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 Card – Complete this card after attending a species-specific education meeting/event to confirm attendance. The completed card should be uploaded by June 1 to the online portal that opens in April.
- To upload the education card, please save the document as a JPG, TIFF, or PDF. Youth can take a picture of the education card to upload.
- Complete Youth for the Quality Care of Animals (YQCA) certificate between 9/1/2025-6/1/2026.
- Submit your education card and YQCA certificate by June 1 via the ONLINE PORTAL - OPENS in APRIL. Failure to submit this card 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 ADDED AS APPROVED
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 (TO COME):
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, 2026 and paperwork returned to Dick Straub by May 3, 2026.
Dane County Fair Meat Animal Sale (MAS) Information
The Dane County Meat Animal Sale is managed by the Dane County Meat Animal Sale Association. This association is an organization of interested persons whose purpose is the organization and operation of the Dane County Meat (Large) Animal Sale. This is an independent association and is not connected to the Dane County Fair Board, Dane County 4-H Leaders Association, UW-Extension Office, or any other group. For questions, contact DaneCountyMeatAnimalSale@gmail.com or 2026 Sale Chair, Blayne Outhouse at (608) 669-0105.
The Meat Animal Sale will be held at the Dane County Fair on Friday, July 17, 2026 at 6:45 PM in Pavilion 2.
2025 MAS Scholarship Application (due by June 15) - COMING SOON