Competitions

AgFest features daily livestock shows, vocational exhibits, entertainment and special events for exhibitors, complimented by delicious food concessions and quality vendors. Friday brings the Master Showmanship competition followed by an exhibition of winners from all the competitions throughout the week. AgFest concludes with the traditional Livestock Auction where exhibitors sell their replacement heifers and market livestock projects. Join us for a fun-filled week as we support the agricultural youth of San Joaquin County.

NOTE: Breeding Show competitions are held the weekend before AgFest in partnership with the San Joaquin County Fair.

Livestock Competitions

Beef Cattle

Beef exhibitors can show their market steers in the Market Beef classes or their breeding stock in the Breeding Beef classes. Each winner of Advanced Market Beef Showmanship and Advanced Breeding Beef Showmanship in both the FFA and 4-H divisions is eligible to compete in Large Animal Master Showmanship. For details on the available classes and rules, see Department 19 for Breeding Beef and Department 29 for Market Beef in the Livestock Guidebook.

Dairy Cattle

The Dairy Cattle competition features classes available for various ages of Holsteins and All Other Breeds of dairy cattle. There is a Replacement Heifer competition for which exhibitors can raise a 1 or 2 year project and sell the animal in the Replacement Heifer auction. Each winner of Advanced Dairy Goat Showmanship in the FFA and 4-H divisions is eligible to compete in Large Animal Master Showmanship. For details on available classes and rules, see Department 20 in the Livestock Guidebook.

Dairy Goats

The Dairy Goat competition features classes available for various ages of Nigerian Dwarfs and All Other Breeds of dairy goats. Each winner of Advanced Dairy Goat Showmanship in the FFA and 4-H divisions is eligible to compete in Large Animal Master Showmanship. For details on available classes and rules, see Department 22 for Dairy Goats in the Livestock Guidebook.

Goats

Goats exhibitors can show their market goats in the Market Beef classes or their Boer Goat breeding stock in the Boer Goat classes. Each winner of Advanced Market Goat Showmanship and Advanced Boer Goat Showmanship in both the FFA and 4-H divisions is eligible to compete in Large Animal Master Showmanship. For details on the available classes and rules, see Department 21 for Boer Goats and Department 30 for Market Goats in the Livestock Guidebook.

Sheep

Sheep exhibitors can show their market sheep in the Market Lamb classes or their breeding stock in the Breeding Sheep classes. Each winner of Advanced Market Lamb Showmanship and Advanced Breeding Sheep Showmanship in both the FFA and 4-H divisions is eligible to compete in Large Animal Master Showmanship. For details on the available classes and rules, see Department 24 for Breeding Sheep and Department 31 for Market Lambs in the Livestock Guidebook.

Swine

Swine exhibitors can show their market swine in the Market Swine classes or their breeding stock in the Commercial Gilt classes. Each winner of Advanced Market Swine Showmanship and Advanced Commercial Gilt Showmanship in both the FFA and 4-H divisions is eligible to compete in Large Animal Master Showmanship. For details on the available classes and rules, see Department 25 for Commercial Gilts and Department 32 for Market Swine in the Livestock Guidebook.

Dog Show

The Dog Show features classes in obedience, rally and showmanship for various exhibitor experience levels. The winner of the Senior Open division of Dog Showmanship is eligible to compete in Small Animal Master Showmanship. For details on the available classes and rules, see Department 16 for the Dog Show in the Livestock Guidebook.

Cavies

The Cavy Show features classes available for various ages and breedsof cavies. Each winner of Advanced Cavy Showmanship in the FFA and 4-H divisions is eligible to compete in Small Animal Master Showmanship. For details on available classes and rules, see Department 33 for the Cavy Show in the Livestock Guidebook.

Market Turkeys

Turkey exhibitors can show their Market Turkey projects. Each winner of Advanced Market Turkey Showmanship in the 4-H and FFA divisions is eligible to compete in Small Animal Master Showmanship. For details on the available classes and rules, see Department 26 for Market Turkeys in the Livestock Guidebook.

Poultry

Poultry exhibitors can show their market poultry in the Meat Bird Pens competition and their breeding stock in the Breeding Poultry competition. Each winner of Advanced Meat Bird Pens Showmanship and Advanced Breeding Poultry Showmanship in the FFA and 4-H divisions is eligible to compete in Small Animal Master Showmanship. For details on available classes and rules, see Department 17 for Breeding Poultry and Department 27 for Meat Bird Pens in the Livestock Guidebook.

Rabbits

Rabbit exhibitors can show their market rabbits in the Market Rabbit competition and their breeding stock in the Breeding Rabbits competition. Each winner of Advanced Market Rabbit Showmanship and Advanced Breeding Rabbit Showmanship for 4-H and FFA is eligible to compete in Small Animal Master Showmanship. For details on the available classes and rules, see Department 18 for Breeding Rabbits and Department 28 for Market Rabbits in the Livestock Guidebook.

Master Showmanship

There are 4 divisions of Master Showmanship. 4-H and FFA Large Animal Showmanship and 4-H and FFA Small Animal Showmanship. For Large Animal Master Showmanship, winners from Advanced 4-H and FFA Showmanship in commercial gilts, breeding beef, breeding sheep, dairy cattle, dairy goats, Boer goats, market beef, market sheep, market swine and market goats are eligible to compete. For Small Animal Master Showmanship, all winners from this year’s Advanced 4-H and FFA Showmanship in breeding poultry, market turkeys, meat bird pens, breeding rabbits, meat rabbits, cavies and the best dog handler are eligible to compete.

Vocational Project Competitions

Entomology

The Entomology competition features classes by experience level for mounted collections of insects. Exhibits are judged on the general appearance and neatness of arrangement, care in preparation of insect’s key, correct placement and completeness of labels, and the number of orders and specimen insects correctly identified. The Danish System of judging is used. For details on the classes available and the rules, see Department 9 for Entomology in the Still Exhibit Guidebook.

Horticulture

The Horticulture competition features classes in harvested vegetables, container-grown vegetable plants, large/oversized vegetables, fruits, nuts, and herbs. Exhibits are judged using the Danish System of judging. For details on the classes available and the rules, see Department 10 for Horticulture in the Still Exhibit Guidebook.

Floriculture

The Floriculture competition features classes in potted plants, cut flowers, floral arrangements, and container or dish gardens. There is also a Floral Design Challenge with classes for each age group. Exhibits are judged using the Danish System of judging. For details on the classes available and the rules, see Department 11 for Floriculture in the Still Exhibit Guidebook.

Ag Panels

The Ag Panels competition features classes in 4′ x 8′ panel displays and 3′ x 4′ poster board displays. Entries illustrate a single theme or idea to educate the public about agriculture, such as, care of livestock, end use, by-products, or other similar subject matter. Exhibits are judged using the American System of judging. For details on the classes available and the rules, see Department 13 for Ag Panels in the Still Exhibit Guidebook.

Ag Mechanics

The Ag Mechanics competition features classes in Medium Projects, Large Projects, Equipment Repair Rebuild and Remodel, and Group Projects. Exhibits are judged using the American System of judging. For details on the classes available and the rules, see Department 12 for Ag Mechanics in the Still Exhibit Guidebook.