Glory Reitz
The annual Alachua County Youth Fair and Livestock Show will take place Feb. 29 – March 5 at the Alachua County Agriculture & Equestrian Center located at 23100 W Newberry Rd. In Newberry.
Admission to the event is free, featuring over 300 Alachua County 4-H and FFA youth aged 8-18, showing their animals and skills. A celebrity show on Saturday evening will include county commissioners, county officers and city officials.
Food truck vendors will be open on the fairgrounds.
The schedule is as follows:
Friday, March 1
- 1:30 p.m. – Rabbit judging contest
- 2:30 p.m. – Market goat and breeding goat show and showmanship
- 6 p.m. – Steer bred and owned show / Steer show
- Beef showmanship to follow steer show
Saturday, March 2
- 8:30 a.m. – Dairy goat show
- All-goat skill-a-thon immediately after dairy goat show
- 9 a.m. – Poultry judging
- 10:30 a.m. – Rabbit show and showmanship
- Noon – American bred and owned show, beef bred and owned show, beef show
- 5:30 p.m. – Celebrity show
- 6 p.m. – Swine show
Sunday, March 3
- 9 a.m. – Cattleman, swine sense, breeding goat, market goat, rabbit skill-a-thon contests (auditorium)
- 10 a.m. – Poultry showmanship and skill-a-thon
- Noon – 4-H horse show (horse arena)
- 1:30 p.m. – Livestock judging contest
- 6 p.m. – Swine showmanship
Monday, March 4
- 9 a.m. – School tours
- 5 p.m. – Awards (arena bleachers)
Tuesday, March 5
- 11 a.m. – Buyers luncheon (auditorium)
- 11 a.m. – Exhibitors luncheon (arena bleachers)
- 12:30 p.m. – Meet and greet for buyers and exhibitors
- 1 p.m. – Market animal sale
Unless marked otherwise, all events will take place in the fairgrounds arena.
The Alachua County Youth Fair & Livestock Show Association will operate the fair, according to a press release. The non-profit organization runs public fairs and expositions on agricultural topics, specific exhibitions of livestock, poultry, crafts, youth projects and farm products.
The fair is intended as an educational platform for Alachua County youth interested in agriculture.