Junior Market Exhibitors
January 6-21, 2024
Drive for The Green Carpet in Denver!
Known for the infamous Grand Drives on the green carpet in historic Stadium Arena, NWSS is home to some of the most elite junior market shows in the country. Between junior market goats, sheep, hogs, and steers we welcome more than 1500 head of 4-H/FFA livestock in and out of our gates every January. Our Auction of Junior Livestock Champions wraps things up on the final Friday of show, grossing nearly $1.2 million dollars in 2022. ****Junior Market Exhibitors must be 9 but cannot be 19 as of January 1, 2024 !!****The Swine Draw for the 2023 NWSS will open June 1 and close July 1, 2023. Applicants will be notified of their draw status within 10 business days of the deadline.
What is the Swine Draw?
In order to show junior market swine at the National Western, eligible exhibitors must pay a $20 application fee, and complete an online registration no later than August 1. Simply put, our facilities cannot fit all of the interested swine exhibitors, hence why we have a lottery to guarantee barn space every January.
The Swine draw is completely random. 2 Members of the NWSS Livestock team along with a member of the NWSS accounting team input all Swine drawn entrants into Excel and run a random draw function. The draw is done while utilizing our Microsoft Teams service and recorded. Thus we can assure the draw is completely unbiased and random.
Our Junior Wether Doe show does not require DNA. A signed confirmation receipt from the 4-H Extension Agent/FFA Advisor must be emailed or mailed by November 20 to the NWSS.
We LOVE our exhibitors, and want to make entering our show as friendly and transparent as possible! We're excited to launch a BRAND NEW online entry program and process for the 2024 Junior Market shows.
Follow these simple steps and before you know it, you'll be headed to Denver! In the accordion folders below, we'll walk you though how to complete each Phase of entry. Phases 2 & 3 will be available after September 20th.Be sure to watch the walk-through videos or contact our office if you have any questions!
PHASE 1: Order DNA kits online
PHASE 2: Complete DNA Kits and enter online
PHASE 3: Print Confirmation Email, get it signed by your 4-H Agent/FFA Advisor and postmark it back to us by November 1!
- Closed October 1. (DNA Kits must be ordered prior to October 1 for all Jr Market Species)
- Visit https://livestockentry.nationalwestern.com
- Create an account
- Provide an accurate physical mailing address.
- Input exhibitor information
- Create an account
- At the bottom of each Exhibitors Profile, click “Add Registration”
- DNA Kits MUST be ordered under each individual Exhibitors Profile
- If you have multiple exhibitors, you will need a profile for each individual exhibitor.
- DNA Kits MUST be ordered under each individual Exhibitors Profile
- Click the navy square titled “Junior Market”, then “DNA Kits”
- Select your species and the click “Add Entry” for every DNA kit you need to order
- Goat, Lamb and Steer DNA are available to order (max 10 kits/specie/exhibitor)
- Swine DNA is closed
- Click “Check Out” OR if you’re ordering for multiple exhibitors, “select another exhibitor” and repeat steps 1-4.
- Complete payment
- A confirmation receipt will be sent to your email (check junk if not received)
- Check your email for confirmation receipt
- Please check your Junk folder if you don’t see it in your Inbox
- Purchased DNA kits will be mailed to the physical address provided on your online account in 5-7 business days.
- PHASE 2: Once DNA Kits are received, you will pull hair samples to complete and sign each DNA kit.
- You will then log back in to livestockentry.nationalwestern.com and complete PHASE 2 of your online entry.
- Reference “PHASE 2 Jr. Market Entries” on this page for a complete walk through of the remaining entry process!
Still have questions? That's okay! Watch a video of how to enter here
- Entries Closed for 2024 NWSS Jr Market Divisions November 1.
- Have your completed, sealed DNA kits in-hand and your Premise ID number
- Visit https://livestockentry.nationalwestern.com and login to your existing account
- Under each exhibitors profile(s), click “Add Registration”
- You’ll need to make separate entries for each exhibitor you’ve ordered DNA under
- Click the navy square titled “Junior Market”, then “Junior Market (Goat/Lamb/Beef)”
- Enter the required field information
- Click to select all Breeds that you need to enter, and Showmanship (if you so choose)
- Click “Add Entry” for every completed DNA Kit you have in-hand
- Input the DNA Kit number and the animal information you have completed on the DNA envelope and click “Save”
- If you entered Showmanship, click the correct age division. Add the exhibitors name and click “Save”
- Once all of your entries have been made, click “Next” and “Check out”
- If you’re entering for multiple exhibitors or species, click the correct button option and repeat steps 1-6.
- Agree to the Warning to All Juniors form and Primary Care form.
- Review your entries to make sure everything is entered and correct. Click “Next”.
- Add your Additional Fees:
- Mandatory Drug Testing Fees:
- If you’re only entering 1 animal, enter 1 Drug Testing Fee; Enter 2 Drug Testing Fees if you’re entering 2 animals and so forth. (maximum of 4 in this field).
- Owner/Exhibitor Badge: These grant you grounds admission for all 16 days of Stock Show. You may also order these upon your arrival in January.
- Immediate Family Wristbands: For immediate family only (mom, dad, sibling) to help with feeding and fitting at the NWSS. You may only order a maximum of 3 per family. These do not grant you grounds admission.
- Mandatory Drug Testing Fees:
- Complete payment and move on to PHASE 3
PHASE 3:
- Print your Entry Confirmation Receipt (Print button is located at the top and/or bottom)
- Sign and complete the bottom of the Entry Confirmation Receipt (ALL signatures required)
- Certified mail your DNA kits and your completed Entry Confirmation Receipt back to the NWSS by November 1, 2023.
Q: What are the age requirements for junior market exhibitors at the 2024 NWSS?
A: Exhibitors must be 9 as of January 1, 2024 but cannot be 19.
Q: When can we enter and when is the deadline?
A: DNA orders will open online September 1 and close October 1. Entries will open September 1 and close November 1. DNA must be postmarked by November 1.
Q: How do I get my passes and credentials?
A: NWSS does not mail out any passes or credentials ahead of the show. Everything is picked up at the Gate 7 check-in trailer located off of Brighton Blvd. in Denver.
Q: What hotel should I stay at?
A: There are several hotels within reasonable driving distance of the NWSS. NWSS has a great partnership with Marriot Hotels in Denver. Reference the NWSS when booking your rooms for exhibitor rates. Click here to veiw 2024 deals!!
Q: Is parking free?
A: Yes! Parking is free for all exhibitors at the NWSS.
Q: Is NWSS a family-fit show?
A: Yes! Only exhibitors and their immediate family members may fit on junior market livestock at the NWSS. This is strictly monitored by our Ethics Committee.
Q: Is NWSS a terminal show?
A: Our junior market goats, lambs and steer show is completely terminal. Our junior market swine show is non-terminal with the exception of all hogs that make the sale. Sale hogs are still terminal. All sale animals will be drug tested along with random tests as well.
All junior market exhibitors must have a clean CVI within 30 days of their arrival to the NWSS. Copies of health papers will be collected at processing.
Health papers can be emailed ahead of time to [email protected]
Market Steers must have a negative BVD test stated on their health papers.