01. Livestock Show Dates
Washington Parish Livestock Show - January 24, 2026, Washington Parish Fairgrounds
Southeast District Livestock Show - February 5 -7, 2026, St. Tammany Parish Covington Fairgrounds
LSU AgCenter State Livestock Show - February 14 - 21, 2026, Lamar Dixon Expo Center
03. Student Farmer Tax Certification
During the regular state legislative session of 2019, a bill was passed to expand the definition of a commercial farmer to include certain student farmers who meet specific requirements in relation to sales and tax exemptions. Through the Act of 1998, individuals under the age of 23 and meeting the defined criteria of a “student farmer” can now be sales tax exempt when purchasing:
- Feed and feed additives for the purpose of sustaining livestock.
- Seeds or plants to be used to produce food ordinarily used for consumption by humans or livestock.
- Fertilizer to be used to produce food used for consumption by humans or livestock.
A "student farmer" is defined as someone under 23 years old who is actively enrolled in:
- A Future Farmers of America (FFA) chapter
- A 4-H Club
- Or a similar student agriculture program under the guidance of an agricultural educator or advisor
To claim the exemption, eligible students must complete the attached Student Farmers Certification (Form 1098), which must be signed by a parish agent, agricultural educator, or club leader. Once completed, this form is provided to sellers to exempt the student from paying state sales tax on qualifying agricultural purchases.
The current exemption certificate will be good until July 31, 2026. LDR will update the certificate and provide LSU with an updated PDF yearly in July for use in the coming school year. Also, the updated exemption certificate will be available for download on the LDR website.
