PEOTONE, Ill. — The sounds of livestock, the dedication of local youth, and generations of agricultural tradition will once again fill the show ring this August as University of Illinois Extension welcomes exhibitors, families, and community members to the Will County 4-H livestock shows in Peotone.
“Livestock has always had an important place in Will County’s history, and we are honored to carry forward that tradition through our 4-H livestock shows,” said Marilu Andon, Illinois Extension county director serving Grundy, Kankakee, and Will counties. “These youth are our future agricultural leaders, and we're proud of our longstanding partnership with the Will County Fairgrounds, which continues to provide a home for Will County 4-H livestock shows in Peotone.”
Andon also credited the volunteers who make the annual shows possible:
"These shows simply wouldn't happen without the incredible commitment of our volunteers. They work behind the scenes to allow us to bring our livestock families together in one place and create an outstanding experience for our youth. We are deeply grateful for their time and dedication."
Livestock shows give 4-H members the opportunity to showcase the knowledge, skills, and responsibility they have developed while raising and caring for their animals throughout the year, according to 4-H Youth Development Educator Emilia Elabed:
“More than a competition, these shows celebrate months of hard work and provide youth with valuable experience in animal and vet science, public speaking, sportsmanship, and leadership.”
The 2026 Will County 4-H Livestock Shows schedule includes:
- Sheep and Goat Show — 8:00 A.M. Wednesday, August 26
- Pigeon Show — 1:00 P.M. Wednesday, August 26
- Horse Show — 12:00 P.M. Thursday, August 27
- Swine Show — 3:30 P.M. Friday, August 28
- Beef Show — 6:00 P.M. Friday, August 28
- Poultry Show — 8:00 A.M. Saturday, August 29
- Livestock Auction — 5:00 P.M. Saturday, August 29
All events take place at the Will County Fairgrounds in Peotone, Illinois. Any schedule updates or weather-related changes will be posted to the event pages or announced on the local Illinois Extension Facebook page (@UIEgkw).
All 4-H shows are open to the public, so the community is encouraged to come out and support local youth. Admission to the Will County Fair is required.
“The county 4-H fair is one of our favorite traditions because it brings the community together to celebrate local youth," Elabed said. "We hope you'll stop by, meet local 4-H members, and see how 4-H is helping young people build the skills and confidence to become Beyond Ready for whatever comes next."
For more information on 4-H, visit go.illinois.edu/about4hgkw.
SOURCES: Marilu Andon, county director; Emilia Elabed, 4-H youth development educator; Barbara Dubravec, 4-H program coordinator.
WRITER: Anthony Warmack, communications coordinator.
MEDIA ACCESS: Image is available to download for media use. For specialist interviews, contact Anthony Warmack at warmacka@illinois.edu or 217-244-5813.
About Illinois 4-H: Illinois 4-H is the flagship youth development program of University of Illinois Extension, administered through the College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences. Through hands-on learning and life-changing experiences, Illinois 4-H prepares youth to be Beyond Ready — ready for college, career, military service, entrepreneurship, and more. Young people build confidence, leadership, and resilience as they explore interests from agriculture to computer science. Independent research and national surveys confirm the powerful outcomes of 4-H: participants are 40% more likely to pursue a college degree, twice as likely to obtain technical training, and two times more likely to serve in the military. With a legacy of cultivating leaders, Illinois 4-H continues to grow the next generation who are equipped to thrive in life and work today and beyond.
University of Illinois Extension develops educational programs, extends knowledge, and builds partnerships to support people, communities, and their environments as part of the state's land-grant institution. Extension serves as the leading public outreach effort for University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and the College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences in all 102 Illinois counties through a network of 27 multi-county units and over 500 staff statewide. Extension’s mission is responsive to eight strategic priorities — community, economy, environment, food and agriculture, health, partnerships, technology and discovery, and workforce excellence — that are served through five program areas — 4-H youth development, agriculture and agribusiness, community and economic development, health and community wellness, and natural resources, environment, and energy.