The Illinois Beef Expo is an annual event held the last full weekend of February at the Illinois State Fairground in Springfield, Illinois. One of the premier cattle events of the Midwest, the event hosts multiple sales, a junior show, and a large industry trade show.

The first Illinois Beef Expo was held February 24-28, 1988, after a progressive group of cattlemen came together in 1987 to bring multiple breed sales and a junior prospect show together. The first expo saw nine breed sales and a prospect show for heifers and steers from all over the United States. The Illinois Beef Expo has been held in the same format every year since, with the exception of two years- 2008 and 2021.

Today, the Illinois Beef Expo hosts the Illinois Performance Tested Bull Sale and Angus, and Simmental sales. The trade show is always popular with over 75 vendors filling the basement and surrounding the Livestock Center for the duration of the event.

Schedule of Events:

9:00am-5:00pm - Trade Show Open
8:00am - Junior Show resumes with Market Animal show Livestock Center, Upper Level 1 ILLINOIS Ring A will begin at 8:00am. Ring B will begin following the conclusion of Simmental steers in Ring A and will follow the same show order. -Saturday Market Animal Show order-Simmental, Crossbred, AOB steers, Top Five Market Animal selection in Ring A and then Ring B -Breeding Heifer show will begin in Ring A 30 minutes after the Top Five Market Animal selection in Ring B. Breeding Heifer Show in Ring B will begin following the conclusion of Horned Hereford heifers in Ring A. -Saturday Breeding Heifer Show order-Horned Hereford, Chi, Polled Hereford, Limousin. Angus, Charolais, Red Angus
6:00pm - Illinois Hereford Association banquet
7:00pm - The Collection Genetics Sale Sunday, February 23, 2025 Building 30, Upper Meeting Room Artisan's Building