Independence Day Shoot Out

07/21/2026

We love pictures like this! Thanks to AR S**g Wraps for donating a set of awesome wraps for each of our showmanship winners.

We love when showmanship is awarded with pretty new wraps made by AR S**g Wraps! Thank you Rohrers and Independence Day Shoot Out!

07/07/2026

SHOW PHOTOS ARE HERE! 📸

Megan Anderson Photography has officially uploaded photos from Saturday’s show, and we can’t wait for you to see them!

This year, we felt it was important to offer FREE digital downloads to all of our exhibitors, and thanks to the incredible generosity of our many show sponsors, we were able to make that happen. ❤️🤍💙

We hope you’ll take a few minutes to look through the gallery, download your favorites, and share those special moments from the Independence Day Shootout!

When you post your photos, don’t forget to tag Megan Anderson Photography and the Independence Day Shootout page so we can see and share some of your favorites, too!

🔗: https://viewphotos.meganandersonphoto.com/gallery/ee5b0606-28cf-4a4f-be51-38c7608a5612/home

Thank you again to our amazing sponsors for helping us give this gift to our exhibitors, and to Megan for capturing so many memories from show day! 📸🐑🐐

07/06/2026

A special thank you to Kelly A. Moberg-Pepin for our spectacular backdrop. ❤️🤍💙

For the past three years, Kelly has been the creative mind behind the incredible Independence Day Shootout backdrop. Every detail is thoughtfully planned, and every year she somehow tops the last!

The backdrop has become a place where memories are made, champion photos, family pictures, friendships captured, and moments that exhibitors will look back on for years to come. It’s more than just a photo spot; it’s become part of what makes our show so special.

Kelly, thank you for sharing your talent, creativity, and countless hours with us. We appreciate everything you do and are so thankful to have you as part of the Independence Day Shootout family! 🇺🇸✨

07/06/2026

❤️🤍💙 Thank You. ❤️🤍💙

As we wrap up another incredible Independence Day Shootout, our hearts are overflowing with gratitude.

Yesterday wasn’t easy. We battled extreme heat, watched storms roll through, and had a very long day, but through it all, you showed up, stayed positive, and made this event one we’ll never forget.

To every exhibitor and family who traveled from near and far, thank you for choosing to spend your Fourth of July weekend with us. Whether it was your first Independence Day Shootout or you’ve been with us for several years, we are truly honored that you trusted us with your holiday weekend.

To our volunteers, you are the heartbeat of this event. From early morning check-in to the final class of the day, you gave your time, energy, and countless hours behind the scenes to keep everything moving. Your willingness to serve, even in the heat and unpredictable weather, did not go unnoticed.

To our generous sponsors and vendors, thank you for believing in our mission. Your support allowed us to provide banners, cash awards, free exhibitor photos, the Skillathon, and so many of the extras that make this show special. We simply couldn’t do it without you.

Most importantly, thank you for supporting the Frederick County 4-H Meats Judging and Stockman’s Teams. Every entry, sponsorship, purchase, and act of support helps provide opportunities for young people to learn, compete, and represent our community at the highest levels. Your investment goes far beyond one day it helps shape the next generation of agricultural leaders.

We know yesterday wasn’t perfect. There were delays, there were weather challenges, and there were moments where everyone was hot and ready to be home. Thank you for extending grace, showing patience, and reminding us why this livestock community is so special. The kindness, sportsmanship, and encouragement we witnessed throughout the day made every challenge worth it.

From the bottom of our hearts, thank you for making the 2026 Independence Day Shootout such a success. We are incredibly blessed by this community and already looking forward to making next year even better.

Until next year… thank you for believing in our kids, our teams, and this event. 🇺🇸❤️

07/05/2026

12 hours later that’s a wrap. Thank you to everyone who helped make the show a success! More pictures and thanks to come but for now safe travels home everyone!

