prohibited from wearing shirts with inappropriate messages and/or logos.  OPEN-TOED SHOES ARE NOT PERMITTED to be worn during a show.  Work-type boots or sneakers are recommended for safety purposes.  The judge will deduct for inappropriate show attire as this distracts from the overall appearance of the show.  Questions regarding this policy should be directed to the Superintendent.

Animals may arrive on Thursday, July 17th starting at 8:00AM, and must be in place by 8:00AM Saturday, July 19th. 

ANIMALS MAY NOT LEAVE THE GROUNDS BEFORE 1:00 A.M. ON SUNDAY, JULY 27th or premiums will be forfeited.  Livestock Exhibitors are permitted vehicle access until 1pm each day to make deliveries.  Due to the high volume of exhibitor vehicles unloading items, the Fair staff ask that Livestock Exhibitors unload items as quickly as possible and return them back to the designated off fairgrounds parking areas.  

Animals must have been owned and cared for by exhibitor 60 days prior to the Fair.  All animals positively must be in show condition or will not be accepted.  In Fitting or Showmanship, the exhibitor must show their own animal and must also be entered in an open or junior class show.

Please read carefully all health requirements as they apply to all livestock.  If there are any questions regarding health requirements, contact the State Veterinarian, State Department of Agriculture, Dover, Delaware.

Care will be taken to protect the animals from injury, but the Delaware State Fair will not in any way hold themselves responsible for accidents, loss and damage by water, fire, theft or otherwise, whatever may be the cause or extent of the damage sustained.  All animals are entered at the owner’s risk.

If, in the opinion of the judge, an entry does not merit a premium, then no premium shall be paid.  Further he is empowered to limit the top award in any class to a second, third, or lower premium if in his opinion the quality of the class so merits.  The Superintendent and Assistant Superintendent shall have the right to disqualify any exhibitor for infringement of the rules. 

JUNIOR LIVESTOCK AUCTION

The exhibitor of the Grand Champion and Reserve Champion Market Steer/Market Hogs/Market Goats/Market Lambs is strongly encouraged to place their animals in the “Junior Livestock Auction”. Sale will be held Thursday, July 26th at 6:30 p.m. in the Kent Building. Once an animal is donated to an organization at the Junior Livestock Auction, it may not be bought back until the animal is sold at public auction.

Steers (Junior & Open Class) will be judged as finished and ready for slaughter. Dairy Beef accepted.

Junior exhibitors may show one Market Lamb per class but are limited to two market lamb entries in the Junior Livestock Auction. A limited number of lambs will be sold at the auction. The Judge makes this decision.

If in the sole opinion of the Show Judges an animal does not meet minimum standards of quality, said animals will not be allowed in the Junior Livestock Auction.

WEIGH-IN

All exhibitors must be present or have someone designated to be present so their animals can be weighed. ALL ANIMALS will be weighed on Saturday, July 21st beginning at 8:00 a.m. the Kent Building. Animals will be weighed in the following order – lambs, goats, market hogs and barrows, and steer. Weight classes will be assigned at the Fair. Steer exhibitors should enter the weight division they think their steer will fit.

LIVESTOCK EXTRAVAGANZA

All 1st and 2nd place market animals in the Beef Cattle, Meat Goat, Sheep and Swine departments will participate in the Livestock Extravaganza which will be held Tuesday, July 24th at 8:00 p.m. in the Kent Building. Grand Champion and Reserve Champion in each species will be announced at that time.

BARN MEETING

ALL EXHIBITORS (beef cattle, dairy cattle, goat, horses & ponies, sheep and swine) must be present or represented. Barn meetings will be held on Saturday, July 21st at 11:30 a.m. in the Kent Building.