Greenville Livestock Auction
January 17, 2026
Total: 830
Feeder: 830(100.0%)
Notes: Feeder special
Fairview Sale Barn
January 15, 2026
Total: 1,555
Feeder: 1,555 (100.0%)
Trade: Good demand on active trade
United Producers
January 13, 2026
Total: 190
Feeder: 50(26.3%)
Slaughter: 140(73.7%)
Breeding: 0 (0.0%)
Notes: Sale Report Sourced from UPI
Illinois Weekly Summary
January 20, 2026
Total: 3,150
Feeder: 2,385
The Illinois Beef Expo is right around the corner, and as the junior show, expo sales, and tradeshow continue to grow each and every year, so does the number of juniors on the grounds during those four days in February. Engaging with the youth beyond the showring continues to provide value, opportunity, and new avenues for junior membership in the up and coming generations of beef enthusiasts. In 2025, the Illinois Junior Beef Association offered juniors a new skill enhancing opportunity with the Photography Contest, sponsored by Illinois Beef magazine. This contest brought in entries from many juniors across the state of all different ages, even bringing in new junior members and participants that aren’t involved in the showring aspects of beef expo. As junior coordinator, I sat down the the junior board of directors and asked, “how do we continue to grow, offer new programs, and bring in more juniors from all beef backgrounds?” Along with the help of the Beef Expo staff and board, we are able to grow the junior outreach and engagement beyond the showring, adding so much more to the 2026 Illinois Beef Expo.
The IJBA Photography contest is back again for another year, and entries are now being accepted through February 13. Any IJBA member can enter the contest online for free. More information about rules, entries, and how to enter can be found online at the link here. All entries will be judged prior to the Illinois Beef Expo so winners can be announced during the IJBA Winter Meeting and all photo entries can be on display at the Illinois Beef Association booth in the tradeshow throughout the weekend.
While of course the fairgrounds will host many producers starting Thursday the 19th for the Illinois Performance Tested Bull Sale and The Collection Genetics Sale, Friday the 20th will be host to many junior driven activities and contests. Returning to the schedule is the Livestock Judging Contest, hosted by Black Hawk College Livestock Judging Team. The contest is open to both 4-H and FFA teams, consisting of no more than four members. Black Hawk’s judging team and coach are putting together yet another fantastic contest, and
by Devin Bollman
any questions can be direct to coach Blake Bloomberg. Friday’s junior events will continue with the skillathon, hosted in the Coliseum for juniors of all ages to participate in. With three age divisions (Juniors age 10 and under; Intermediate ages 10 to 14; and Seniors ages 15 and over), participants will undergo a variety of cattle related ID and knowledge questions, aiming to score high enough to be named one of the top ten within their respective age division.
Annually, the Illinois Junior Beef Association welcomes all juniors for the IJBA Winter Meeting to include junior programs updates, announcements of the Illinois Beef Foundation Scholarship recipients, IJBA Photography contest results and winners, as well as the recognition of the 2025 Top Ten Points Program winners. All junior meeting attendees will be entered in to win prizes to be given away throughout the weekend, so we encourage all juniors, whether they are participating in the show or not to attend this meeting on Friday, February 20, at 2 p.m. in the Coliseum stands.
Following the IJBA Winter Meeting, juniors will team up for the return of the Illinois Beef Expo Fitting Contest sponsored by Sullivan Supply. Junior teams will be comprised of four members to show off their teamwork skills and clipper skills as they prepare a calf with top-notch ring presence. Grand Champion and Reserve Champion teams will be named, along with third overall through fifth overall. Pre-registration for teams or individuals will be open soon, so watch the Illinois Beef Expo Facebook page for more on that!
With all the new and exciting additions, we can’t forget the changes being made to the ever-growing junior shows. Shifting east a touch, you’ll see the showring take shape in a new location, the Coliseum. Moving into the Coliseum allows for a better flow of traffic between rings and makeready areas, giving way for expo to slide back into the twoday show format. The Market Show will kick off at 8 a.m. on Saturday the 21st, followed by the Breeding Heifer Show that will rollover into Sunday.
The last bit I want to mention is the service project brought on by the Illinois Junior Beef Association directors. While we provide so many activities for juniors and producers during that weekend in February, the junior board wanted to give back to the community by hosting a canned food drive for the Central Illinois Foodbank. The junior board will be collecting donations all weekend long, so if you are making your way to Springfield February 18-22, whether for one of the cattle sales, to visit the tradeshow, show, or just simply attend, be sure to bring a donation for their service project!
Tri-County Cattlemen’s Association
Annual Banquet
When: February 7, 2026
Where: Roseville
Illinois Angus Association
3rd Annual Banquet & Conference
When: February 20, 2026
Where: Illinois Building, Illinois State Fairgrounds, Springfield
Illinois Simmental Association
Banquet & Annual Meeting
When: February 20, 2026
Where: Illinois State Fairgrounds, Springfield
Illinois Shorthorn Association
Banquet & Annual Meeting
When: February 20, 2026
Where: Building 30, Illinois State Fairgrounds, Springfield
Illinois Hereford Association
Annual Meeting & Banquet
When: February 21, 2026
Where: Springfield