07/04/2026

Congratulations to our skillathon winners! 🏆

Juniors:
1st - Lelia Foltz
2nd - Jameson Revard
3rd - Wyatt Manbeck

Seniors:
1st - Rylie Floyd
2nd - Reagan Stolipher
3rd - Mya Calhoun

Special shout out to Charlotte Stephens on being the only one to get a 50 on the judging class!

Winners come to the announcers stand to get your prize money!

Thanks to Jackson Kelly/Chillax Livestock Therapy for sponsoring the prizes!

07/04/2026

🇺🇸 IT’S SHOW DAY! 🇺🇸

The wait is over, we can’t wait to welcome everyone to the Independence Day Shootout! Safe travels, stay hydrated, and let’s have an awesome day celebrating the Fourth of July with great competition, friends, and fun!

📋 Check-In Process

When you arrive:
1️⃣ Enter on Showman & pay online.
2️⃣ Pick up the correct color entry card (one card per class and showmanship).
3️⃣ Weigh your animal on the scale and declare the weight on your entry card (5 lb. weight tolerance). Also to help us keep the line moving, please enter your animal weights into Showman before arriving at check-in.
4️⃣ Bring your completed weight cards and health papers (out-of-state exhibitors only) to the check-in table.
5️⃣ Stop by the show staff table to double-check that all of your entries are complete.

⏰ Check-in will close promptly at 9:00 AM. Please arrive on time, as sheep showmanship will begin at 9:30 AM and we want to stay on schedule.

📸 All exhibitors: Please meet at the show ring at 9:15 AM for a large group photo! We also ask that every exhibitor sign the sheet at the check-in table so we can properly recognize and thank everyone after the show.

🇺🇸 Show off your patriotic spirit by wearing your favorite red, white, and blue!

🛍️ While you’re here, be sure to support our amazing vendors! Whether you’re grabbing coffee, lemonade, snow cones, lunch, shopping, or picking up show supplies, they’ve got you covered.

🧠 Don’t miss the FREE Skillathon!
Head over to the Whitacre Building (across from the picnic pavilion) to test your livestock knowledge. It’s cooler than being outside, and the top three exhibitors will take home cash prizes!

💧 We know it’s going to be a hot one. Please be patient with our volunteers as they work hard to keep things running smoothly. Keep yourself and your animals hydrated, and water will be available near the show ring throughout the day.

Thank you to all of our exhibitors, families, sponsors, volunteers, and vendors for making this event possible. We can’t wait to kick off an incredible Independence Day Shootout, good luck, and let’s have a great show! 🇺🇸🐑🐐

07/04/2026

🍔🛍️ Come Hungry. Come Thirsty. Come Ready to Shop! 🐐🇺🇸

One of the best parts of the Independence Day Shootout is supporting our incredible vendors! Whether you need your morning coffee, a quick bite between classes, a sweet treat to beat the heat, or a last-minute show supply, we’ve got you covered.

☕ Parable Coffee – Start your day with a specialty coffee or refreshing iced drink.

🌭Tuckers Pucker with Stoner Dogs Subs and Sammies – Serving up loaded hot dogs, burgers, cheesesteaks, lemonade, and more!

🍔 S&S&W Concessions – Fair favorites to keep you fueled all day long.

🍧 LoCo Snow Shack – Cool off with delicious shaved ice and snow cones.

🛍️ The Glitzy Goats Boutique & Hilltop Hide Co. – Find the perfect show-day apparel, accessories, and gifts.

🐐 Sullivan Supply Inc. – Everything you need to look your best in the show ring.

🐑 Rhodes Ag Products LLC – Check out the latest Sydell equipment and livestock products.

We’re thankful for these amazing vendors who help make our show even better. Be sure to stop by, support them, and enjoy everything they have to offer throughout the day.

See you tomorrow at the Independence Day Shootout, come hungry, come thirsty, and don’t forget to shop local while you’re here! 🇺🇸🐑🐐

07/02/2026

🇺🇸 KNOW BEFORE YOU GO – Independence Day Shootout! 🇺🇸

Show day is almost here, and we’re excited to welcome exhibitors from across the region! Before you hit the road, please take a minute to review these important reminders to help the day run smoothly for everyone.

