Welcome!

We are excited that you have chose a livestock project in the 2025-2026 Indiana 4-H Youth Development Program! This page contains most of the information you will need to know this year. Make sure to review your club's information packet for more specifics for your project. Be sure to reach out to your club volunteers as well.

If your animal requires Animal ID information to be uploaded into 4-H Online, you must complete this by May 15, 2026 in order to be able to show. You must also complete FairEntry by June 25, 2026 to show your animal.

There are a lot of different ways for you to be involved on a county wide level from career development events and our Livestock Skillathon Contest held in June. We encourage you to participate in one of these great events to grow your skillset and challenge your learning.

Don’t forget to keep your email address and contact information up-to-date with our office so that you are getting our newsletter - the Friday 4-H Nugget! If you have any questions or need assistance along the way, please contact the Purdue Extension Elkhart County office at (574) 533-0554 or your club leaders.

Contact Us

Robby Kelly
County Extension Director
Extension Educator -
4-H Youth Development
574-533-0554
kelly115@purdue.edu 

Purdue Extension Elkhart County
Elkhart County 4-H Fairgrounds
17746 County Road 34 Ste E
Goshen, IN 46528

4-H Livestock Club Contacts

Below is a list of 4-H Livestock Club leaders. Be sure to reach out to leaders for information and assistance.

Animal ID - Required

Beef & Dairy Beef Steers

Commercial/Market Heifers & Dairy Feeder

Beef, Registered Heifers

Dairy Cattle Females

Dairy Goat: Females, Registered

Dairy Goat: Wethers

Meat Goat Wethers

Boer Goat Females (Registered)

Beef & Dairy Beef Steers

County Required Animal Information

  • 840-RFID Tag
  • 5-digit County Tag

Additional State Required Animal Information

  • DNA Hair Sample

Commercial & Market Heifers & Dairy Feeder

County Required Animal Information

  • 840-RFID Tag
  • 5-digit County Tag

Additional State Required Animal Information

  • DNA Hair Sample

Beef, Registered Heifers

County Required Animal Information

  • 840-RFID Tag
  • Tattoo

Additional State Required Animal Information

  • DNA Hair Sample

Dairy Cattle Females

County Required Animal Information

  • 840-RFID Tag
  • Animal's registered name
  • Animal's registration number (or dam's registration number)

Additional State Required Animal Information

  • DNA Hair Sample

Dairy Goat: Females, Registered

County Required Animal Information

  • Registered: Breed Registry Tattoo
  • Unregistered: Scrapie Tag or Tattoo

Additional State Required Animal Information

  • DNA Hair Sample

Dairy Goat: Wethers

County Required Animal Information

  • 5-digit County Tag or Tattoo (Tattoo is only acceptable if the goat doesn't have ears big enough to tag)

Additional State Required Animal Information

  • DNA Hair Sample

Meat Goat Wethers

County Required Animal Information

  • 5-digit County Tag

Additional State Required Animal Information

  • DNA Hair Sample
  • 840-RFID Tag

Boer Goat Females (Registered)

County Required Animal Information

  • Breed Registry Tattoo

Additional State Required Animal Information

  • DNA Hair Sample

Beef & Dairy Beef Steers

County Required Animal Information

  • 840-RFID Tag
  • 5-digit County Tag

Additional State Required Animal Information

  • DNA Hair Sample

Commercial & Market Heifers & Dairy Feeder

County Required Animal Information

  • 840-RFID Tag
  • 5-digit County Tag

Additional State Required Animal Information

  • DNA Hair Sample

Beef, Registered Heifers

County Required Animal Information

  • 840-RFID Tag
  • Tattoo

Additional State Required Animal Information

  • DNA Hair Sample

Dairy Cattle Females

County Required Animal Information

  • 840-RFID Tag
  • Animal's registered name
  • Animal's registration number (or dam's registration number)

Additional State Required Animal Information

  • DNA Hair Sample

Dairy Goat: Females, Registered

County Required Animal Information

  • Registered: Breed Registry Tattoo
  • Unregistered: Scrapie Tag or Tattoo

Additional State Required Animal Information

  • DNA Hair Sample

Dairy Goat: Wethers

County Required Animal Information

  • 5-digit County Tag or Tattoo (Tattoo is only acceptable if the goat doesn't have ears big enough to tag)

Additional State Required Animal Information

  • DNA Hair Sample

Meat Goat Wethers

County Required Animal Information

  • 5-digit County Tag

Additional State Required Animal Information

  • DNA Hair Sample
  • 840-RFID Tag

Boer Goat Females (Registered)

County Required Animal Information

  • Breed Registry Tattoo

Additional State Required Animal Information

  • DNA Hair Sample

Quality Assurance Program Requirement

All 4-H youth that are exhibiting the following will need to complete the Indiana 4-H Quality Livestock Cares program or Youth for Quality Care of Animals program: Beef, Dairy Feeder, Dairy, Lamb, Swine, Goat, Poultry and Rabbits. This program will allow the youth to learn more about their role in food animal production, food safety, animal care, and how to use the life skills they learn from their projects.

