About This Festival
About the Event
The Central Indiana Poultry Show is a one-day poultry exhibition in Lebanon that brings together bird breeders, 4-H participants, exhibitors, and poultry enthusiasts for a lively celebration of one of Indiana’s most active agricultural traditions. The show is billed on its flyer as Indiana’s largest annual poultry show, which gives it a strong draw for anyone interested in chickens, bantams, ducks, and the broader world of poultry raising.
What makes this event appealing is its mix of competition and community. It has both a Junior Show and an Open Show, so it welcomes youth exhibitors as well as experienced adult poultry keepers. That combination typically creates a friendly, energetic atmosphere where newcomers can learn alongside long-time breeders, and where the pride of showmanship is just as important as the birds themselves. Because it is produced in cooperation with the Boone County Convention & Visitors Bureau, the event also fits neatly into the county’s wider effort to highlight local agriculture and rural heritage.
The Surrounding Area
The show takes place at the Boone County 4-H Fairgrounds, located at 1300 E 100 S in Lebanon, Indiana, right off I-65 at Exit 138. That makes it easy to reach for visitors traveling from Indianapolis, Lafayette, or other central Indiana communities. Lebanon is a classic Boone County hub: small-town in character, but close enough to major highways to be convenient for day-trippers and regional exhibitors.
Visitors to the area will find a mix of local dining, casual roadside stops, and family-friendly places to refuel before or after the show. The fairgrounds setting also places the event in the heart of Boone County’s agricultural identity, where 4-H, livestock, and community fairs are an important part of local life. For travelers with extra time, Lebanon offers a relaxed stopover feel that pairs well with a weekend spent around rural Indiana events.
Activities & Attractions
The core attraction is, of course, the poultry competition itself. The event features both Junior and Open divisions, which means attendees can expect a range of birds presented for judging, from youth projects to more advanced breeding stock. While the published flyer did not list the judges, the presence of two divisions suggests a full showcase of poultry types and classes.
Typical poultry show activities at an event like this include bird check-in, coop placement, judging by breed and variety, and conversations among exhibitors about breeding, care, and presentation. For spectators, this can be a fascinating chance to see the variety within poultry breeding up close and to learn how serious exhibitors prepare birds for competition.
Because this is an agricultural event, the atmosphere is usually practical and hands-on rather than theatrical. The appeal comes from the birds, the craftsmanship of breeding, and the community of people who care deeply about poultry. Any food offerings, vendor booths, or educational displays would add to the experience, but those details were not published in the available information.
Schedule & Logistics
The show is scheduled for Saturday, October 17, 2026. It is a one-day event, and the published information does not include specific start times, judge times, or admission prices.
The fairgrounds location is straightforward to reach via I-65 Exit 138 in Lebanon. Parking at a county fairgrounds setting is typically convenient and onsite, making this a practical event for exhibitors hauling cages and bird equipment as well as for casual attendees. The venue address is 1300 E 100 S, Lebanon, IN 46052.
For questions or exhibitor coordination, the listed contact is Tim Curts at [email protected]. Since hours were not published, visitors should plan to confirm timing directly before attending.
History & Heritage
The 2026 Central Indiana Poultry Show is identified as the 20th Annual edition, which places its beginnings around 2007. That two-decade span suggests a well-established event with strong local roots and an audience that has grown through the poultry community’s word of mouth and annual return visits.
The 2025 edition was listed by the American Poultry Association as hosted by the Boone County Poultry Club, underscoring the event’s connection to organized poultry breeding and exhibition. Over time, a show like this becomes more than a competition: it becomes a yearly gathering point for 4-H families, hobby breeders, and serious exhibitors who value the tradition of livestock showing.
In that sense, the Central Indiana Poultry Show reflects a larger Indiana story—one where county fairgrounds, youth development, and agricultural pride continue to shape community life in a very hands-on way.