Livestock Events

The Junior and Open Livestock Shows are a highlight of the Illinois State Fair and provide a showcase for some of the best livestock in the country. Livestock competitions include beef cattle, dairy cattle, goats, dairy goats, pygmy goats, sheep, swine, poultry and rabbits. Information about the Land of Lincoln Breeders award and all the livestock health requirements are included in the link.

Livestock Events – Department Specific Information

Special Notice: For the 2025 Illinois State Fair, all livestock exhibitors will be assessed a $9.50 supply chain surcharge at the time of checkout in ShoWorks. This surcharge will be used to partially cover the increased costs associated with stripping and re-bedding livestock showrings around the Fairgrounds.

With animal disease outbreaks affecting multiple species, biosecurity measures are increasingly important. The shavings used in the livestock rings are often sourced from countries that have been subject to tariffs on imports into the United States announced in 2025, and confusion and uncertainty have led to increased prices. The budget for the 2025 Illinois State Fair was approved and appropriated over a year ago, and the Fair and Illinois Department of Agriculture do not have sufficient funding to be able to absorb the cost of the re-bedding.The Department is working with livestock industry associations to find sponsors or donors to cover the remainder of the cost. In the event that the supply chain surcharge fee exceeds the Department’s costs for these biosecurity measures, any excess will be reinvested in the livestock shows.

We appreciate your understanding and look forward to seeing you at the 2025 Illinois State Fair!

Notice to Poultry Exhibitors: Entries are paused until June 11, 2025, due to the ongoing suspension on the exhibition or sale of poultry in Illinois.