🎡Fair week, day by day

Fair week is Tuesday, September 14 through Sunday, September 19, 2027 at the Navajo County Fairgrounds in Holbrook. The schedule below is the 2026 schedule shifted one day earlier; the NCJLC will confirm final times in their fair letter. Bookmark their Facebook page for stall assignments and day-of updates.

Heads up: Plan on kids missing school Tuesday through Friday, and expect to be at the fairgrounds at least twice a day all week (morning chores by 9 AM, evening feeding). It’s a big week. Line up work schedules and rides early.

Tuesday, September 14: check-in

Time	What
1:00 PM	Gates open for animals and equipment. Nothing moves in before 1 PM. Campers use Gate #10 only.
3:00–5:00 PM	Scale open for unofficial weight checks
5:00–9:00 PM	Jr. Livestock check-in
5–6 PM	Weigh-in: steers
6–7 PM	Weigh-in: lambs, goats, turkeys
7–8 PM	Weigh-in: swine
6:45 PM	Mandatory exhibitor meeting for all species, bleachers by the sale ring
9:00 PM	Scales close

Unloading

• Swine: unload along 3rd Street, on the west side of the pig barn, along the sidewalk facing north.
• Steers, lambs, goats: unload at the gate near the steer barn (east side). The carnival sets up in the same area, so be patient and quick.
• 10 minutes max per family to unload and move the vehicle. No vehicles on the grass. Expect barricades; the street closes for fair.

Finding your pen

• Stall assignments are posted on the NCJL Facebook page the morning of check-in and handed out in your packet.
• Check with your superintendent before you pen to make sure you have the right one.
• Pen numbers are the small white or black numbers on or above the gate. Ignore old painted numbers.
• Turkey pens are listed on the swine and goat/lamb barn sheets.
• Do not put an animal in a pen that isn’t yours.

The check-in table

Go to the table in front of the white trailer, in the grass between the pig barn and the sale ring. You’ll get your exhibitor packet: the schedule, stall cards, two wristbands (one exhibitor, one parent; additional kids in the same family get one each), and your exhibitor back numbers. Tell them about any address or phone changes.

Bring: a copy of your Seasonal Pass for each animal (you can’t check in without it; you keep the original) and your current YQCA certificate.

Weigh-in

• Use one scale for all species, so stick to your species’ time.
• Animals must be clean and dry. Wet animals won’t be weighed. Ear tags must be clean and readable.
• You get one official weigh. If you want a re-weigh, ask immediately, before the animal leaves the scale area. Miss your slot? Bring your animal back after all species have weighed.
• Any animal may be checked by a veterinarian. Sick or unfit animals go home immediately.

Declare at the scale

Write these down before you get in line:

• If you have two animals of one species: which NCJL tag number you’re showing in showmanship.
• If you have more than one species: which animal you’re selling at the sale. (If you don’t declare, your highest-placing animal sells, no appeal.)

Wednesday, September 15

Time	What
By 9:00 AM	Feed, water, clean pen (every day)
12:00 PM	Cal Ranch lunch for all livestock kids by the sale ring
3:00–5:00 PM	Open-class judging: meat goats, lambs, market beef, cattle pens, halter cattle, swine
6:00 PM	Jr. Livestock market turkey judging, then turkey showmanship

A quiet day. Walk your animal, let it settle, go see the exhibits.

Thursday, September 16: show day

Time	Show
8:00 AM	Market goats, then Jr & Sr goat showmanship
10:00 AM	Market lambs, then Jr & Sr lamb showmanship
1:00 PM	Market beef, then Jr & Sr beef showmanship
4:00 PM	Market swine, then Jr, Int & Sr swine showmanship

Be washed, dressed, and ready at least three classes before yours. Your back number matches your animal’s NCJL tag; if you show two animals, change numbers when you change animals. Wear the number pinned on your back or in an exhibitor clip.

