All youth planning to show Dairy at the Dane County Fair must meet these species specific educational requirements:

• Attend at least one approved education event (listed below)
• Education Requirement Form – Complete this form after attending a species-specific education meeting/event to confirm attendance. The completed form should be uploaded by June 1 to the FairEntry portal with your entries that opens in April.
  • To upload the education form, please save the document as a JPG, TIFF, or PDF. Youth can take a picture of the education form to upload.
• Complete Youth for the Quality Care of Animals (YQCA) certificate between 9/1/2025-6/1/2026.
  
• Complete all training, and submit education form and YQCA certificate number by June 1 to FairEntry - OPENS in APRIL. Failure to submit this form and YQCA will make you ineligible to show your animal at the Dane County Fair.
• If showing in more than one species, youth must complete and submit the requirements for each species separately.

2026 Approved Education Offerings - TO BE ANNOUNCED AS APPROVED

• 1/12/2026 – Animal Health, Illness, and Common Treatments for Livestock from 6:00pm-7:00pm at St. Martin School (5959 St. Martin Circle, Cross Plains). No Cost. Open to All youth. The Ashton Go Getters 4-H Club is hosting an education opportunity focused on animal health, illnesses, symptoms of stress, and common treatments. Learn how to keep your animal healthy and happy, especially if they are going to travel to a fair this summer. Dr. Shane from Waunakee Veterinary Service will present the information. Animals covered will be beef, dairy, swine, sheep, goats, poultry, and rabbits. This meeting is designed for youth in Grades 3+ and all youth should have an adult present. NOTE: This session ONLY counts towards ONE species. Youth MUST have different education per species. RSVP with Mary – 608-212-4173 or m.hellenbrand@outlook.com

• 3/17/26 - 4-H Dairy Judging - First Practice at 7pm-8pm - Find out what it's all about! Location: Dane County 4-H Office, 5201 Fen Oak, Madison. Mark your calendars for the 4-H Dairy Judging information meeting and first practice. Join us to learn more about Dairy Judging and how you can get involved in the 4-H statewide event. Judging dairy cattle is a comparative evaluation of cattle in which animals are ranked based on their closeness to “ideal” dairy conformation. No fee or need to pre-register for this meeting. Dairy Judging Practice is designed for youth in grades 3+.

• 4/18/26 - Jefferson County 4-H Project Learning Day - Livestock, 9:00am - 1:00pm, Jefferson County Fair Park, 503 N Jackson Ave, Jefferson, WI. This learning day hosted by Jefferson County 4-H Youth Leaders is for youth in grades 3+ interested in learning about beef, sheep, swine and dairy. Sessions related to feeding & nutrition, daily care, herdsmanship, fitting, and showmanship. Youth will attend 3 sessions and can choose different species for each session. Must attend full day 9am-12:15pm. Lunch at 12:20pm is optional/$5 and Awards & Prizes will be held from 12:45-1:00pm. See Registration Form for Session Choices Any questions: jerry.wilcenski@wisc.edu

• 4/20/26 - 4H Dairy Judging - 7:00pm - 8:00pm, Endres Berryridge Farms, 7094 Hyer Road, Waunakee, Join us to learn more about Dairy Judging and how you can get involved in the 4-H statewide event. Judging dairy cattle is a comparative evaluation of cattle in which animals are ranked based on their closeness to “ideal” dairy conformation. No fee or need to pre-register for this meeting. Dairy Judging Practice is designed for youth in grades 3+.

• 4/21/26 and 5/19/2026 - Badger Dairy Insight - 11am – 12pm A monthly webinar on topics from reproduction and genetics, animal health and welfare, nutrition, and emerging technologies. To see the monthly speaker please visit dairy.extension.wisc.edu, go to Events.

• 4/27/26 - 4H Dairy Judging - 7:00pm - 8:00pm, Nick Woldt, 1749 Meadow Lane, Sun Prairie Join us to learn more about Dairy Judging and how you can get involved in the 4-H statewide event. Judging dairy cattle is a comparative evaluation of cattle in which animals are ranked based on their closeness to “ideal” dairy conformation. No fee or need to pre-register for this meeting. Dairy Judging Practice is designed for youth in grades 3+.
  More dates will be added and are usually held at a variety of local farms. Participating in Dairy Judging provides an excellent opportunity for youth to not only increase their knowledge of evaluating dairy cattle but also develop and hone valuable communication skills that will be useful for a lifetime. Youth do not need to attend all practices to participate in competitions.

• 5/6/26 - 4H Dairy Judging - 7:00pm - 8:00pm, Fertile Ridge, 2190 State Road 78, Mount Horeb

• 5/11/26 - 4H Dairy Judging - 7:00pm - 8:00pm, Langer Dairy Farm, 7833 Helmke Road, DeForest

• 5/18/26 - 4H Dairy Judging - 7:00pm - 8:00pm, Fischerdale Holsteins, 1487 Range Trail, Verona

• Monday, April 20 @ 7PM: Endres Berryridge Farms, 7094 Hyer Road, Waunakee
• Monday, April 27 @ 7PM: Nick Woldt, 1749 Meadow Lane, Sun Prairie
• Wednesday, May 6 @ 7PM: Fertile Ridge, 2190 State Road 78, Mount Horeb
• Monday, May 11 @ 7PM: Langer Dairy Farm, 7833 Helmke Road, DeForest
• Monday, May 18 @ 7PM: Fischerdale Holsteins, 1487 Range Trail, Verona
• Week of May 25: No practice (Memorial Day)

Education events after June 1st entry deadline are allowed, please submit entries by June 1st, add education to entry by June 15

• 6/13/26 – Dane County Breakfast on the Farm Education Volunteer or Presenter

• 4-H Team Dairy Judging Practices - variety of dates
• Dairy Judging Team Member/Leadsperson
• Dane County Dairy Bowl 4-H Team Member
• Dane County Dairy Bowl – Attended Practices
• District Show Exhibitor – Holstein and Color Breed equivalent
• Mid-West National Holstein Show Exhibitor
• PDPW Leadership Program
• WI State/National Breed Show
• World Dairy Expo - Exhibitor in a Breed Show (list breed show(s) on education card)
• FFA Dairy Education Qualifying Events:
  • FFA Dairy Cow Judging or Dairy Products Judging
  • FFA State Dairy Judging/Showmanship
  • FFA State Dairy Proficiency Application Completed
  • Central National FFA Dairy Events (Dairy Evaluation or Milk Quality)
  • SC WI FFA Regional CDE – Janesville (Dairy Evaluation or Milk Quality)
  • SW WI FFA Regional CDE – Platteville (Dairy Evaluation or Milk Quality)
  • State FFA CDE – Madison (Dairy Evaluation, Milk Quality, or Dairy Handling)
  • Completion of State FFA Dairy Proficiency Award or Diversified Livestock (that includes dairy)
  • Current school year completion of high school (must have dairy unit) or technical college (transcripted credit) Animal Science course