Steer Tags (ALL Major Shows)

Important Notes for Steer Validation:

• State Validation for steers intended to exhibit in the Major Livestock Shows only happens once each year in June
  • You must purchase validation tags and attend validation in order to show at the Major Shows.
  • Only one (1) validation date is scheduled by the committee, therefore if you have a conflict, make arrangements with someone to haul your animal to validation and contact the Extension Office ahead of time regarding paperwork.
  • You need to make sure that you get your animal early enough that you are comfortable handling them during validation
• New Information for Market Steer Validation: Steers will no longer be nose printed during validation.

Major Show Validation Tag Deadline for 2022-2023 Major Shows: April 21, 2022
Cost: $25.00

Late Major Show Validation Tag Deadline for 2022-2023 Major Shows: May 18, 2022
Cost: $30.00

Heifer UINs (All Major Shows)

Important Notes for Heifer Validation:

• There are two (2) opportunities to validate heifers for the major shows each year, typically one (1) in June and one (1) in October
• Only one (1) validation date is scheduled for each month by the committee during the month of June and the month of October, therefore if you have a conflict, make arrangements with someone to haul your animal to validation and contact the Extension Office ahead of time regarding paperwork.
• You need to make sure that you get your animal early enough that you are comfortable handling them during validation
• Heifers that were previously validated AND have NOT changed ownership do NOT need to be revalidated
• Youth are required to provide a color copy of their heifer’s registration papers before or at validation, no registration papers means no validation
• Tattoos, brands, etc. physically present on the heifers MUST match what is listed on the registration papers.  MAKE SURE YOU CHECK THIS BEFORE VALIDATION.

Spring UIN Order Deadline (for June 2022 validation): May 18, 2022 – orders currently open
Cost: $20.00

Fall UIN Order Deadline (for October 2022 validation): September 15, 2022 – ordering will open up in July 2022
Cost $20.00

Order Online Here    Download PDF Order Form

Lamb & Goat Tags (Separate Orders for Fall Majors & Spring Majors)

Important Notes for Lamb/Goat Validation:

• There are two (2) validation tag ordering periods that exhibitors need to pay attention to:
  • The June validation period validates animals participating in the State Fair and Heart O’ Texas shows taking place in the Fall (Fall Majors)
  • The October validation period validates animals participating in the Spring Major Shows (Fort Worth, San Angelo, San Antonio, Houston, Rodeo Austin, etc.)
  • Only one (1) validation date is scheduled for each month by the committee during the month of June (State Fair) and the month of October (Major), therefore if you have a conflict, make arrangements with someone to haul your animal to validation and contact the Extension Office ahead of time regarding paperwork.
• You need to make sure that you get your animal early enough that you are comfortable handling them during validation
• New Information for 2022-2023 Lamb/Goat Validation – applies to breeding animals ONLY: Beginning June 1, 2021, registered breeding sheep, registered breeding goats, wether/commercial dams, and wether/commercial does will have 3 total years of eligibility UNLESS A CHANGE OF OWNERSHIP TAKES PLACE. This will be offered during major show validation as well. Put plainly- if you validate for State Fair during the June 2021 validation period, your validation will be eligible until June 2024, unless a change of ownership occurs during that time- then you must re-validate.

State Fair Validation Tag Order Deadline: March 28, 2022 

These tag orders are for:

• Market Lambs & Goats
• Breeding Sheep & Breeding Goats (females validated as breeding animals – registration papers required before or at validation)
• Wether Dams & Wether Does (females validated as market or commercial animals – no registration papers required)

Cost: $20.00

LATE State Fair Validation Tag Order Deadline: May 18, 2022

Cost: $30.00

Order Online Here    Download PDF Order Form

Swine Tags (Separate Orders for Fall Majors & Spring Majors)

Important Notes for Swine Validation:

• There are two (2) validation tag ordering periods that exhibitors need to pay attention to:
  • The June validation period validates animals participating in the State Fair and Heart O’ Texas shows taking place in the Fall (Fall Majors)
  • The November validation period validates animals participating in the Spring Major Shows (Fort Worth, San Angelo, San Antonio, Houston, Rodeo Austin, etc.)
  • Only one (1) validation date is scheduled for each month by the committee during the month of June and the month of November, therefore if you have a conflict, make arrangements with someone to haul your animal to validation and contact the Extension Office ahead of time regarding paperwork.
• You need to make sure that you get your animal early enough that you are comfortable handling them during validation
• Notes for breeding gilts:
  • Youth are required to provide a color copy of their registered breeding gilt’s registration papers before or at validation, no registration papers means no validation
  • Ear notches physically present on the gilts MUST match what is listed on the registration papers.  MAKE SURE YOU CHECK THIS BEFORE VALIDATION.
• New Information for 2022-2023 Swine Validation:
  • Crossbred gilts showing at the State Fair of Texas and Heart of Texas MUST be validated.
  • State Validation tags must be in the pigs ear when it enters the holding pens. This means tags cannot be in the hand or pocket. Any pig entering the holding pen without a tag will not be allowed to show. 

State Fair Swine Tag Order Deadline: April 21, 2022

These tag orders are for:

• Market Swine
• Breeding Swine (check show rules for validation requirements)

Cost: $20

LATE State Fair Swine Tag Order Deadline: May 18, 2022

Cost: $23.00

Order Online Here    Download PDF Order Form

• 2021-2022 Validation Deadline: Due in 4-H CONNECT by May 1, 2022
• Cost:
  • • $10 per horse through April 15, 2022
    • $20 per horse from April 16, 2021 – May 1, 2022
• Validation will open in March 2022
• Instructions: are available online HERE
• A few reminders:
  • Each validation must include front view, right side view, and left side view images.  The entire horse should be included in the photo and marking should be clearly visible.
  • If the horse is registered, a copy of the registration papers must be uploaded.  These papers must list the 4-Her, parent, sibling, grandparent or legal guardian as the current owner.  If the ownership is in the process of being transferred, please list “pending” in the registration number area.  Once the updated registration papers have been received please send a copy to me and I can add it to the validation.
  • Uploads must be images, pdfs are not an accepted file type.
  • Families should validate each horse once.  Once the horse is validated any sibling within that family is eligible to show the horse at district and/or state 4-H horse show.
  • Youth validating a futurity horse must be at least 4-H age 12 (as of Sept. 1, 2021) and in at least the 6^th grade.
  • All youth wishing to participate in ANY horse show must validate their projects

Details & Instructions:

• 2021-2022 Validation Deadline: Due in 4-H Online by January 10, 2022
• Validation will open in December 2021
• Cost: $0 (FREE) per dog
• All youth wishing to participate in the state dog show must validate each of their dog projects
• Instructions are available online HERE (PDF) or HERE (Video – YouTube)

Reminders:

• For purebred dogs (they do not have to be registered, just look purebred) you will select the correct Group and list the breed.
• For mixed breed dogs you will select the Weight Group of the dog and list the dominant breed along with the word “Mix” or list the two breeds if known.  (Example: Border Collie Mix or Mastiff/Great Dane.)
• Photos of the left and right side of the dog should be a side view of the whole dog. