Tennessee 4-H Livestock Program

Home
United States
Knoxville, TN
Tennessee 4-H Livestock Program

The 4-H Livestock Program provides opportunities for 4-H and FFA members to demonstrate the skills and knowledge they have learned through their projects.

It also provides youth with life-lessons and life-skills they will carry on into adulthood. Tennessee 4-H and FFA Livestock activities are popular with the state's youth. In the Tennessee 4-H program, approximately 30,000 youth are involved in the 4-H livestock projects, skillathons and livestock judging activities. There are 18 regional and state-wide beef, sheep, hog, goat and dairy shows that a

re conducted during the spring and summer. More than 1,500 youth from 80 different counties are anticipated to exhibit approximately 3,000 head of beef cattle, sheep, hogs, meat goats and dairy cattle in the shows. State-wide shows include The Knoxville Spring Junior Cattle Exposition, Tennessee Junior Livestock Exposition (Beef and Sheep Events), Junior Dairy Show, Market Hog Show and State Goat Show. The educational programs and activities associated with the shows are carried out by the UT Extension and University of Tennessee Department of Animal Science. These shows provide opportunities for 4-H and FFA members to demonstrate the skills and knowledge they have learned by participating in the 4-H Livestock Projects.

07/30/2026

Tennessee Junior Sheep Expo Update

07/28/2026

We are seeking sponsorship of exhibitor awards for the 2026 Tennessee Sheep Expo and Tennessee Junior Meat Goat Show. Both shows will be held during the Wilson County Fair - TN State Fair on August 13-15, 2026.

These shows provide 4-H/FFA youth from across Tennessee the opportunity to show off their hard work and dedication to their sheep and goat projects.

Sponsorship opportunities are listed below. For questions or to claim a sponsorship, please contact Aaron Fisher ([email protected], 865-974-7260).

Hope to see many of you at the fair in Lebanon in a few weeks.

07/14/2026

The 2026 Last Chance Virtual Livestock Skillathon will be available for any youth in grades 11 and 12 (as of Jan 1, 2026). The top 2 scorers from this skillathon will have the opportunity to join the Skillathon winners from Goat, Sheep, Swine and Beef Shows over the past year on the 2026 Tennessee State Skillathon Team coached by Emily Wooten and Jenna Beaty.

This team will compete in the National 4-H Livestock Skillathon in November. To participate in the Virtual Skillathon, contact your County Extension Office to set up an appointment. This multi-species skillathon will be available from July 15-July 29, 2026.

The Tennessee team notched a Top 5 finish in the 2025 national contest. You can be apart of the team that does even better in 2026!

05/21/2026

We are seeking sponsorship of exhibitor awards for the 2026 Tennessee State Junior Beef Expo on July 10-11, 2026. This show provides 4-H/FFA youth from across Tennessee the opportunity to show off their hard work and dedication to their beef cattle project. They are the future of Tennessee Agriculture and your contribution will help make sure that they are recognized for their accomplishments.

This is a great opportunity for Beef Project Project alumni to give back to the program. Consider honoring a former mentor or parent that provided swine opportunities to you or sponsor the division that you won during your showing career.

For questions or to donate, please contact Aaron Fisher ([email protected], 865-974-7260).

Hope to see many of you Lebanon in July.

05/13/2026

NEW Opportunity at Beef Expo - Team Fitting Contest

Details available at:https://animalscience.tennessee.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2026/03/2026-Beef-Team-Fitting-Packet.pdf

04/14/2026

Registered Heifer Breed Show Sponsorship opportunities for 2026 Knoxville Spring Junior Cattle Expo on May 2. Cost is $100 per breed and covers awards for CH/RCH as well as Bred By Exhibitor CH/RCH.

Sponsorship guarantees breed show regardless of the number of heifers that are checked-in at the show.

Chi-Influenced
Limousin
Maine-Anjou
Red Angus
Shorthorn
Shorthorn Plus
Simmental
Percentage

If interested, contact Aaron Fisher ([email protected]; 865-974-7260).

03/17/2026

Did livestock or meat judging experiences help prepare you for your career? Do you have a passion for youth and agriculture?

Consider one of the several remaining opportunities to sponsor awards for 2026 State 4-H Livestock and Meat Judging Contests to recognize youth for their achievement and help keep these programs going strong for the future. These contests will be held on June 2-3 on UT campus in Knoxville.

This is a great way to honor a former mentor that helped you along the way or sponsor the division that you won during your judging career!

01/26/2026

Here are pictures from 2025 Tennessee Youth Animal Science All-Star Banquet.

https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.1129747799324629&type=3

12/12/2025

Tennessee Junior Sheep Expo Moving to Wilson County Fair - TN State Fair

12/05/2025

We are seeking sponsorship of exhibitor awards for the 2026 Tennessee State Junior Swine Show on January 9-10, 2026. This show provides 4-H/FFA youth from across Tennessee the opportunity to show off their hard work and dedication to their swine project. They are the future of Tennessee Agriculture and your contribution will help make sure that they are recognized for their accomplishments.

This is a great opportunity for Swine Project alumni to give back to the program. Consider honoring a former mentor or parent that provided swine opportunities to you or sponsor the division that you won during your showing career.

NEW this year is an opportunity to sponsor Breeding Gilt and Market Hog Breed Shows.

For questions or to donate, please contact Aaron Fisher ([email protected], 865-974-7260).

Hope to see many of you at Hyder-Burks in Cookeville in January.

Address

Knoxville, TN

Telephone

+18659747294

Website

https://animalscience.tennessee.edu/youth/

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Tennessee 4-H Livestock Program posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Contact The Organization

Send a message to Tennessee 4-H Livestock Program:

Want your organization to be the top-listed Non Profit Organization in Knoxville?