EXHIBITOR'S GUIDE
At the Steele County Free Fair, our vibrant community shines as exhibitors come together to showcase their talents and crafts, making our fair truly special. Each year, we welcome participants from all walks of life to compete in friendly contests that highlight their skills. Dive into our exhibitor guide below for all the essential information you need, including the schedule of deadline dates for each department. Join us in celebrating creativity and camaraderie at the Steele County Free Fair where admission is always free!
2026 Department Deadline Dates
A helpful tip: If you register by August 1st, you won't miss any deadlines!
| Department | Register By: | Entry Day: | Release/Pick Up Day and Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| A: Light Horse, Class 1: Open Pleasure & Ranch | Fri, Aug 7 | Mon, Aug 17, 12:00pm | Dismissed after last class is shown; must be out of the barn by Tuesday, August 18, 7:00pm |
| A: Light Horse, Class 2: Games | Fri, Aug 7 | Tues, Aug 18, after 7:00pm | Dismissed after last class is shown; must be out of the barn on Wednesday, August 19 by 7:30pm |
| B: Draft Horse | Fri, Aug 31 | Fri, Aug 21, beginning at 8am | Sun, Aug 23, 5pm |
| C: Dairy Cattle | Sun, Aug 9 | Tues, Aug 18, before 5pm | Sun, Aug 23, 5pm |
| D: Sheep | Tues, Aug 11 | Tues, Aug 18 by 12pm | Wed, Aug 19, after the show |
| E: Meat Goats: Breeding Goats | Thurs, Aug 20 | Sat, Aug 22, by 3pm | Sat, Aug 22, 1 hour after the show |
| E: Meat Goats: Breeding Market Goats | Thurs, Aug 20 | Sat, Aug 22, 1pm-3pm | Sat, Aug 22, 1 hour after the show |
| F: Grains & Grasses | Fri, Aug 14 | Mon, Aug 17, 10am-5pm | Mon, Aug 24, 10am-12pm |
| G: Vegetables | Fri, Aug 14 | Mon, Aug 17, 10am-5pm, Class 11 may be entered by 8:30am on Tues, Aug 18 | Mon, Aug 24, 10am-12pm |
| H: Flowers: Class 1-10 | Fri, Aug 7 | Mon, Aug 17, 12pm - 7pm | Sun, Aug 23, 5pm-8pm OR Mon, Aug 24, 4pm-6pm |
| H: Flowers: Class 11-19 | Fri, Aug 7 | Wed, Aug 19, 12pm-5pm | Sun, Aug 23, 5pm-8pm OR Mon, Aug 24, 4pm-6pm |
| I: Fruit Crops | Tues, Aug 11 | Mon, Aug 17, 12pm-5pm | Sun, Aug 23, 8-9pm |
| J: Culinary Arts | Wed, Aug 12 | Mon, Aug 17, 8am-12:15pm | Mon, Aug 24, 10:30am-12pm |
| K: Textiles | Mon, Aug 10 | Fri, Aug 14, 5pm-7pm, OR Sat, Aug 15, 9am-12pm | Mon, Aug 24, 10:30am-12:30pm |
| L: Organic Crops | Fri, Aug 11 | Mon, Aug 17, 12pm-6pm | Sun, Aug 23, after 8pm |
| M: Fine Arts | Mon, Aug 10 | Sat, Aug 15, 9am-12pm | Sun, Aug 23, 7-8pm, OR Mon, Aug 24, 10am-12pm |
| N: Photography | Mon, Aug 10 | Entries to the Fair Office by Mon, Aug 10, 5pm | Sun, Aug 23, 5:30pm-7pm, OR Fair Office starting Mon, Aug 24, 12pm to Fri, Aug 28, 5pm |
| O: Hobbies | Mon, Aug 10 | Fri, Aug 14, 5pm-7pm, OR Sat, Aug 15, 9am-12pm | Mon, Aug 24, 10:30am-12:30pm |
| R: Wood Carving | No pre-registration needed | Sun, Aug 16, 1-2pm | Mon, Aug 24, 9:30am-10:30am |
| S: Homemade Beer | See entry form for online registration | Sun, Aug 16, 3:30pm-5:30pm, OR Mon, Aug 17, 5pm-7pm | Sun, Aug 23, 8pm |
| T: Youth Art | Mon, Aug 10 | Sat, Aug 15, 9am-12pm | Sun, Aug 23, 7pm-8pm, OR Mon, Aug 24, 10am-12pm |
| U: Rocks & Minerals | Email to rocksforfair@gmail.com by Aug 1 | Sun, Aug 16, 2pm-4pm, OR Mon, Aug 17, 11am-1pm | Sun, Aug 23, 8pm-9pm, OR Mon, Aug 24, 11am-12pm |
| V: Youth Livestock Judging: General Livestock Contest | Registration: Fri, Aug 21, 3:30pm | Fri, Aug 21, 4:30pm | N/A |
| V: Youth Livestock Judging: Dairy Contest | Registration: Fri, Aug 21, 3:30pm | Fri, Aug 21 5:30pm | N/A |
Below are the rules and entry opportunities to compete at the Steele County Free Fair. Entry forms can be found following the button below.
