Families are encouraged to have realistic conversations about the time and other resources that animal projects require. Animal projects will take a minimum of one hour daily to care for the basic needs, such as feeding, watering and vet care of the animal. Market beef projects typically start in November or December and continue through until July or August. Pig, sheep and goat market projects start in April or May and continue through July or August. Training and preparing an animal for show will take several additional hours per day. Breeding projects are a year-round commitment for both the member and family.

Rules and Regulations (updates for current 4-H year coming soon)

The Livestock Committee developed Rules and Regulation for each of the Livestock Project areas to help members know what to expect throughout the year and at fair. Download your specific project Rules and Regulations for the Fair. Please print from the following links.  These are also available at the Extension Office.

Quality Assurance 

For any animal project, large or small. Guidelines for a 4-H or FFA member will be required to take QA two times:
  1. once for youth 13 and under and
  2. once for youth 14 and over. 
For Market projects, Quality Assurance must be completed prior to sale.

Weigh In

In order for you to show your market animal for sale at the Ravalli County Fair, it must be tagged and weighed in.  Read the 4-H newsletter for event details.

  • Beef Weigh In - First Saturday in January
  • Swine Weigh In - Saturday, May 16, 8 AM - 1 PM at the Ravalli County Fairgrounds
  • Sheep/Goat Weigh In - Wednesday, May 27, 5-8 PM at the Ravalli County Fairgrounds
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), Montana State University and Montana State University Extension prohibit discrimination in all of their programs and activities on the basis of race, color, national origin, gender, religion, age, disability, political beliefs, sexual orientation, and marital and family status. Issued in furtherance of cooperative extension work in agriculture and home economics, acts of May 8 and June 30, 1914, in cooperation with the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Cody Stone, Director of Extension, Montana State University, Bozeman, MT 59717.