All youth planning to show Swine 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 from September 1. 2026 through June 1, 2027 to confirm attendance. The completed form should be uploaded by June 1 to the FairEntry portal 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.
- Submit your education form and YQCA certificate number by June 1 in FairEntry when submitting your entries. Failure to submit this form 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.
2027 Approved Education Offerings - TO BE ADDED AS APPROVED
- Discover 4-H Swine Curriculum – DCF Education Requirement - Grades 3-5 and beginners – Review section 1 and complete the Project Game Plan on pages 6-7. Upload answer sheet with education card. For all ages – Review packet and complete page 31 Common Showmanship Questions for your animal. Upload answer sheet with education card.
- Online Swine Education Videos - Approved options for those unable to attend an in-person session. Provider: Iowa State University - Select Swine - Beginner, Intermediate or Advanced, then select a few topics to have an hour of online education
- FFA Curriculum
- FFA Livestock Evaluation Contest - have your advisor sign the education form
Additional Information
Squeaky Clean Biosecurity Plan Fact Sheet – pdf
Swine Health Rules
Dane County Fair Swine Tag Pick Up
Saturday, April 18, 2026 from 9:00 AM - 11:00 AM at the 4-H/UW Extension Office on Fen Oak Drive, Madison.
All paperwork will be provided. Contact Dick Straub at Richard.straub@wisc.edu with questions.
SWINE TAGGING PROCESS - REVIEW PREMIUM BOOK INFORMATION FOR MORE DETAILS
This year you will need to pick up tags and put in your own animals.
The picking up of tags will occur, on Saturday, April 18, 2026 from 9:00-11:00am at the Extension/4-H Office, 5201 Fen Oak Drive, Madison. Stop in anytime.
You must know the breed, sex, and ear notches for the animal(s).
You must own the animal(s).
A parent or guardian must be present to sign.
Rope kits for PRRS testing will be provided as long as supply lasts
For gilts, you must designate either market or breeding
If pigs cannot go home Sunday evening of fair due to biosecurity concerns, this must be arranged at registration, not later.
If you cannot attend this registration, must make arrangements with Blayne Outhouse (farmerblayne@gmail.com) or Dick Straub (Richard.straub@wisc.edu) before April 18 for alternative (not day of or later)
Tags then should be attached to the animals by May 1, 2027 and paperwork returned to Dick Straub by May 3, 2027.
Dane County Fair Meat Animal Sale (MAS) Information
The Meat Animal Sale will be held at the Dane County Fair on Friday, July 16, 2027 at 6:45 PM in Pavilion 2.
2026 MAS SCHOLARSHIP APPLICATION (due by June 15)