RULES

ELIGIBILITY

The Johnston County Youth Livestock Show & Sale is open to all youth ages 5 (as of January 1 of the show year) through high school who are either enrolled in Johnston County Schools, whose primary residence is in Johnston County, or a regularly participating member of a chartered Johnston County 4-H Club. 

4-H Online enrollment, along with medical and media releases, must be completed to participate.

An eligibility form must be completed in March to participate in the Show & Sale.

SALE PROCEDURES

1.     All participants, with the exception of those exhibiting only heifers, must sell one animal in the ring with buyers making prompt payment to Johnston County Youth Livestock.

2.     Heifers will not be sold.

3.     Hogs, lambs and goats may be taken home or sold in truckload lot.

4.     All swine, lamb, steer and goat exhibitors must designate one animal from their entry to be sold for donation. If no designation is made, the show manager will make the designation.

5.     All Grand and Reserve Champions selected will automatically be the designated sale animal for that exhibitor.

6.     Any market animal that will be taken back home must be declared at weigh-in.

7.     Maximum packer weight for hogs is 300 pounds. Hogs weighing more than this will be sold at 300 pounds times support price.

8.     Any lamb or goat weighing less than 50 pounds will not be included in truckload sale and must be taken home by exhibitor.

GENERAL RULES

1.     Market animals must be weighed in before the show.

2.     An exhibitor may own two lambs, goats or hogs in the same class but must allow a second registered participant to show the second animal.

3.     Exhibitors are strongly encouraged to fit their own animals.

4.     During the show no adults except designated ring committee members will be allowed in the ring.

5.     Each exhibitor or buyer assumes full liability for sickness, death or injury to animals. The exhibitor is responsible until the animal is sold, returned and properly tied or penned in the barn, at which point the buyer assumes responsibility.

6.     All identification materials for the animals (except official USDA Scrapie tags or Got to be NC tags) are supplied by the Show & Sale.

7.     All animals must meet the requirements of the show to be exhibited.

8.     Registration for the Show & Sale will be November 1, 2023 for all animals. Tagging will be conducted: Steers-December, Heifers and Mkt. Hogs-January Mkt. Goats and Lambs-February

Animals must be in the care and possession of the exhibitor by the tagging date for that species and must remain so until the Show & Sale. Violation will result in disqualification of that animal.

9.     Any participant attempting to remove an animal from the barn that has been sold to a packer will forfeit all show/sale monies and possibly be barred from future participation.

SHOWMANSHIP-BEEF, SWINE, LAMB AND GOAT

1.     Showmanship for each species is only open to youth who registered an animal of that species in the Show & Sale.

2.     All showmanship divisions are: 5 to 7- Cloverbud, 8 to 11- Junior, 12 to 14-Intermediate, and 15 to 18- Senior.

3.     Participants must show their own animal in Showmanship.

4.     Appropriate attire, 4-H Chevrons or FFA jacket and proper show equipment is required. Shirts and jeans should be neat and clean.  No ball caps.

ACHIEVEMENT- FOR YOUTH 5-7

Youth under age 8 as of January 1 of the show year will only participate in educational classes for lambs, goats or hogs.

1.     Each child in this category will be allowed to sell his or her animal at auction. Record Books and thank-you letters will be required.

2.     Each child in this category will be recognized with a ribbon of Achievement for meeting the educational objectives.

Tagging Dates for 2025 Show

Please record these dates and have your animals ready for tagging!

Steers- December 1

Heifers- January 15 (call if you want a tag, but heifers must be in place.)

Market Hogs- January 2 & 3

Lambs & Goats- February 3 & 4

HEIFER RULES

1.     Open to all beef breeds of cattle.

2.     Heifers that have farm ear tags or tattoos do not need a show tag.

3.     Heifers will be split into classes based on their age. Heifers must be less than 24 months of age at show day and must have never calved.

4.     Participants may show two heifers.

5.     Heifers must be thoroughly broken to halter. The ringmaster may dismiss any heifer from the ring which, in his opinion, poses a threat to the other animals or exhibitors. Dismissed animals are immediately disqualified from the class and will not be placed or receive premiums.

6.     Premiums for heifers are:1st and 2nd place-$75, other placings-$50.

7.     A trophy or banner plus $75 will be awarded the Champion Heifer. A trophy or banner plus $50 will be awarded to the Reserve Champion Heifer.

STEER RULES

1.     Steers must weigh 900 lbs or more to be considered for Champion.

2.     Steers with horns exceeding one inch are not allowed. Stags are also not allowed.

3.     Steers must be thoroughly broken to halter. The ringmaster may dismiss any steer from the ring which, in his opinion, poses a threat to the other animals or exhibitors. Dismissed animals are immediately disqualified from the class and will not be placed. Dismissed steers will be auctioned but will remain tied in the barn.

4.   Steers will be weighed and divided into equally sized classes. All steers will be graded.

MARKET HOG RULES

1.     Hogs must be barrows or gilts.

2.     Each exhibitor is limited to two swine entries.

3.     Hogs will be weighed and divided into equal sized classes.

4.     Oils or powders used to fit hogs must be washed off before animals go on the packer truck. Market price will be forfeited.

5.     Hogs must weigh 220 pounds or more to be considered for Champion.

MARKET GOAT RULES

1.     Goats must be wethers or does with all baby teeth in place on tag-in day.

2.     Each exhibitor is limited to two goat entries.

3.     Goats will be weighed and divided into equal sized classes.

4.     Goats must weigh 50 pounds or more to be considered for Champion.

5.     Goats weighing less than 50 pounds will not be included on truckload sale, and must be taken home by the exhibitor.

MARKET LAMB RULES

1.     Lambs must be wethers or ewes with all baby teeth in place on tag-in day.

2.     Each exhibitor is limited to two lamb entries.

3.     Lambs will be weighed and divided into equal sized classes.

4.     Lambs must weigh 75 pounds or more to be considered for Champion.

5.     Lambs weighing less than 50 pounds will not be included on truckload sale, and must be taken home by the exhibitor.