Resources, Show Books, and Class Breakdowns
4-H LIVESTOCK EXHIBIT INFORMATION
Link to the latest Livestock email from 4-H
2026 Livestock Exhibit Guidelines
- 2025-2026 Livestock Birth, Ownership and Tattoo Dates for Illinois State Fair Junior Show - McHenry County will observe all Birth & Ownership dates set by the state, as well as Tattoo & Weigh-in dates for Beef & Sheep.
Illinois 4-H Livestock Issues
State and Federal laws dictate the production and exhibition of livestock. Know what's required of you as an Illinois 4-H livestock producer and exhibitor.
4-H LIVESTOCK AUCTION:
Volunteers on the Livestock Auction Committee are hard at work planning to offer a livestock auction this summer. While they have high expectations to move forward, the following is a message from the committee: "All NON-auction animals will need to either be sent to market or home."
If you have any questions, please contact your livestock superintendent. Click here to view the 4-H Livestock Auction showbook guidelines.
The livestock auction is another important aspect of exhibiting livestock at the fair. To help ensure a successful auction, please reach out to any potential buyers. A quick call, letter, or visit to the business or individual is encouraged. Please use the link below to download the auction brochure to help promote the auction.
2026 Livestock Auction Brochure
Please remember that 4-H members are responsible for the processing of their small animals that are sold in the 4-H Livestock Auction at the fair. Youth will need to communicate the information with their buyer.
As we have done in the past, we'll use Google Forms for the auction card.
The 2026 Auction Form needs to be completed by July 19.
Please submit one form for each animal you plan to sell in the auction. Livestock superintendents will record the animal’s weight and ear tag number during weigh-in at the fair.
YQCA - Youth for the Quality and Care of Animals
Required for Beef, Dairy, Goats, Sheep & Swine
All 4-H exhibitors of these animals will be required to certify in the YQCA program by attending either a face-to-face class (pre-registration required) or, certify online via the website. The cost for the face-to-face training is $3, and is $12 for the online version.
How to Get Certified: There are three ways to earn YQCA certification.
- Web-based training
- Instructor-led training (Trainings are not listed in any order. You need to scroll through the list to find McHenry County- Check your McHenry County 4-H Newsletter for 2026 In-Person Training Dates).
- Test-out
QAEC - Quality Assurance and Ethics Certification
Required for companion animals or Animal Science Projects one time
in a 4-H members career for each project area participating
Includes: Cats, Dogs, Horse, Poultry, Rabbit, Small Pet, and any Animal Science General Project
The Quality Assurance and Ethics training is still required for youth for horses, rabbits, poultry, dogs, cats, and small pets. You only need to take it once in your lifetime. Those who do not complete the training will be removed from the animal science project and will not be eligible to exhibit at county fairs.
Log into your ZSuite account to find the new QAEC training for companion animals can be found under the Clover Academy link on the left hand side.
Deadline for 2026 is COMING SOON.
