Area 4-H and FFA members are gearing up for the annual San Joaquin County AgFest, taking place at the San Joaquin County Fairgrounds, June 8 through 14. The fairgrounds are at 1658 S. Airport Way, Stockton.
Officials note that AgFest grew out of a specific need when, in 2014, “declining public attendance and revenue led to the (San Joaquin County) fair closing its doors for the first time since it was established in 1860.”
Given that youth had been exhibiting their livestock and educational projects throughout the history of the county fair, the grassroots AgFest quickly took shape.
“In reaction to this unprecedented event, a group of concerned individuals got together to come up with a way to continue providing youth in our county a place to exhibit and sell their livestock projects and display their vocational projects,” background information on the AgFest states. “Out of these efforts, a non-profit organization called San Joaquin County Junior Show Auction Council was formed. This organization began a new tradition called AgFest, which is held at the San Joaquin County Fairgrounds each year.”
The AgFest is led by the San Joaquin County Junior Show and Auction Council and hosted by an all-volunteer group, with the group members donating their time to organize the event and ensure its success.
“The event is sponsored through the generosity of the many businesses and individuals throughout the county who are passionate about agriculture and support our program,” AgFest officials added. “The planning of AgFest is a year-round activity – as soon as one AgFest concludes, the planning for the following year begins.”
Breeding Show competitions are held the weekend before AgFest in partnership with the San Joaquin County Fair, hosted now on a much smaller scale. Those competitions took place during the 2025 county fair, which ran Friday, May 30 through Sunday, June 1 this year at the fairgrounds in Stockton.
AgFest has grown in popularity year over year, organizers added. Now, in addition to the livestock and vocational project competitions, several special contests and activities have been added such as a costume contest, corn hole tournament, hay bucking, and an ice cream social. In addition, AgFest features entertainment such as local bands on the AgFest stage, movie nights and a Tractor Pull.
Helping guide the AgFest are members of the Executive Board including President Josh Hiatt, Vice President Jim Hearn, Secretary Diana Muller and Treasurer Corie Airola.
Representatives of area 4H organizations include: Dorothy Langum, Jessalee Goehring, Jed Asmus and Erin Hohenwarter with FFA representatives including Jessie Chaves, Alyssa Sansing, Kristen Buck and alternate Gypsy Stark.
AgFest features daily livestock shows, vocational exhibits, entertainment and special events for exhibitors, with food concessions and quality vendors. Friday, June 13 will bring the Master Showmanship competition followed by an exhibition of winners from all the competitions throughout the week. AgFest concludes with the traditional Livestock Auction where exhibitors sell their replacement heifers and market livestock projects.
“At AgFest, everything revolves around our youth and every event planned and decision made is to further the success of the event and of our youth in San Joaquin County,” organizers concluded.
