El Dorado County Fair Information

El Dorado County 4-H Youth Development Program
Requirements for Participation at County Fair

Youth may enroll in a project at anytime during the year, however the minimum requirements for successfully completing a Home Arts or Animal Science project, which qualifies the youth to participate in the County Fair are:

1. All youth members, must complete enrollment before attending any 4-H meetings/activities.
2. Youth members must attend 80% of all project meetings held from September 1st to the Monday of Fair in the current program year.
3. Youth must have a written 4-H record Annual Project Report (see Record Book Forms 4-H State web page) provide proof of supervision, the length of the project, attendance at meetings, and work completed in the project up-to-date.
4. The 4-H record must be submitted to the respective project leader. Leaders will review the record and sign to signify satisfactory progress in the project.
5. Fair entry forms with required club and/or project leader signatures must be submitted by the member to the fair office by the deadline stated in the fair premium book.Members must abide by rules governing participation at the El Dorado County Fair and/or other qualifying fairs are as stated in the respective Entry Guide.

Note: If a youth member fails to satisfy this attendance requirement by the Monday of fair week, their fair eligibility will be revoked, they will not be allowed to participate in the fair as a 4-H member, and they will not be allowed to bring that exhibit to the fair.

Animal Science Project Policies

1. 4-H project animals are to be under the immediate control of the 4-H owner. If the animal is kept at a place other than the 4-H owner’s home or property, a letter with full explanation of facts will be written to the El Dorado County 4-H Office within 10 days.

2. Any abuse of an animal, unethical treatment, or violations of these regulations by an exhibitor shall be referred to the County Director for disciplinary action and possible expulsion from the project.

3. State 4-H policy outlines age requirements for membership in the large livestock projects. Primary members (under the age of 9 as of January 1) will not be allowed to enroll in any project that requires large animal ownership, handling, or exhibition. Primary members may not enroll in large animal projects such as: beef, dairy goat, market goat, horse, sheep, or swine projects. Primary members may enroll in the following small animal projects: rabbit, cavy, poultry, Pygmy and Nigerian Dwarf goats. Primary members are not allowed to sell livestock but may participate in showmanship. Primary classes will be participation only. Primaries will not be judged; however feedback will be given.

4. Livestock ownership requirements for large/small animals will be as stated in the CFDA's 2017 State Rules for California Fairs and El Dorado County Fair Premium Book. In case of an emergency or excused absence at the time of fair, contact the fair office for current policy on allowing another member to show your animal for conformation.

5. All market animals shall be ear tagged according to current fair policy.

Home Arts Project Policies

1. Work must be created and/or owned by the 4-H exhibitor enrolled in a home arts project.

2. The guidelines for the specific levels (beginning, intermediate and advanced) of the clothing and foods projects must be followed. 

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This information can be downloaded here ( Requirements for Participation at County Fair v.2023 ).

Link to the El Dorado County Fair webpagepage.

El Dorado County 4-H youth members may enter the Junior Livestock, the Horse Show, Jr. Feature Exhibits and 4-H, Grange & FFA Department, if they meet the previous requirements.

Livestock Project Transfer

At the beginning of the year youths must choose in which organization they will carry their ownership/entrepreneurial project (i.e., project animal).

The Livestock Project Transfer Form that should be used when project animal transfers are taking place between organizations; 4-H, FFA, Grange, or Independent.

The form and policy regarding project transfers is outlined in the 4-H Policy Handbook Chapter 7, IV, E Animal Ownership.

Youth who transfer their animal project from 4-H to another organization may continue to stay involved in a 4-H leadership capacity within the same project.

California Department of Food and Agriculture

CDFA Fairs & Expositions

State Rules for California Fairs

4-H FFA Grange CDFA Agreement

CDFA Animal Health

Veterinarian-Client-Patient Relationship (VCPR) Practice Model – Youth Agriculture-CDFA Informational Brochure

California 4-H Age Divisions

Primary 4-H Members: 5 years to 8 years old as of December 31st of the program year.

Junior 4-H Members: 9 years to 10 years old as of December 31st of the program year. 

Intermediate 4-H Members: 11 years to 13 years old as of December 31st of the program year. 

Senior 4-H Members: 14 years to 19 years old as of December 31st of the program year.