Friday, September 17: Round Robin and the sale

Time	What
8:00 AM	Adult swine showmanship (parents, this one’s you)
9:00 AM	Jr. Livestock & Small Stock Round Robin
By 11:30 AM	Drop your family’s drinks for the buyer luncheon in the sale barn against the back wall
11:00 AM–1:00 PM	Buyer luncheon (buyers only, under the grandstands)
1:00 PM	Jr. Livestock SALE

Buyer luncheon drinks: last name A–L brings at least one case of 24 waters; M–Z brings at least a 12-pack of soda. You can drop them starting Friday morning. Everything about sale day is on the auction page.

Saturday, September 18

Time	What
9:00 AM	4-H Skill-a-thon at the show ring
All day	4-H record books available for pickup at the command trailer
Tonight	Take locks off your pens. Animals load out early Sunday; locks left on will be cut.

Keep feeding and cleaning. It’s often hot; keep animals cool and watered.

Sunday, September 19: load-out

• Exhibitors must be present to clean pens and pick up equipment starting at 8:00 AM, no earlier. You may have to wait for animals to load out. Do not enter locked gates.
• Animals are released only according to sale paperwork. Changes had to be in writing by 10 AM Saturday.
• Check out with your species superintendent. Be done by 10:00 AM.
• $100 fine for a stall left uncleaned, deducted from your sale check.

Rules for the whole week

Stall care

• Feeding and stall cleaning done by 9:00 AM every day and kept up all day. Superintendents inspect randomly. After one warning, it’s $25 per pen per day, and you still have to clean it.
• Shavings are required. The Fair Board gives you one bag. Extra bags are $15 at the Fair Office before 9 AM; take your ticket to Andrew Bushman or Dusty Wood to claim the bag.
• Dirty shavings go to the inside fence between the carnival and the rodeo arena. Keep it tidy.
• Tarps and shade in the pig barn must be completely down by 9 AM, not just rolled up.
• Sidewalks and walkways stay clear of equipment, feed, and supplies at all times.
• Secure pens with a carabiner. Steers need a halter and neck rope (double-tied).
• New goat and lamb pens: bring pig or cattle panels cut to hang your feeders, plus zip ties and wire.
• Only vet-approved chemicals in the pens. Groom your animal in the livestock area only.

Wristbands and passes

• Your packet has two wristbands (exhibitor + one parent) good for the week.
• Extra wristbands are $15 and carnival passes for livestock kids are $25, sold online only at navajojlsa.fairwire.com by the Friday before fair. Log in as the exhibitor, go to Items, add to cart, check out. Or pay daily at the gate.
• HAC exhibitors get their wristbands from the HAC committee.

Camping and trailers

• Camp trailers park on the northeast corner of the fairgrounds, east of the north parking lot. Call for your space number.
• You can’t drive in and out between 9 AM and 10 PM; park in the lot if you need your vehicle.
• No trailers in fair parking lots. They will be towed.
• Tell Becca Bushman (928-386-0138 or ncjlivestock@gmail.com) that you’re camping or have a trailer on the grounds. It’s for emergencies.

Dress code (show ring and sale)

• Button-down or collared shirt, tucked in, with a belt
• Nice pants, no rips or holes (jeans are fine)
• Sturdy closed-toe shoes. No tennis shoes, no sandals. Boots are best.
• Hair neat. Exhibitor number pinned on your back.
• A 4-H patch or jacket is welcome.

Unsuitable footwear or dress can get you pulled from a class. Wear appropriate shoes any time you’re working with your animal at the fair. No inappropriate language from kids or parents. Alcohol, tobacco, or drugs on the grounds means automatic disqualification.

Showing someone else’s animal

You show your own animal. The only exception: if two of your market classes conflict, another eligible junior exhibitor can show your animal in the market class only. Never in showmanship.

A daily rhythm that works

When	Do
6:30–8:30 AM	Feed, water, clean, fresh shavings, walk the animal, check tags. Done by 9.
Midday	Check water (it’s hot), shade down, spot-clean. Watch other shows and learn.
5:00–7:00 PM	Feed, water, clean again, rinse or brush, practice setting up for five minutes.
Night	Show clothes ready for tomorrow; check the schedule; charge your phone.

Take the packing list with you.