Madison County Fair
This website provides links and helpsheets to everything 4-H and FFA families may need to sign up and prepare for the Madison County Fair. Be sure to review this website to find the most up-to-date information. As you have questions, please email xmadison@iastate.edu, and we will do our best to provide answers as we have them.
If you have questions about Fair Board and their events, please visit the Madison County Fair website or give them a call at 515-462-1295.
PO Box 542 Winterset, IA 50273
YQCA Certification Instructional Video
Future Fair Dates
7/19/-7/23, 2023
7/17-7/21, 2024
7/16-7/20, 2025
7/15-7/19, 2026
7/21-7/25, 2027
If you don't receive an email confirmation from FairEntry.com, your entries are not complete!
YEARLY TIMELINE
4-H Program Year - September 2022 to August 2023
- September
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September 1 - Enrollment opens in 4-H Online
September 11 - Record Book help session - 2:00 PM - Extension Office
September 19 - Record Books due to the Extension Office
September 27 - 4-H Find Out Night - 6:00 PM - Extension Office
- October
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October 2 to 8 - National 4-H Week
October 13 - Marvelous Marshmallows Clover Kids Workshop - 3:30 to 5:00 PM - Extension Office
October 21 - Plant & Paint Workshop - 2:00 to 4:00 PM - Extension Office
- November
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November 7 - Awards Banquet - 6:00 PM - Jackson Building
November 13 - YQCA - 7:15 PM - St. Charles Lions Hall
November 17 - Annual Volunteer Training - 6:00 PM - Extension Office
November 20 - New Officer Training - 2:00 PM - Extension Office
November 20 - YQCA - 3:45 PM - Extension Office
- December
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December 4 - Beef Weigh Ins - 1:00 to 4:00 PM - Winterset Sale Barn
December 13 - Gifts from the Heart Workshop - 3:30 to 5:00 PM - Extension Office
- January
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January - Plant the Moon Registration
- February
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February 1 - Market Beef ID Deadline in 4-H Online
February 1 - Counselors In Training Applications due
February 17 - Parents Night Out - 4 to 8 pm - Extension Office
- March
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March 13 - Interview Skills Workshop - 10 am to 1 pm - Extension Office
March 19 - Family Movie Night - 2 pm - The Iowa Theater (Sponsored by Youth Council)
March 25 - Swine Weigh Ins
- April
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April 13 - New Volunteer Training - 5:30 to 8:30 pm - Extension Office
April 15 - 4-H Enrollment Deadline for County Fair exhibitors
April 25 - YQCA Training - 6:00 PM - Macksburg
April 28 - Astronomy Workshop - 7:00 to 10:00 PM - Extension Office
April 29 - Sheep & Goat Weigh Ins at the Fairgrounds - 1 to 3 pm
- May
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May 1 - Broiler Order due to the Extension Office
May 15 - Livestock ID Deadline in 4-H Online
May 15 - Exhibitor t-shirt orders due: 2022 Madison County Fair Exhibitor Shirt Order (jotform.com)
- June
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June 1 - Poultry and Rabbit ID Deadline in 4-H Online
June 15 - Fair Entry Deadline: Clothing, Communications, & all Livestock due in Fair Entry
June 15 - YQCA Deadline - yqcaprogram.org
- July
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July 14 - All Static entries due in Fair Entry
July 15 - Clothing & Communications Judging Day
July 17 - Static Judging Day
July 19 - 23 - Madison County Fair
- August
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August - Iowa State Fair
New in 2023
Check out this document for new rules and policies for the 2023 Madison County Fair including a Fair Entry late fee policy.
Good Standing
In order to be eligible to exhibit at the Madison County Fair, 4-Hers must accumulate a minimum of 6 educational "hours" and be enrolled in 4-H Online by April 15. Three of these hours must be 4-H club meetings while the other three can include a mix of club meetings, community service activities, and other educational opportunities. Check out this document for more information on eligibility. The Extension Office has final approval on whether 4-Hers are in "good standing" and are eligible to show at the Madison County Fair.
