Event Details

Date:  April 28, 2026

Location: Stock Pavilion, 1402 West Pennsylvania Avenue, Urbana, IL

Entry Fee: $10 per senior participant (covers lunch)

Parking

There is limited street parking in front of the Stock Pavilion and it is all metered parking so if you wish to park close please bring quarters or use the Mobile Meter App.

Schedule

• Registration: 8:30 a.m.
• Check-in Deadline: 9:30 a.m.
• Contest Begins: 10:00 a.m.

Note: New Scantron scoring will replace judging cards this year. Find Cards Here. 

Contest Structure

• Species Judged: 3 beef classes, 3 swine classes, 2 sheep classes
• Possible Substitution: 1 class of meat goats may replace a class of another species
• Questions Class: 15 total (5 beef, 5 swine, 5 sheep)
• Scoring
  • Teams consist of 4 members; top 3 scores count toward the team score
  • Individual honors also awarded

Eligibility & Participation

• County Entries
  • Up to 5 four-member teams (combination of junior and senior, with at least one team in each division)
  • Unlimited individuals allowed
• Junior Division
  • Must not have passed 14th birthday by January 1, 2025
  • Junior-age youth may not compete in the senior division

Senior Division

• Must be 14–18 years old as of January 1, 2025
• Exceptions:
  • Members who have completed a year of college must compete as individuals, not team members
  • Members who previously competed at the American Royal must enter as individuals

Registration 

Coaches must login and register total number of senior contestants and pay for each one online at the following registration site.

Register here! 

Entry Fee: $10 per senior participant (covers lunch)

General Rules

1. All contestants must be 4-H members and a record of their enrollment must be on file in the respective University of Illinois Extension Office.
2. Contestants need not be enrolled in a project pertaining to the field in which they participate; however, state judging events should be used to support the county/club 4-H livestock curriculum.
3. Registration is to be made on the day of the contest at the site of the contest. Fill out completely a registration card for each team in each contest.  Turn in the card at the contest.
4. Members of past county 4-H judging teams who have represented Illinois at the American Royal Invitational Livestock Judging Contest are eligible for the State 4-H Livestock Judging Contest and are in addition to the team of four members.
5. Individuals who have completed a year of college are not eligible to judge at the American Royal contest.  If you have a contestant that has completed a year of college, please enter that person as an individual in addition to your senior team.
6. Contestants & coaches will not be allowed near the classes to be judged before the 10:00 am starting time.
7. Each contestant must have a pencil and eraser.
8. Senior contestants will give 3 sets of oral reasons and answer 15 questions (1 swine, 1 beef, 1 sheep or goats).
9. Junior participants will answer 1 set of 15 questions (5 per specie).
10. Twelve (12) minutes will be allowed for each class when no reasons are required, and fifteen (15) minutes will be allowed on the reasons classes. Two (2) minutes will be allowed to give oral reasons to the judge.
11. Water will be provided for contestants. Jackets and ties are not encouraged due to heat.
12. Errors in calculation of results, which are reported, will be corrected up to July 2nd .  
13. 4-H members wishing to try out for the State Team must judge in this contest to be eligible.