It is never too early to prepare for the 2016 Stanislaus County Fair especially for livestock exhibitors who can already expect changes and updates in their department.

Beginning with the upcoming fair, all livestock and small animal showmanship division winners will not be eligible to move up to the next class for competition. Additionally, for all breeding animals, if the number of entries confirmed at Fair check-in totals 12 or more animals for a specific breed, that breed will be judged as a specified breed class and not combined in other breed classes.

Entry fees for livestock are as follows:  $15 per entry and all entries must be submitted online (excludes horse). The deadline for entries is no later than 5 p.m. on May 12. Exhibitor, leader, and advisor passes for the Fair this year will be a photo ID.  The exhibitor pass can be purchased at a cost of $10.  Parents with entries in livestock are eligible to purchase a 10-day punch card for admission to the fair at a cost of $30 (limit of no more than two per family). 

Ethics and animal welfare training for livestock exhibitors is strongly recommended prior to the 2016 Stanislaus County Fair. Training for livestock exhibitors will be a requirement in order to participate at the 2016 Fair.

Livestock Exhibitors, 4-H leaders and FFA advisors (if eligible) must submit their photo for Fair admission pass.  All photos for a club or chapter must be uploaded to a flash drive (USB) and submitted by the Club Leader or FFA Advisor to the Livestock Office no later than 5 p.m. on May 12.

Other details for livestock entry fees and passes for the 2016 fair include:

·         Insurance required for Exhibitors showing Horse and Livestock.

·         Breeding sheep receive on July 5, judged on July 6, and released July 7.

·         Market Meat Goat weight limits is 60 pounds to 105 pounds. 

·         All small animal entries (rabbits, poultry, cavy, dog) must be submitted online only – www.stancofair.com (no paper entries accepted – exception for replacement heifer applications and entry only).

·         4-H & FFA entry deadline is no later than 5 p.m. on May 26. 

·         Exhibitors extended deadline is no later than 5 p.m. on May 26th by 5 p.m. and will only be accepted with a $250 entry fee paid in full (online entry only).

The Junior Livestock Judging and Schedule will include Master Showmanship, which will be judged in the Thurman Pavilion and the Linhares Dairy Barn (see schedule) on July 15. The Master Showmanship will start at 2 p.m. for horses in the paddock.  Small animals will start at 3 p.m. followed by the large animal showmanship (horse will start first at 2 p.m.). The Livestock Awards Assembly (including Dairy awards) will be at 10 a.m. on July 17.

The 2016 Stanislaus County Fair Auctions and Sale schedules include the 49th Annual Replacement Heifer Sale at 6 p.m. on July 8, the 52nd Annual Junior Livestock Auction (sale ring 1) at 8 a.m. on July 16 starting with the rabbits, poultry, and followed by market hogs, and the 52nd Annual Junior Livestock Auction (sale ring 2) at 8 a.m. on July 16 starting with the market beef, market goats, and followed by market sheep.

The Junior Livestock Auction will be a terminal sale for the 2016 Fair.  Exhibitors will have the option to declare their market animal not to sell at auction, with a fee charged at a cost of $50 (Supreme and Reserve Supreme Champion, Grand and Reserve Grand Champions are not eligible to declare and must sell at auction).

The 2016 Stanislaus County Fair will open on July 8 for a 10-day run.