First-time Youth Livestock Exhibitor Grants

The Missouri State Fair Foundation is on a mission to cultivate the next generation of Missouri agriculture. Our members recognize the important life lessons learned by exhibiting livestock. They also understand exhibiting livestock at the Missouri State Fair can be costly. It is our hope that by offsetting some of the costs incurred by exhibiting livestock, more young people will be able to benefit from this invaluable learning experience.

Due to COVID, the fundraiser that would have provided 2021 grant funds was cancelled. However, 16 of the 2020 grant recipients stepped up to host personal fundraisers. Through their generosity, and that of Foundation members who matched what they raised, we will be able to award more grants in 2021. The application for 2021 is now available. We can't wait to see the new crop of first-time exhibitors in 2021.

Grant Rules & Requirements

The exhibitor must be a Missouri resident and a current member of 4-H or FFA and be between the ages of 8 and 18 as of December 31, 2021.
Application must be signed by the applicant, parent/ legal guardian, AND 4-H/ FFA leader.
Exhibitor may not have previously exhibited any livestock (horse, cattle, swine, sheep, goat, chicken, or rabbit) in a 4-H or FFA class at the Missouri State Fair. The exhibitor may have entered projects to be displayed in the 4-H or FFA Building.
Only one grant per exhibitor will be accepted.
Grants will be awarded for the following species: Horse, Cattle, Swine, Sheep, Goat, Rabbit, and Chicken.
The exhibitor must attend AND exhibit in a 4-H or FFA class at the 2021 Missouri State Fair in order to receive payment.
If selected as a grant recipient, you will be expected to do the following:
- Each month prior to the Fair (April, May, June, and July), provide us with a brief project update via email or Facebook post. The update will include a picture of you and your livestock entry with a few words describing what you and your livestock have learned, accomplished, etc. These will be used for media and promotional purposes.
- Provide a picture of you exhibiting at the Missouri State Fair with a brief report about what you learned from the experience.
The grant will be paid to the exhibitor after they have finished showing at the Missouri State Fair AND provided the picture and report as required. Exhibitors may pick up their check in the Missouri State Fair Foundation office during the Fair or checks will be mailed to the exhibitor after the Fair.
Deadline to enter is March 14, 2021. Winners will be announced April 2, 2021.