Everything you need to know in preparation for the Big Sky Country State Fair

Save the Dates: 4-H/FFA Fair Events will be July 12-21, 2024

*Fair information is uploaded and updated April-June for the current year

2024 Fair Theme: "THIS is 4-H Country"

2024 fair logo

Big Sky Country State Fair 4-H/FFA Events Schedule and Information

Registering for Fair

  • 2024 4-H/FFA Exhibitor Fairbook (PDF document coming soon)

    • The Fairbook includes rules, schedules, divisions and classes to enter into fair. 
  • Need help making sure you are ready for Fair? Follow our Are You Ready For Fair Checklist (DRAFT)
  • Register for Fair by Monday, June 17, 2024 by 5pm
    • When you are ready to register for fair, use our online ShoWorks fair platform: 2024 Fair Registration Website
      • Click the red “Sign In” button, then select either Exhibitor (for one kid) or Quick Group (for families with multiple youth) from the drop-down menu. **Everyone will create a new account for this year’s fair.
      • Exhibitor registration fees must be paid by June 26th by 5pm (via card online through ShoWorks or we accept card/cash/check at the Extension Office)

Requirements to Enter into Fair

1: Turn In Completed Record Books to Office

DUE: Wednesday, June 26, 2024 by 5pm

  • My 4-H- One per youth, per year.
  • Non-Animal Project Journal - if you are bringing a non-animal project to fair.
  • Animal Project Journal - if you are bringing an animal project to fair.
  • Project Workbook- Most all 4-H projects have a curriculum book issued through 4- H Office. (7 activities required each year)

2. Interview in each Department you are entering. 

  • Livestock/Small Animal (Dog/Cat included) and Horse Project Interviews:
    • Thursday, July 11, 2024 4pm-8pm 
    • Friday, July 12, 2024  4pm-8pm
      • Livestock & Small Animal Interview SignUp (link coming soon)
      • Dog/Cat Project Interview SignUp (link coming soon)
      • Horse Project Interview Up SignUp (link coming soon)
  • Indoor Project Interviews & Exhibit Judging:
    • Monday, July 15, 2024 9am-3pm
    • Indoor Project & Exhibit Interview SignUp (link coming soon)

3. Record Book & Interview Scoring Process

  • Record Books: Upon turn-in of your Record Books, Project & Club leaders will sign, review and score your records based on completeness, content and project standards utilizing a record book rubric. This will be your Record Book score. 
  • Interviews: During the Project Interviews prior to Fair, a judge will evaluate members on their interview skills (eye contact, confidence, attire, ability to answer questions), their 4-H Year experience and project knowledge utilizing an interview rubric. This will be your Project Interview score. 
  • Composite Score: The Record Book score (max points = 82) and the Project Interview score (max points = 48) will be totaled together for a Composite Score (max points = 130).
    • Members with a Composite Score of 105 points (80% or higher) will get nominated to be considered for a Project Award. Those nominated will be asked to re-turn in their completed Record Books in September for final review. Project Awards are presented at the end-of-year Awards Banquet.

4-H Seeking Community Members to be Project Interview Judges

Fair Admission

Discounted 4-H Youth Exhibitor Wristbands & 4-H Adult Week Passes - Available at the Extension Office and will continue to be sold through July 12th.

4-H Prices are listed below:(cash or check ONLY)

  • 4-H Youth (exhibiting at fair) Week Wristband = FREE (youth exhibitors will receive a green 4-H wristband to wear during fair week)
  • 4-H Adult Week-Passes = $20 each (immediate 4-H family members that will be at fair for the entire week)
  • Additional Youth (not exhibiting at fair) Week Wristband = $10 each
  • Day-Passes = $5 each (friends and extended family (grandparents, aunts/uncles, cousins, etc.) that come to support you during fair)
  • Carnival Wristbands are available through the Fairgrounds Website Link: Gallatin County Fairgrounds Tickets (etix.com)

Fairgrounds Parking

4-H Parking Passes:

The Fairgrounds is very limited on parking spaces, therefore we are limited on how many parking passes we can disseminate to 4-H families.

