4-H Show Resources

• McHenry County 4-H 2026 Fairbook
• The 4-H Show Book includes everything needed to prepare for the fair, including schedules, exhibit guidelines, Cloverbud information, and updates for 2026. It also features links to Illinois 4-H project resources with requirements, scoresheets, and SPARK sheets.
• 4-H Show book Includes:
• 2026 4-H Fair Schedule
• General Project judging schedule
• General Project Exhibit Guidelines
• Livestock 4-H show schedule
• Livestock Exhibit Guidelines
• Cloverbud Showbook
• 2026 Exhibit Changes
• Projects that Require the Manual
• McHenry County 4-H Fair Entry Enrollment Link
• Family Instructions to Enroll in Exhibits: Step by step directions for enrolling projects on FairEntry.
• Schedule of Events for 2026 Fair
• 4-H Fair Checklist
• 2026 Fair FAQs
   
• Volunteer with your club at the 4-H Foodstand/Grandstand or 4-H Building.
  • 4-H Building monitor:Volunteer link here
  • 4-H Foodstand: Volunteer link here
  • 4-H Grandstand: Volunteer link here
  Volunteer with your Club or Family to help in the 4-H Building, Fair Set-up/take-down
• CODE OF CONDUCT – Please go over this,  and explain to your members and families that they agreed to the behavioral guidelines when they signed up.  Leaders will not have to collect signed forms.
• Absentee Form
• State Fair date – Friday, August 15 – See State Fair info on Illinois 4-H Website
• 2024 Award and Plaque Donors

Judges Resources:

• McHenry County 4-H Fairbook: 2026
• Illinois 4-H Project Resources, descriptions, judging sheets: Resources link HERE
• Example judging videos:  Video link HERE

General Project Information

• 2026 McHenry County 4-H General Project Exhibit Guidelines Judging dates are July 24, 25 (most projects) & Aug 3 (food, horticulture, crops).
• Illinois 4-H Project information: including show guidelines, resources, judging sheets, and more!
• McHenry County 4-H Project Report: Required for absentee projects ONLY.
• Cooking 101, 201, 301, 401 Curriculum: Foods exhibited in Cooking 101,201,301, & 401 do NOT need the activity mentioned in the original exhibit guidelines.
• Cat Entry Sheet: 2026 COMING SOON! 

Show Dates 2026

4-H Judging Dates: More Dates Coming Soon! 

• Beef Weigh in- JANUARY 31* from 9 am - 12 pm ( Reschedule or Snow date will be Feb. 14 from 9 am –12 pm)
  Beef Barn, McHenry County Fairgrounds
  11900 Country Club Rd, Woodstock
• State Fair County Date: Aug 15 - See IL state website for more information

Livestock Show Information

For information about 4-H Livestock shows in McHenry, please visit the Livestock Page. All of the information regarding showbooks, ownership deadlines, YQCA, QAEC, livestock auctions, auction cards, and auction brochures can be found here. 

For information about other shows, please visit: 

• Horse Show Information
• Dog Show Information