Caring for animals teaches young people responsibility, empathy, and integrity. Here's how BCYF ensures every animal at our fair is treated with respect.
★WHY IT MATTERS★
Good husbandry is the heart of youth livestock exhibition.
Animal husbandry is the daily practice of caring for livestock — feeding, housing, grooming, monitoring health, and treating animals with respect. At BCYF, we believe every exhibitor takes responsibility for their animal's wellbeing from the day they begin their project to the day of the show. This isn't just a fair rule. It's a life lesson.
Daily Care
Animals must be fed, watered, and cared for daily during fair week. Pens are cleaned regularly, and exhibitors are responsible for their animals from arrival to release.
Health & Safety
All animals must pass health inspection by a state veterinary official before unloading. BCYF follows WV Department of Agriculture Fair & Festival Regulations for animal health requirements.
Drug-Free Showing
Random and post-show drug testing is mandatory for grand and reserve champions. Medications are only administered by a licensed veterinarian. Award and sale checks are not released until results return clean.
Youth-Driven Care
Exhibitors should actively fit and care for their own animals. Adults serve as mentors, not substitutes — stepping in only when the youth genuinely needs help.
Mandatory Workshops
First and second-year livestock exhibitors must attend a workshop. Skipping the workshop forfeits the right to show or sell. Species meetings are held the morning of check-in.
Ethical Showing
No adhesives, glues, dyes, or paints may be applied to market animals at the sale. Conduct in the show ring is youth-driven and respectful — sportsmanship rules apply to exhibitors and families alike.
★BCYF'S COMMITMENT★
What every BCYF animal can expect
These standards apply to every species shown at the fair — from market steers to market pen rabbits.
Veterinary inspection on arrival. No animal is unloaded until cleared by a WVDA-designated official.
Adequate housing & ventilation. Barn fans approved by the Livestock Chair; one fan per animal.
Clean pens, daily. Repeat offenders are required to remove animals from the fair.
Quiet hours observed. No movement in barn areas between 5 PM and 9 PM unless approved.
Closed-toe shoes mandatory when handling animals — for the safety of both exhibitor and animal.
Drug-free competition. Random testing of grand champions, reserves, and selected market animals after every show.
Companion animals not permitted. Only animals being shown at the 2026 fair may be housed onsite.
Released only by exhibitor responsibility. Pens must be cleaned at release; failure forfeits 2027 eligibility.
★YOUTH DEVELOPMENT★
The animal teaches the kid.
BCYF is a youth fair, not just a livestock show. Caring for an animal — feeding it before yourself, walking it in the rain, staying calm when it's stressed — is one of the most powerful ways young people learn responsibility, patience, and integrity. Our chairpersons, FFA advisors, 4-H leaders, and parent volunteers are here to mentor, not replace the exhibitor's work.
"Exhibitors should be actively fitting their own animal while adults and other exhibitors serve as mentors. Animals should be cared for by the exhibitor with adults assisting only when the need arises.