- Fair Schedules & Instructions
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2023 schedules are not available at this time. Check back soon!
- Fairbook
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Check out this year's fair book on the fair website!
- Superintendents
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Mark Moore, Beef
Mitzi Berkland, Cats & Dogs
Phyllis Jones, Dairy Cattle
Leslie Mineart, Goat
Ginnie Decker, Horse
Valerie Knedler, Poultry
Heather Jamison, Rabbit
Allison Porter, Sheep
Ted Benshoof, Swine
Rebecca Hornback, Clothing
Becky Langholz, Communications
Janis Hochstetler, Static
- County Fair King and Queen Contest
- Iowa State Fair
Static Building
- Important Dates
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July 14th - Fair Entry deadline for static exhibits
July 17th - Static Exhibit Judging Day @ Jackson Building
- Static Exhibits
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Static exhibits will be judged on July 17th, 2023. Categories include photography, STEM, food & nutrition, woodworking, horticulture, and so much more!
Location: Jackson Building on the Madison County Fairgrounds
Time: 9:00 am
- Schedule
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2023 schedules not available. Check back soon!
- Forms & Write Ups
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A write-up should accompany each static exhibit explaining how the 4-H'er made their exhibit and what they learned. Check out this write up guide for more information.
Photography Exhibit Label (PDF) (Word)
Static Exhibit Goal Sheet (PDF) (Word)
- Helpful Links
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Elements and Principles of Design
- Evaluation Forms
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Food & Nutrition Evaluation Form
Digital Photography Evaluation Form
4-H Evaluating Exhibits Handbook - For judges and staff
- Age Groups
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Age for exhibiting at the Madison County Fair:
- Clover Kids (Grades K-3rd)
- Juniors (Grades 4th-6th)
- Intermediate (Grades 7th-8th)
- Seniors (Grades 9th-12th)
4-H'ers who have completed grades 5-12 are eligible to exhibit at the Iowa State Fair.
- Classes
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Animals
10110 - Animal Science
10120 - Veterinary ScienceAgriculture & Natural Resources
10210 - Crop Production & Plant Science
10220 - Conservation, Environment, & Sustainability
10222 - Entomology
10224 - Fish & Wildlife
10226 - Forestry
10230 - Horticulture & Plant Science
10230A - On-Site Garden
10235 - Home Grounds Improvement
10240 - Outdoor Adventures
10250 - Safety & Education in Shooting Sports
10260 - Other Agriculture & Natural ResourcesCreative Arts
10310 - Music
10320 - Photography
10340 - Creative Photography
10345 - Photography Idea/Educational Display
10350 - Visual Arts: Original Display
10355 - Visual Arts: Design, Process, or Technique Exploration
10360 - Visual Arts: Other Visual Arts Ideas/TopicsFamily & Consumer Science
10410 - Child Development
10420 - Clothing & Fashion: Constructed/Sewn Garments & Accessories
10422 - Clothing & Fashion: Purchased Garments & Accessories
10424 - Clothing & Fashion: Other Ideas/Educational Exhibits
10430 - Consumer Management
10440 - Food & Nutrition: Prepared Products
10442 - Food & Nutrition: Preserved Products
10445 - Food & Nutrition: Educational Display
10450 - Health
10460 - Home Improvement
10470 - Sewing & Needle Arts: Constructed Item
10472 - Sewing & Needle Arts: Other Ideas/Educational Exhibits
10480 - Other Family & Consumer ScienceSpecial Exhibition $10 Meal Challenge
10490 - $10 Meal Challenge
Personal Development
10510 - Citizenship & Civic Engagement
10520 - Communication
10530 - 4-H Poster Communication Exhibit
10540 - Digital Storytelling
10550 - Leadership
10560 - Self-DeterminedScience, Engineering, & Technology
10610 - Mechanics
10612 - Automotive
10613 - Automotive Display
10614 - Electric
10615 - Small Engine
10616 - Tractor
10617 - Tractor Display
10618 - Welding
10620 - Woodworking
10630 - Science, Engineering, & Technology
10632 - Aerospace
10634 - Robotics
Clothing Event
- Important Dates
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June 15th - Fair entry deadline for clothing
July 15th - Clothing event judging day @ Jackson Building
- Fashion Revue
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Fashion revue is for clothing project area members who will model an outfit of one to three pieces that they have constructed, hand-knitted, machine-knitted, or crocheted during the current 4-H year.
