Welcome to the 2026 Coles County 4-H Fair Online Entry Process!

Each 4-H Show entry has specific guidelines that must be followed. Please review the Coles County 4-H Fair Book to ensure you meet all project requirements. The fair book will be available online once it is finished in March. Additional sections may need to be reviewed for a complete understanding of show requirements and eligibility.

2026 Coles County 4-H Fair Exhibit Dates

• Public Presentations (Public Speaking Contest): Saturday, March 21
• Multi-County Horse Show: Saturday, June 20
• Multi-County Dog Show: Saturday, June 13
• Multi-County Cat Care Show: Monday, July 20
• General Project and Home & Family Show: Saturday, TBD
• Fair Week (Livestock Shows): July 26–30

Livestock Reminders

• Quality Assurance & Ethics Certification (QAEC):
  All exhibitors showing horses, dogs, cats, rabbits, and poultry must complete the online QAEC training at ZSuite under the Clover Academy Tab. This training is required once in a 4-H career and must be completed by June 1, 2026.
• Youth for the Quality Care of Animals (YQCA):
  Exhibitors showing beef, sheep, goats, pigs, and dairy beef must complete YQCA training annually either in person or online at https://yqcaprogram.org/. The deadline to complete YQCA is June 1, 2026.

All 4-H members must follow the Illinois Department of Agriculture Bureau of Animal Health and Welfare guidelines when exhibiting livestock at county and state fairs. These guidelines are updated annually.

We appreciate the support of our 4-H members, families, volunteers, Extension staff, Coles County Fair Board, and sponsors in making this fair season safe and successful!

ALL PROJECT ENTRIES MUST BE SUBMITTED BY JUNE 2, 2026.