2026 Junior Livestock Auction
Saturday, September 12
Buyer Schedule:
8 a.m. — Buyer check-in
9 a.m. — Buyer breakfast and morning beverages
10 a.m. — Junior Livestock Auction
A beloved Madera District Fair tradition returns after 89 years on Saturday. The Madera Fair invites community members, past buyers, agricultural supporters and Junior Livestock alumni to take part in the 2026 Junior Livestock Auction.
In celebration of the 2026 Madera Fair’s “All American Party” theme, and America’s 250th anniversary, this year’s auction will feature a new schedule designed to welcome buyers bright and early, giving everyone an opportunity to experience the Junior Livestock Show.
With the new schedule, buyer check-in will begin at 8 a.m., giving new and returning buyers plenty of time to register and settle in for the morning. Buyer breakfast will begin at 9 a.m., followed by the 10 a.m. Junior Livestock Auction.
The Junior Livestock Auction showcases weeks of hard work and dedication as exhibitors participate in marketing, breeding and showmanship events. Raising and exhibiting a market animal provides youths with opportunities to learn responsibility, animal husbandry, business, agriculture and the role livestock plays in feeding communities across the country.
During the auction, buyers will have the opportunity to purchase an exhibitor’s market project. Buyers may also choose to make an add-on, or “bump bid,” which is a direct donation to an exhibitor’s project without purchasing the animal.
“Every year, we see the generosity of our community come to life in the auction ring,” said Madera District Fair CEO Barbara Leach. “These young people have invested months of work into their projects, and our buyers recognize that they are investing in much more than an animal. They are investing in young people, in agriculture and in the future of our community.”
Auction proceeds directly help exhibitors fund their next livestock projects, further their education, attend a trade or vocational school, or pursue other educational and agricultural opportunities. The support they receive in the auction ring becomes an important part of their journey that extends beyond the fair.
The experience creates a lasting connection for Junior Livestock alumni. Many former exhibitors return year after year as buyers, supporters, mentors and community members, helping continue the tradition for generations to come.
This year, the Madera Fair is encouraging past buyers to return, new buyers to join the tradition and Junior Livestock alumni to come home to the auction ring. Whether purchasing a project, placing a bump bid or simply showing up to cheer on the exhibitors, community participation makes a meaningful difference.
Come early. Get registered. Grab some breakfast. Meet the exhibitors. And help continue a Madera tradition that has spent 89 years investing in the future of agriculture.
For information about becoming a buyer or participating in the 2026 Junior Livestock Auction, contact the Livestock Office or visit maderafair.com/livestock.