- $15 Challenge
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The $15 Challenge is for 4-H members to model an outfit purchased for $15 or less from resale venues such as garage sales, consignment, or thrift stores, etc., that represents an intended use for the selected outfit. The participant should have had individual or group experiences: choosing shopping alternatives; evaluating fit, quality, and construction features; and comparing prices. A receipt is required.
- Clothing Selection
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Clothing selection is for selected or purchased outfits that represent the 4-H member's goal or intended use based on individual or group experiences: choosing shopping alternatives; evaluating fit, quality, and construction features; and comparing prices.
- Forms
Questions?
Contact the Madison County Extension Office with any questions!
515-462-1001 or xmadison@iastate.edu
Need a form printed?
Paper copies of any fair forms are available at the Madison County Extension Office. Feel free to stop in and grab a copy to complete your exhibits. Goal sheets can be typed and printed or handwritten.
Need help with Fair Entry?
Check out these help sheets
4-H Online vs Fair Entry
4-H Online vs Fair Entry
Communications
Step outside of your comfort zone, show off a talent, give a presentation, or teach other how to do or make something.
- Important Dates
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June 15th - Fair Entry Deadline for communications
July 15th - Communications judging day @ Community Building
- Education Presentations
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This is an opportunity for 4-H'ers to demonstrate their communications skills by presenting knowledge, information, or a process to gain a desired response from an audience. This is in the format of a classroom presentation.
- Extemporaneous Speaking
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Similar to Spontaneous Speaking in school speech teams, a 4-H member draws 3 current events related to 4-H 30 minutes prior to speaking time. They select one of the topics and prepares a 4-6 minute speech on one side of the topic. No previously written outlines or speeches may be used. It's good to be able to think on your feet for this event. Extemporaneous speaking is designed to encourage the development of the life skill of communicating with others by enhancing their ability to think, organize, speak, and answer questions readily before an audience.
- Working Exhibits
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Working exhibits provide an opportunity for members to communicate and interact with an audience in an informal way. No set format needs to be used. This will be interactive for the audience to learn how to do something in a hands-on experiential way. A working exhibit should be a "teaching" or "showing" presentation. Examples include but aren't limited to: art, potato prints, cake decorating, dog grooming, puppet making, and more!
- Share the Fun
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This event runs similarly to a talent show and provides an opportunity for 4-H'ers to share their skills and talents before an audience purely for the sake of enjoyment.
Animal Care & Disclosure Statements
With fair approaching, don’t forget to provide Animal Care and Disclosure Statements for your livestock exhibitors!
- Beef
- Horse
- Meat Goat
- Sheep
- Swine Disclosure Form and Swine Reporting Form ( You need both completed at check in to show at the Madison County Fair)
Dog & Horse Policy
Dog & Horse Policy Updates
Premium Auction Information
Premium Auction Information
Weigh In Information
Who to Contact?
Who to Contact?
Livestock Check In Times
How can you help?
Want to donate to the 4-H Food Stand?
Contact the Extension Office with inquiries
FFA Advisors
Winterset FFA - Kaylee Miller
I-35 FFA - Katie Klingensmith
Earlham FFA - Zach Irving
Van Meter FFA - Maura Ballagh