📋 Registration & Weigh-In
• All entries must be registered and paid through Showman before check-in, including entering your declared weights.
• Pick up your weigh cards at the registration table before weighing your animals.
• Use the scales provided to weigh your own animals.
• Turn in your completed weigh card along with health papers (out-of-state exhibitors only) at the registration table.
• Top animals in each class will be re-weighed and must be within 5 lbs. of their declared weight.
• Ewes and does may be double-entered with a separate entry fee.

⏰ Check-In Times
📍 Friday: 6:00–8:00 PM
📍 Saturday: 7:00–9:00 AM

🐑 Show Schedule
• 9:30 AM: Sheep Showmanship begins (starting with our NEW Collegiate Division for 20–21 year olds)
• Wether Dams immediately following
• Market Lambs following overall selection & photos

🐐 Goats
• Goat Showmanship will begin after the Market Lamb Show and photos are complete (starting with the Collegiate Division)
• Wether Does immediately following
• Market Goats following top overall selection & photos

📸 FREE Photos!
Thanks to the generosity of our amazing sponsors, all photos by Megan Anderson Photography will be free to exhibitors!

☀️ Beat the Heat
We know it’s going to be a hot Fourth of July weekend. Please help us keep your animals comfortable by making sure they stay well-hydrated throughout the day. We’ll have water available for exhibitors too, along with fresh watermelon to help everyone cool off!

🚜 Parking & Setup
• If you’re unsure where to park your trailer or set up tents, please ask! We’d much rather help than have you move later.
• The gravel area beside the buildings and the grassy areas between the gravel lots are reserved for vendors only.

🍉 Fairgrounds Reminders
• Please use the picnic pavilion for eating only. NO animals are permitted under the pavilions.
• The wash rack is located behind the arena and hog barn.
• The beef barn is available for fitting animals, but please do not park inside the barn or alongside either side of the building.

🇺🇸 Most importantly, have fun, encourage one another, and enjoy a great day celebrating Independence Day with us! We can’t wait to see everyone at the Frederick County Fairgrounds. Safe travels, and we’ll see you soon! 🐑🐐🎆

07/02/2026

🎉 BIG NEWS! 🎉

Thanks to the incredible generosity of our show sponsors, EVERY exhibitor at this year’s Independence Day Shootout will receive FREE professional photos from Megan Anderson Photography on Saturday! 📸🇺🇸

Step into the ring, give it your best, and let Megan capture those unforgettable moments with your livestock at no cost to you!

We couldn’t make opportunities like this happen without the amazing businesses and individuals who believe in supporting our exhibitors and the future of agriculture. Be sure to thank our sponsors when you see them this weekend! ❤️🤍💙

🇺🇸 Freedom Champion Sponsors

* Bernie Lambe
* CFC Farm & Home Center / Formula of Champions
* Forward Edge Security Solutions
* Fruit Meadow Farms
* Luray Moose Lodge 1413

🎆Patriot Sponsors

* Castle Valley Rock Vineyards
* Stonyman Farm
* Virginia Cattle Feeders Association
* Warren County Farm Bureau

⭐ Stars & Stripes Sponsors

* Class A Designer Concrete & Hardscapes, LLC
* Farmers Livestock Exchange, Inc.
* MS Heating & Air Conditioning, Inc.
* Northern Valley Slaughter Cattle
* Shamrock Farms Club Lambs
* Sullivan Supply Inc.
* Virginia Livestock

🧨 Firecracker Sponsors

* Chillax Livestock Therapy
* Clarke County FFA Alumni & Supporters
* Ford Family
* Jonah & Jodi Messick Ballenger
* MS Show Stock
* Oliver Acres Family Farm
* Page Co-Operative Farm Bureau, Inc.
* Rhodes Ag Products (Sydell)
* Ruritan Club of Clarke County