| Class: | Release/Pick Up Day & Time |
|---|---|
| Class 1: Open Pleasure & Ranch | Dismissed after last class is shown; must be out of the barn by Tuesday, August 18, 7:00pm |
| Class 2: Games | Dismissed after last class is shown; must be out of the barn on Wednesday, August 19 by 7:30pm |
| Class: | Register By: | Entry Day: |
|---|---|---|
| Class 1: Open Pleasure & Ranch | Fri, Aug 7 | Mon, Aug 17, 12:00pm |
| Class 2: Games | Fri, Aug 7 | Tues, Aug 18, after 7:00pm |
| Register By: | Entry Day: |
|---|---|
| Fri, Aug 14 | Fri, Aug 21, beginning at 8am |
| Release/Pick Up Day & Time |
|---|
| Sun, Aug 23, 5pm |
| Register By: | Entry Day: |
|---|---|
| Sun, Aug 9 | Tues, Aug 18, before 5pm |
| Release/Pick Up Day & Time |
|---|
| Sun, Aug 23, 5pm |
| Register By: | Entry Day: |
|---|---|
| Tues, Aug 11 | Tues, Aug 18 by 12pm |
| Release/Pick Up Day & Time |
|---|
| Wed, Aug 19, after the show |
| Class: | Register By: | Entry Day: |
|---|---|---|
| Breeding Goats | Thurs, Aug 20 | Sat, Aug 22, by 3pm |
| Breeding Market Goats | Thurs, Aug 20 | Sat, Aug 22, 1pm-3pm |
| Class: | Release/Pick Up Day & Time |
|---|---|
| Breeding Goats | Sat, Aug 22, 1 hour after the show |
| Breeding Market Goats | Sat, Aug 22, 1 hour after the show |
| Register By: | Entry Day: |
|---|---|
| Fri, Aug 14 | Mon, Aug 17, 10am-5pm |
| Release/Pick Up Day & Time |
|---|
| Mon, Aug 24, 10am-12pm |
| Register By: | Entry Day: |
|---|---|
| Fri, Aug 14 | Mon, Aug 17, 10am-5pm* |
*Class 11 may be entered by 8:30am on Tues, Aug 18
| Release/Pick Up Day & Time |
|---|
| Mon, Aug 24, 10am-12pm |
| Class: | Register By: | Entry Day: |
|---|---|---|
| Classes 1-10 | Fri, Aug 7 | Mon, Aug 17, 12pm - 7pm |
| Classes 11-19 | Fri, Aug 7 | Wed, Aug 19, 12pm-5pm |
| Release/Pick Up Day & Time |
|---|
| Sun, Aug 23, 5pm-8pm OR Mon, Aug 24, 4pm-6pm |
| Register By: | Entry Day: |
|---|---|
| Tues, Aug 11 | Mon, Aug 17, 12pm-5pm |
| Release/Pick Up Day & Time |
|---|
| Mon, Aug 24, 10am-12pm |
| Register By: | Entry Day: |
|---|---|
| Wed, Aug 12 | Mon, Aug 17, 8am-12:15pm |
| Release/Pick Up Day & Time |
|---|
| Mon, Aug 24, 10:30am-12pm |
| Register By: | Entry Day: |
|---|---|
| Mon, Aug 10 | Fri, Aug 14, 5pm-7pm, OR Sat, Aug 15, 9am-12pm |
| Release/Pick Up Day & Time |
|---|
| Mon, Aug 24, 10:30am-12:30pm |
| Register By: | Entry Day: |
|---|---|
| Fri, Aug 11 | Mon, Aug 17, 12pm-6pm |
| Release/Pick Up Day & Time |
|---|
| Sun, Aug 23, after 8pm |
| Register By: | Entry Day: |
|---|---|
| Mon, Aug 10 | Sat, Aug 15, 9am-12pm |
| Release/Pick Up Day & Time |
|---|
| Sun, Aug 23, 7-8pm, OR Mon, Aug 24, 10am-12pm |
| Register By: | Entry Day: |
|---|---|
| Mon, Aug 10 | Entries to the Fair Office by Mon, Aug 10, 5pm |
| Release/Pick Up Day & Time |
|---|
| Sun, Aug 23, 5:30pm-7pm, OR Fair Office starting Mon, Aug 24, 12pm to Fri, Aug 28, 5pm |
| Register By: | Entry Day: |
|---|---|
| Mon, Aug 10 | Fri, Aug 14, 5pm-7pm, OR Sat, Aug 15, 9am-12pm |
| Release/Pick Up Day & Time |
|---|
| Mon, Aug 24, 10:30am-12:30pm |
| Register By: | Entry Day: |
|---|---|
| No pre-registration needed | Sun, Aug 16, 1-2pm |
| Release/Pick Up Day & Time |
|---|
| Mon, Aug 24, 9:30am-10:30am |
| Register By: | Entry Day: |
|---|---|
| See entry form for online registration | Sun, Aug 16, 3:30pm-5:30pm, OR Mon, Aug 17, 5pm-7pm |
| Release/Pick Up Day & Time |
|---|
| Sun, Aug 23, 8pm |
| Register By: | Entry Day: |
|---|---|
| Mon, Aug 10 | Sat, Aug 15, 9am-12pm |
| Release/Pick Up Day & Time |
|---|
| Sun, Aug 23, 7pm-8pm, OR Mon, Aug 24, 10am-12pm |
| Register By: | Entry Day: |
|---|---|
| Email to rocksforfair@gmail.com by Aug 1 | Sun, Aug 16, 2pm-4pm, OR Mon, Aug 17, 11am-1pm |
| Release/Pick Up Day & Time |
|---|
| Sun, Aug 23, 8pm-9pm, OR Mon, Aug 24, 11am-12pm |
| Class: | Register By: | Entry Day: |
|---|---|---|
| General Livestock Contest | Fri, Aug 21, 3:30pm | Fri, Aug 21, 4:30pm |
| Dairy Contest | Fri, Aug 21, 3:30pm | Fri, Aug 21 5:30pm |