The Indiana 4-H Livestock Quality care program will only be offered in person and is $3.00 (cash/check) payable at the door during the class. You will need to pre-register for the classes in 4-H Online: https://2025-26QLC.4honline.com

Indiana 4-H will recognize the Youth for Quality Care of Animals program this year as we transition, but this will only be offered online at https://yqcaprogram.org . The online version is $12.00. If you chose to complete the online version, you must drop off a copy of the certificate to the Extension Office or email a copy to elkhartces@purdue.edu  

The requirement will need to be completed by June 15, 2026 in order to be able to show at the Elkhart County 4-H Fair.

Session Dates & Times

  • February 2, 2026 at 6:00pm - Sheep/Swine Arena (prior to Lamb meeting)
  • February 17, 2026 at 6:00pm - Sheep/Swine Arena (prior to Goat meeting)
  • February 19, 2026 at 6:30pm - Ag Hall
  • March 16, 2026 at 6:00pm - Maple Hall (prior to Beef meeting)
  • March 17, 2026 at 6:00pm - Sheep/Swine Arena (prior to Goat meeting)
  • March 30, 2026 at 6:30pm - ECCC (Room A)
  • April 13, 2026 at 6:30pm - ECCC (Room B)
  • April 21, 2026 at 6:00pm - Maple Hall (prior to Goat meeting)
  • April 25, 2026 at 9:30am - Fair Board Room
  • May 5, 2026 at 6:30pm - Fair Board Room

 

Animal Information

What is a Premises ID?

 If you are planning to show livestock (excluding rabbits, cats, dogs, and horses), it is important that you obtain a Premises ID number from the Indiana State Board of Animal Health (BOAH). A Premises ID is a unique number assigned to the place where your animals are kept. This is part of the national animal traceability program, and allows for tracking and movement of animals. This is important for animal health and safety. You will have to have this information with you when you ID your animal for the 4-H program. Premises ID numbers are free, and easy to get. You can obtain yours by visiting BOAH’s website at www.in.gov/boah or by calling 877-747-3038.

What is 4HOnline?

4HOnline is our web-based data management system. This is where you sign up, get Project information, and Animal ID information. This allows the Purdue Extension office and 4-H Club leaders to generate reports and other items that they need to inform you of events, and project information. You as a 4-H family can read our newsletters, update your contact information and sign up for events using the V2.4HOnline system. It is important if you move, or change a phone number or email address that you update that information in your family profile. To access this website, visit https://v2.4honline.com

 

What is FairEntry?

FairEntry is our data management system for items related to the fair. This system is where classes are selected, auction information is generated, and show programs are managed. All 4-H Livestock members will need to log into this system using their 4HOnline profile to place their animals into their proper classes, sign up for showmanship and other club events. It is important that you complete this information when you receive the instructions at the end of May. Not completing this information makes the fair check in process take longer. Visit the FairEntry website at https://www.fairentry.com 

Health Forms

Cats and dogs that will be used for the 4-H program are required to have vet sheets on file. This is for the safety of the animals and the 4-H members. These forms will need to be turned in before the animals can be brought to meetings and trainings. To get a copy of the forms you can go to the following links or hard copies will be available from Purdue Extension or your 4-H leader.  Please be sure to read over the forms and complete the appropriate information. Choose your project below for vaccination forms.

View, download, or print a Cat Vaccination Form.

View, download, or print a Dog Vaccination Form.

View, download, or print a Horse Vaccination Form.

View, download, or print Animal Lease Agreement Form.

View Lease Form

View, download, or print Animal Lease Agreement Form.

View Lease Form

OUTSTANDING LIVESTOCK EXHIBITOR PROGRAM

Did you know that by participating in Showmanship and the summer Livestock Skillathon contest you are automatically entered into the Outstanding Livestock Exhibitor Program? This is a way to highlight the knowledge of our 4-H members and their hard work. On the last Saturday of fair we will have our awards program for both the Outstanding Livestock Exhibitor Program and the County Livestock Skillathon Contest. We hope you will join this great program!