Open to Anyone: Beef Cattle, (004), Breeding Gilt (011), Meat Goats Show 1 (023), Meat Goats Show 2 (024).

Open to North Carolina Residents Only: Remaining livestock competition classes.

Entry Deadline for All Livestock Shows: September 15th, 2026. 

• Only online entries will be accepted.
• Please refer to the Livestock Entries Premium Book for complete registration information.

• Entry Fees are required for all Divisions of the Livestock Competitions. 
• Please refer to the Livestock Premium Book for specific Entry Fee information.

• Exhibitors must provide a valid Social Security Number (SSN) or Employer Identification Number (EIN) at the time of registration to be able to receive a premium check. A valid SSN or EIN must be provided at registration--it cannot be provided at a later time.
  • If you decline to provide your SSN or EIN, please type in all 0's for your number to be able to continue the online registration process.
  • Inputting 000-00-0000 or any other obviously invalid SSN or EIN will automatically be regarded as a declination to provide a valid number and result in forfeiture of all premiums earned from any NC State Fair Competitions. Ribbons will still be awarded.

Parents:  Do not list your SSN on behalf of your children. SSN and EIN numbers provided must match the name of the registered exhibitor.  EIN cannot be used for individuals and SSN cannot be used for businesses, clubs, or groups. IRS guidelines require the NC State Fair to submit Tax Identification information for every premium that is paid by the Fair, regardless of the amount or age of the exhibitor.

You will receive a confirmation e-mail from the ShoWorks Online Registration Site.  Make sure that your confirmation e-mail does not say “pending” at the top of the e-mail.  If it does, then your registration is incomplete and you need to sign-in and submit the information.

No. The entry registration deadline is final. We do not allow late entries.

All health regulations are explained on page 13 of the Livestock Premium Book.

• Each show has a specific release time. Please refer to the Livestock Premium Book for specific release times.
• If animals are removed prior to the release time without prior approval from the Show Superintendent, all premiums will be forfeited. 

• Processing premium checks can take up to several weeks after the conclusion of the Fair.  
• We expect to mail premium checks to exhibitors no later than 60 days after the conclusion of the Fair.
• If there are any issues with an exhibitor's premium check after it is received, it may be corrected until January 31st of the following year.