  • 4-H Parking Pass = FREE
  • We would like to keep 4-H Parking Passes to 1 pass per family if possible
    • **The Fairgrounds no longer gives out an extra parking pass to families with camping spots.
  • 4-H Parking Passes are to be used in the West Annex/Camping Areas (Gate C)
  • We are encouraging all extra family members or any short-term parking to be in the free general public lots, Tamarack (Gate A) and Oak St (Gate B). Both can be used to come in for shows, loading in supplies and such. This year, the Tamarack Lot (Gate A) will be the one opening at 7am for early morning access and closer proximity to the showrings.

Booth Display Contest for Clubs and Individuals

2024 Fair Theme: "THIS is 4-H Country"

Booth Display set-up times (Exhibit Building #3):

  • Monday, July 15 (12:00pm - 5:00pm) and/or Tuesday, July 16 (8:00am - 12:00pm)

Divisions include:
1 - Best use of fair theme/4-H promotion by a club or project group
2 - Best use of fair theme/4-H promotion by an individual

4-H Promotion Booth & Educational Events

Please take a moment during fair to sit at our promotional booth in Exhibit Building #3. This booth is decorated to match our 4-H theme and has handouts and information to share with youth that are not currently enrolled in 4-H. SignUp for a shift here: 2024 4-H Promotional Booth (link coming soon)

4-H Cafe Concessions Stand

Each 4-H youth is asked to help out in a very important way to help 4-H at the concession booth during fair. The money earned from the concessions is a large part of helping youth and volunteersattend events, fund projects and much more!  Your couple of hours is so helpful to making 4-H successful. SignUp for a shift here: 2024 4-H Cafe Concessions (link coming soon)

Old Fashioned 4-H Concessions

 

Market Livestock Auction Information - Friday, July 19, 2024

*The 2024 Market Sale will be a live, in-person ONLY sale. There will NOT be an online component. 

4-H/FFA Market Sale Buyer Information Website

2024 Livestock Auction Schedule:

  • 2:00pm – 6:00pm 4-H/FFA & Market Sale Buyers Check-In (Red Sale Pavilion)
  • 3:00pm – 6:00pm 4-H/FFA Market Sale Buyers BBQ Served (Small Animal Tent).
    • 4-H families, to ensure there is enough food for our buyers, please plan to wait until 5pm to help yourself to the BBQ.
  • 3:45pm 4-H Foundation Scholarship Winners Announced (AgWest Tent)
  • 4:00pm – approx. 12:00am 4-H & FFA Livestock Market Sale (AgWest Tent)

Marketing Information and Resources:

  • 2024 Save the Date - COMING SOON
  • Buyer Invitation - COMING SOON
  • Market Sale Buyers Guide (use Legal paper and printdouble sided on short edge and fold into trifold) - link coming soon 
  • Proxy Buyer Form (Docusign) - link coming soon 
  • Proxy Buyer Form (printable) - link coming soon 
  • Add On Pledge Form (Google Form) - link coming soon 
  • Add On Form (printable) - link coming soon 

Silent Auction for Indoor Projects

If 4-H indoor project members would like to sell their indoor exhibit, exhibitors must declare their selected projects by Tuesday, July 16th at 1:00pm in the Indoor Exhibit Building.

  • Members can enter up to THREE exhibits into the Silent Auction. Items must have been judged and awarded a ribbon to qualify. 
  • The Silent Auction bidding will run from Wednesday of Fair Week starting at 11am through Sunday of Fair Week ending at 5pm in the Indoor Exhibit Building. 

4-H/FFA Dance Saturday Evening

Join our 4-H Camp Counselors & Teen Leaders on Saturday, July 20th from 6pm to 10pm at the Livestock Show Tent for a night of fun and dancing! Gallatin 4-H Camp Counselors will be leading swing dance and line dance lessons before a free dance for all youth 4-H members!

2023 Big Sky Country State Recap

Thank you to ALL of the Buyers that contributed to our 2023 Market Sale last year. We have remarkable 4-H 
youth who take pride in their projects. To see them rewarded for their work continually inspires us to create even more opportunities for them to learn and grow. Thank you for all that you do to ensure that our program has the resources to be strong & successful into the future. As a Market Livestock Committee, we want you to 
know how much we appreciate your outstanding support of our Gallatin County 4-H & FFA kids!

Market Livestock TAB 2023

Click HERE to look inside the 2023 Thank You Tab!