Market Animal

Market Animal Project

Welcome to the 29th Portage County Fair-Amherst Market Animal Sale Project.  Any youth who is currently enrolled in good standing in a 4-H Club, all Agri-Science and Family and Consumer Education Students and members of any other recognized youth organization which has adult leadership, and an approved education program is eligible to exhibit at the fair.  Entries are open to any youth enrolled in a Portage County youth organization or living in the towns of Scandinavia, Iola, and Farmington in Waupaca County.

Amherst Fair Market Animal Projects – Beef, Sheep, Swine, and Turkey.

New in 2024  

  • The addition of Beef to the Amherst Market Animal Sale.
  • Sheep will need a scrapie tag for identification with photo, no ear tags will be given until the animal is ready for the sale.
  •  Beef ear tags are recommended but not necessary for identification for photo, please see Market Animal Rules for details.  If sale beef doesn’t have an ear tag, then the Barn Superintendent will put in tag before the sale.
  •  No backdrop photos will be taken with buyer at the sale.  Exhibitors should have a photo taken at home or against the backdrop at the fair.  Please send them to the buyer.  Copies of the photo are mandatory with the thank you letter.
  • New Email: marketanimal@amherstfair.com

If you have any questions, please contact:

Michael Helbach: 715-572-5951
Lissa Danforth: 715-630-9127
Roy Danforth: 715-204-8354

Market Animal Forms and Information

Education Requirements

  • Exhibitors MUST complete the YQCA Program
  • Participate in the live Carcass Contest
  • Exhibitors and/or Parents will need to volunteer their time at the fair.
  • No meetings will be required but the Market Animal Committee recommends each Exhibitor try to attend a Jackpot Show, educational clinics/seminars put on by feed companies or coops.

For 2024, YQCA certification will be required of:

Amherst Fair Animal Exhibitors (Beef, Swine, Sheep, & Turkey) – must complete and submit certification number as part of Amherst Fair entry process.

YQCA certification is offered in two formats to meet varied learning styles and active schedules:

Online at https://yqcaprogram.org/ -OR-  Face-to-Face

To find a list of face-to-face/trainer-led sessions in Wisconsin, create an account on https://yqcaprogram.org/. Under the appropriate age in “Course List” choose “Instructor-Led Training”. A drop-down box will list all current available options for Wisconsin.

More Information will be forthcoming about Portage County In-Person Training.

Exhibitor/Parents Volunteer

Exhibitors and/or Parents will need to volunteer their time at the fair.  Volunteer signup link will be available on or before June 1st.  If you don’t volunteer by July 1st, the Barn Superintendents will assign each family to a job.

  • Volunteer Signup Link

Carcass Contest

An Ultrasound will be done on Beef, Swine and Sheep on Saturday July 20, 2024, at 9:00 AM.  The results and awards will be given out at 1:00 PM, the same day, in the Husky Hansen Building.  This is a great opportunity to listen to a Carcass judge giving reasons on a live animal.