FAIR EXHIBITS
Exhibiting projects at fair is one of the opportunities that FFA members have throughout and beyond their high school career. Carroll Area FFA members can exhibit at the Carroll County Fair and the Iowa State Fair. Students are able to show in FFA and/or 4-H until the summer after they graduate high school; after that time, county fair and 4-H eligibility both end for the student. However, FFA members can continue showing through FFA at the Iowa State Fair until their FFA eligibility ends; FFA membership can be retained until the date of November 30, following the fourth National FFA Convention after graduation from high school.
Projects come in many different types, but are usually broken up into livestock and non-livestock categories. If you are interested in exhibiting projects at the Carroll County Fair, please visit http://www.iowaccfair.com/4-h--ffa.html. If you are interested in exhibiting projects at the Iowa State Fair, please visit http://www.iowastatefair.org/competition/categories/#ffa. All students interested in exhibiting FFA projects should consult with their chapter advisor.
CARROLL COUNTY FAIR
The Carroll County Fair is held from the second Wednesday to the second Sunday in July. The fairgrounds are located in Coon Rapids, Iowa. FFA and 4-H exhibitors may enter in Carroll County Fair exhibition classes through the Iowa State University Extension & Outreach Office. All exhibitors need to be certified in FSQA or PQA. The 2016 Carroll County Fair will be held on July 13-17, 2016 in Coon Rapids.
FFA Classes: Beef Cattle, Dairy Cattle, Dogs, Goats, Rabbits, Poultry, Sheep, Static Exhibits, Swine
Deadlines/Events: December - Beef Weigh-In
March - Swine Weigh-In
May - Sheep/Goat Weigh-In
May 15 - Livestock Nominations Due
June 10 - Livestock Entries Due
Iowa State University Extension & Outreach - Carroll County
IOWA STATE FAIR
The Iowa State Fair is a ten-day event held in the middle of August at the Iowa State Fairgrounds in Des Moines, Iowa. FFA exhibitors may enter in Iowa State Fair exhibition classes by contacting their chapter advisor. FFA and 4-H dual members can show in both shows under certain circumstances (example: a student showing in 4-H with a market steer may not show in the FFA Performance Beef Show, but may show a heifer in the FFA Breeding Beef Show); contact Mr. Eischeid with questions about showing in FFA shows or with any questions about showing in both FFA and 4-H shows. The 2016 Iowa State Fair will be held August 11-21, 2016 in Des Moines.
FFA Livestock Classes: Beef Cattle, Dairy Cattle, Dairy Goats, Horses, Meat Goats, Poultry, Rabbits, Sheep, Swine
FFA Non-Livestock Classes: Agricultural Demonstrations, Agricultural Mechanics, Farm Crops, Floriculture, Horticulture,
Photography
Deadlines/Events: December - Beef Weigh-In
February 1 - Performance Beef Nominations Due
March - Swine Weigh-In
April 1 - Swine/Sheep/Meat Goats Tag Orders Due
April 30 - Derby Pigs Nominations Due
May - Sheep/Goat Weigh-In
May 9 - Market Broiler Orders Due
May 15 - Breeding Beef/Cow-Calf/Dairy/Horse/Goats/Sheep/Swine Nominations Due
July 1 - State Fair Entries Due (all classes), Code of Ethics and Chapter Summary Due
Iowa State Fair FFA Premium Books
FFA General Rules - Iowa State Fair
Iowa FFA Association - Iowa State Fair Page
OTHER LIVESTOCK SHOWS
There are numerous open livestock shows and other opportunities for exhibition by FFA members. Popular shows include Ak-Sar-Ben, Clay County Fair, American Royal Show, National Western Show, and various open livestock shows across Iowa. If you are interested in these opportunities, contact Mr. Eischeid or the Carroll County Extension Office.