Hillsdale County Small Animal Committee

Hillsdale County Small Animal Committee This page is dedicated to providing current information related to the Hillsdale County 4-H/FFA youth

4-H DAIRY GOAT EXHIBITORS If you haven't yet, please try to find the time over this long weekend to get your goats clipp...
09/04/2026

4-H DAIRY GOAT EXHIBITORS

If you haven't yet, please try to find the time over this long weekend to get your goats clipped up for fair. They will look much better at the show with a little bit of regrowth and no fresh clipper marks.

08/13/2026

2026 Small Animal Barn Fair Changes:

General Changes:
- Small Animal Auction will start @ 5pm on 10/1/26

-Mandatory Pre Auction Meeting @ 4:30pm on 10/1/26 (Small Animal Barn)

- For all species, Club Exhibit is to be 3 animals owned and shown by 3 separate exhibitors, these animals should represent the best quality in your club, not necessarily all the same look & type

-Show clothes, Exhibitors should wear nice clothing which can include a tucked in blouse not just a button up collared shirt.

-Educational posters should be turned in at the Non-Livestock Bldg on Friday 9/25/26 (1pm-7pm)

Goats:
- There is no maximum weight for market goats

- There are no preset weight classes. Weight classes will be determined after check-in.

- Water bucket hooks will be provided to hang your water buckets.

Poultry:
-Must be paired prior to check-in

-No re-weighs will occur (1x over the scale)

-Scales will be available on 9/10/26 Animal Barn if needed

-Pullorum testing will be available on 9/10/26 (6pm-7pm) $1/bird Animal Barn

-If your club has waterfowl entered at the fair, please make sure you sign up for at least 1 day of waterfowl chores. Poultry Superintendent & or The Barn Superintendent can provide you with instructions if needed

Rabbits:
-No re-weighs will occur (1x over the scale)

-Scales will be available on 9/10/26 during the last rabbit tattoo

Dogs:
We are looking for new kids to join our dog program. Please reach out to the page if your interested in learning more

08/13/2026

Small Animal Barn - Important Upcoming Dates:

9/1 - Breed Rabbit Tattoo’s due to MSU Extension

9/10 (5pm-7pm) last rabbit tattoo and cavy tagging @ Small Animal Barn

9/10 (6pm-7pm) Pullorum Testing Animal Barn $1/bird

9/12 (9am) Small Animal Barn Setup for Fair

9/25 (4pm-7pm) Small Animal Check in for Fair

10/1 (4:30pm) Mandatory Pre Auction Meeting Animal Barn

10/1 (5pm) Small Animal Auction

10/3 (10pm-11pm) Check out for all Small Animals returning home post fair

10/4 (7:30am) Small Animal Barn Post Fair Tear Down

08/13/2026

Fair Reminder:
The Small Animal Auction will start at 5 pm on
October 1, 2026

We had an AMAZING turn out for the showmanship clinic tonight! Thank you again to Savannah Watkins for volunteering her ...
08/07/2026

We had an AMAZING turn out for the showmanship clinic tonight! Thank you again to Savannah Watkins for volunteering her time and helping our youth! And a big thank you again to the committee members who volunteered their time to help with tattooing, the clinic, and clean up!

See you all September 10 from 5:00PM-7:00PM for our second tattooing session for Roasters and Fryers, and Cavy tagging. 🐇 🐹

Today’s the day!Rabbit tattooing for breeding stock, roasters, stewers, and cavy tagging 5:00pm-7:00pm. Rabbit showmansh...
08/06/2026

Today’s the day!

Rabbit tattooing for breeding stock, roasters, stewers, and cavy tagging 5:00pm-7:00pm.

Rabbit showmanship clinic starts at 6:30pm
No registration required- just bring your rabbit and be ready to learn!

*Showmanship clinic is optional, tattoos and tags are required for ALL rabbits and cavies entering show.*

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MARKET RABBITS:
2026 Fair Book, Page 32, Division 132 Rules, Section 1:
All stewer rabbits must be in members possession by August 1 and tattooed on the first Thursday of August. All fryer and roaster. Rabbits must be in members possession by September 1 and tattooed on the second Thursday of September. Only roasters tattooed on the August date will be eligible for the sewer class if they are overweight.

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BREED & PET/ALTERED RABBITS:
2026 Fair Book, Page 31, Section 6, Sentences 4&5.:
All breeding stock and pet/altered rabbit tattoos MUST be turned into the Extension Office by September 1. If September 1 falls on a Friday/Saturday/Sunday, the tattoos must be turned in on the following business day.
-> If your breeding stock or pet/altered rabbit IS already tattooed, you are not required to attend tattooing.
-> If your breeding stock or pet/altered rabbit IS NOT tattooed, you are required to attend one of the tattooing clinics.

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CAVIES:
2026 Fair Book, Page 33, Department 20, Rules Section 3:
All cavies must be tagged in the left ear. All cavy tag numbers MUST be turned into the Extension Office by September 1. If September 1 falls on a Friday/Saturday/Sunday, the tattoos must be turned in on the following business day.
-> If your cavy IS already tagged, you are not required to attend tagging clinic.
-> If your cavy IS NOT tagged, you are required to attend one of the tagging clinics.

Coming up this Thursday! Join Hillsdale County showman, Savannah Watkins will be hosting a rabbit showmanship clinic on ...
08/02/2026

Coming up this Thursday! Join Hillsdale County showman, Savannah Watkins will be hosting a rabbit showmanship clinic on August 6 at 6:30pm in the small animal barn at the Hillsdale County Fairgrounds.

This clinic will be held during the first rabbit tattoo date for breeding stock, roasters, stewers, and cavy tagging (5:00pm-7:00pm). Making it a great opportunity to get your rabbits tattooed and work on your showmanship skills all in one evening!

No registration required- just bring your rabbit and be ready to learn!

*Showmanship clinic is optional, tattoos and tags are required for animals entering show.*

07/30/2026

REMINDER: The Fair Entry system closes on 8/1/26 at midnight, However - the extension office closes at 5 pm today and isn't open tomorrow (Friday 7/31/26) - Please get those fair entries in the system asap. Please don't hit the "submit" button until you're completely finished because it will lock you out. You will then need to call MSU or the Fair Office to unlock your previous entries.

07/17/2026

Don’t forget last weigh in for all market goats -
Small Animal Barn, 7/18/26 (8am-11am)

07/15/2026

Last chance for Market Goat Weigh-in is this Saturday July, 18th 8:00 to 11:00 a.m. at the Fairgrounds

Address

20 Care Drive, Suite B
Hillsdale, MI
49242

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