If you want to see what 4-H is all about, make sure to visit the Illinois State Fair. Award-winning 4-H members display their general project work during three amazing days of the Illinois State Fair at the Orr Building. Check out the 4-H members exhibiting in the state fair junior livestock show as they compete for grand champion honors in sheep, goats, swine, dairy, and beef. The Illinois State Fair Junior show welcomes people to the fair early to watch a full week of horse shows. There's never a dull moment during the Illinois State Fair. Make plans to join us!
The best of the best is on display at the 4-H General Project Show at the Illinois State Fair August 11, 12, & 13!
Daily Schedule at the Orr Building
- 8:00 – 9:00 AM Project Drop off at the Orr Building
- 9:00 – 3:30 PM Project Judging Interviews until 3:30 PM
- 3:30 PM Projects Released
- 4:30 PM All Projects Must Be Picked Up
Click here for a map of the Orr Building.
2023 County Exhibit Days
Friday, August 11: Christian, Clark, Clay, Cook, Crawford, DeKalb, DuPage, Edgar, Effingham, Fayette, Franklin, Jackson, Jasper, Jersey, Johnson, Kane, Kendall, Livingston, Logan, Macoupin, Massac, McLean, Menard, Montgomery, Ogle, Perry, Pulaski-Alexander, Randolph, Sangamon, Union, Williamson, Woodford
Saturday, August 12: Adams, Bond, Brown, Calhoun, Cass, Clinton, Edwards, Gallatin, Greene, Grundy, Hamilton, Hancock, Henderson, Jefferson, Kankakee, Knox, Lake, Lawrence, Madison, Marion, McDonough, McHenry, Monroe, Morgan, Pike, Pope-Hardin, Richland, Saline, Schuyler, Scott, St. Clair, Wabash, Warren, Washington, Wayne, White, Will
Sunday, August 13: Boone, Bureau, Carroll, Champaign, Coles, Cumberland, DeWitt, Ford, Fulton, Henry, Iroquois, Jo Daviess, LaSalle, Lee, Macon, Marshall-Putnam, Mason, Mercer, Moultrie-Douglas, Peoria, Piatt, Rock Island, Shelby, Stark, Stephenson, Tazewell, Vermilion, Whiteside, Winnebago
Parking at the Fair
Families may buy parking passes at the fairgrounds or park at private lots around the fairgrounds.
Map of the Illinois State Fairgrounds
Need directions? DOWNLOAD A MAP of the fairgrounds.
Exhibit Guidelines
Click the link to view and/or download the 2022 exhibit guidelines for the State Fair. Updated guidelines for 2023 will be posted soon. If you have questions about copyright, please view the Copyright Guidelines document or view our Clover Resources.
4-H Now App
The State Fair Illinois 4-H General Project Show has gone mobile! View the schedule, maps, exhibitor info, and more. Find the app in the iOS and Google Play App Stores or visit https://grandstandsites.com/gs?c=Illinois_4-H. Or view App Download Instructions for more information.
First-time Fairgoer Brochure
First time exhibiting at State Fair? Download a copy of our First-time Fairgoer Brochure for more information on what to expect! Learn more about Conference Judging Information for the 4-H Family Course. You will be asked to login, but just choose "login as a guest."
Poultry Show Update
The Illinois Department of Agriculture announced both junior and open live shows at the Illinois State Fair will be canceled for 2022 to protect from highly pathogenic avian influenza.
Illinois State Fair junior poultry exhibitors will continue to have an opportunity to receive recognition and premiums through a virtual poster competition. Rules and entry requirements will be available at www.illinoisstatefair.info. To allow time for junior poultry exhibitors to adapt to the new format the Illinois State Fair will extend the entry deadline to July 15, 2022.
County fair 4-H junior poultry shows started the season with a virtual format and will continue throughout the entire county fair season. These shows allow youth exhibitors to demonstrate through posters and/or virtual exhibitions.
To read the full update from IDOA, please head here: https://go.illinois.edu/AvianFluRelease6-22
Volunteer at State Fair
To learn more about volunteer opportunities at State Fair, please view our Volunteer Flier. Learn more about the process with the Judges Orientation. You will be asked to login, but just choose "login as a guest."