BCYF Exhibits Entry Deadline Is Fast Approaching
Published: Friday, May 29, 2026
The deadline for large animals to be exhibited at the 2026 Berrien County Youth Fair is June 1.
Animals needing to be registered by June 1 include dairy, sheep, goats, swine, llamas/alpacas, equine and beef breeding.
Registration is open to any Berrien County resident ages 5-20 years of age. Exhibitor age is as of Jan. 1.
Online registration is available for all departments, except equine. Equine must complete an equine entry form and return it to the BCYF office by June 1.
Online registration has been updated to a new program this year. It will look different, but the general process is the same. Exhibitors should create a user name and password, which will be carried over from year to year. Options for families or group entries are available. Once registered, exhibitors can return to the program and add more entries up until each entry deadline, with the exception of equine.
The exhibitor's printed confirmation will serve as the traditional yellow copy of the entry form and is required on entry day, just as the yellow copy of the traditional entry form is. The link for online entries can be found at bcyf.org.
Entry forms may be brought to the fair office between the hours of 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. Monday through Friday prior to June 1 or postmarked by June 1 or registration forms can be placed in the drop box outside the fair office after office hours or until 6 p.m. on June 1.
Animal identification rules from the U.S. Department of Agriculture include:
Dairy and Beef must have official MDARD identification tag, Tag Hotline 888/565-8626, or have registered breed tattoo accompanied by breed registration papers.
Goats must have official USDA Scrapie identification tag, Tag Hotline 517/337-4705, or have registered breed tattoo accompanied by breed registration papers.
Sheep must have official USDA Scrapie tag, Tag Hotline 517/337-4705, swine market ear tags must be a USDA 840 tag, Tag Hotline 888/565-8626,
All applicable USDA scrapie, RFID and 840 tag numbers must be on the entry form when it is turned in to the fair office by the June 1 deadline, so youth need to order their tags as soon as possible. Exhibitors wishing to enter a registered goat must turn in a copy of goat registration papers with entry form.
In addition to the USDA required ear tag, individuals registering market animals, with the exception of swine will also need BCYF market tags. Sheep and goat tags will be dispersed on June 3 and 4 during the mandatory sheep and goat tagging event held at the BCYF. All goat and sheep BCYF ear tags must be in the animals' ear by June 4 or the entry will be disqualified. Swine tags must be in ears by July 11.
Other registration deadlines include: July 1: small animals including: rabbits, poultry, cats, dogs and pocket pets and Aug. 1 still exhibits including crafts, home economics, flowers, horticulture and variety classes.
As a reminder, there are limited numbers of exhibitor handbooks and entry forms available at the Berrien County Youth Fair, all Berrien County Public libraries, Baroda City Mills in Baroda; Country Heritage Credit Union in Buchanan; Family Farm and Home in Benton Harbor; Tractor Supply Company, Rural King and Mark Farm Supply in Niles; Seifert's Farm Supply in Three Oaks and Tractor Supply Company in Stevensville.
No late registrations will be accepted. Questions can be addressed by contacting the fair office at 269/473-4251 or entry@bcyf.org. Dates for the 2026 Berrien County Youth Fair are Aug. 17-22 with the theme "Happy Birthday America!"
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