STURGIS, SD – The Meade County Fair & 4-H Achievement Days and the Northern Hills Ag Fest offer ssomething for everyone at free events throughout the weekend in Sturgis.  Jenny Voight, SDSU Extension 4-H Youth Program Advisor says it’s volunteers who make it all happen.

“I want to start by sending a huge shout-out to the fair board,” said Voight. “They have worked tirelessly throughout the year. Without them, we wouldn’t be able to do this.”

While exhibitors have been busy setting up since Thursday, the two-day event opens to the public on Friday, July 24, 2026 through Saturday, July 25, 2026.

“It opens to the community to come out around 9a.m.,” says Voight. “That’s a good time for people to start showing up. We have breakfast going on. Mimi’s Food Truck is at the fair both days. We love to see the kids bring their turtles and frogs for contests and our watermelon eating contest which is so much fun for everybody to participate in.”

The educational component at the Meade County Fair can include everything from a rainfall simulator to experts from Game, Fish & Parks, NRCS and Elk Creek Conservation.

That all leads to the free community barbecue Friday evening beginning at 4:30p.m., organized by the Northern Hills Ag Fest committee, where there is also mutton busting, a calf scramble, and Ag Olympics.

The Meade County Fair is a family-friendly event, open to everyone and free to attend.

“We hope the community will come out to the fair. It’s a busy time of the year for the Sturgis community and Meade County,” Voight observes.  “But it is exciting to host an event that pulls together our rural and town communities.”

Saturday events include livestock shows, the premium livestock sale, a pie auction and ice cream social.

The number of open exhibits and livestock entries are bursting at the seams this year, says Voigt.

“There has been an increase in the 4-H kids that are participating and way over that with exhibits. We want to bring even more awareness to the 4-H program and the over 60 volunteers who help lead the 4-H clubs. Kids with a variety of interests will find a fit in today’s 4-H,” said Voight.

See more information and complete schedules on line and on Facebook.