Hopkinton Fairgrounds
392 Kearsarge Ave
Contoocook, NH 03229
United States
NH 4-H is excited to launch this NEW event for 2026- the Livestock Field Day! 4-H members are invited to attend this event to dive deep into the beef, dairy, sheep, goat and working steer species. The weekend will feature hands-on workshops to prepare for the show season ahead including fitting, showmanship, feeds and nutrition, veterinary science, and more, all while meeting 4-H members from across the state from different animal project areas.
4-H Livestock Field Days is a 2-day event with the option for 4-H members to camp at the fairgrounds! Staying overnight will help new members gain a true “fair experience” and learn what it’s like to prepare an animal for show away from home. Participants may also just attend for one day on Saturday.
4-H members are invited to bring their animals to the event to practice in an environment similar to a fair, before the official fair season begins. 4-H members do not need to bring an animal to participate.
Registration required by June 1st.
Cost: (Scholarships are available. Please reach out to Hannah before the event.)
- Cloverbuds: $5 (ages 5-7). Cloverbuds will have dedicated activities during Saturday morning only.
- Members: $25 for Saturday; $45 for Saturday and Sunday
- Camping is an additional $45/family for the weekend.
- Food for all youth participants will be provided.
Hannah Majewski
4-H Animal Science Field Specialist
603 255 3508
Animals that attend this event must follow all NH 4-H Animal Guidelines (including a rabies vaccine at least 30 days prior to the event). All the guidelines can be found at: https://extension.unh.edu/new-hampshire-4-h/pathways/new-hampshire-4-h-animal-science.
Schedule
3:00-5:00pm: Animal and camper check in
5:30-7:00pm: Ag Career Panel presented by the NH 4-H Ag Ambassadors
7:00-8:30am: Animal and camper check in
8:30-9:00am: Registration
9:00-9:30 am: Welcome and ice breakers
9:30-11:30am
- “Cloverbud Corner” Cloverbuds will have dedicated activities during this time.
- Sheep and Goat: Washing, trimming, shearing
- 8-11 year olds: 1:1 help
- 12-18 year olds: Fitting contest
- WS: Fitting and showmanship clinic
- Beef: Fitting demonstration
- 8-11 year olds: 1:1 help
- 12-18 year olds: Fitting contest
- Dairy: Wash heifers, feeds and nutrition workshop
11:30am-12:15pm: Lunch
12:30-2:00
- Sheep and Goat Showmanship Practice
- WS: Cart class work
- Beef: Feed and nutrition workshop
2:00-3:00pm
- Beef: Showmanship clinic
- WS: Stone boat class work
- Sheep and Goat: Feed and nutrition workshop
12:30-3:00pm
- Dairy fitting demonstration and work time
- 8-11 year olds: 1:1 help
- 12-18 year olds: Fitting contest
3:00-5:00pm: Industry Workshop Rotations
- 8-11 year olds
- Barn and Equipment Safety
- Vet Science
- Anatomy/ Dissection
- Judging Fruit
- 12-18 year olds
- Big E
- AI Simulation
- Anatomy/ Dissection
- Judging Fruit
5:00-6:00pm: Chores, finish clipping/ shearing
6:00-6:45pm: Dinner
6:45-8:00pm: Activities lead by NH 4-H Ag Ambassadors
7:30-8:15: Breakfast (chores done and animals washed prior to breakfast)
8:15-9:30am:
- Dairy: fitting and prep time
- Sheep and goat: fitting and prep time
9:00-9:45am:
- Beef: Showmanship
- Working Steer: Showmanship contests
9:45-11:45am:
- Dairy Showmanship
- Sheep and goat showmanship contest
- Beef
- WS
11:45-12:15pm: Awards and Pack Up
Sponsorship Form
Interested in supporting the event? We are seeking sponsors to help make this program possible. View the sponsor packet for more information, and reach out to hannah.majewski@unh.edu for more information.
Logo Contest!
We are looking for creative 4-H members to help us design a logo for this event! Check out the criteria and send your logo designs to hannah.majewski@unh.edu by April 6th. The 4-Her of the winning design will win a FREE piece of Livestock Field Day apparel!
Criteria for 4-H Livestock Field Day logo contest
If you need an accommodation to participate in our programming, please contact Hannah Majewski before the event. Given ample time, we will make any reasonable effort to meet your needs, including language access services if requested, which will be provided free of charge.
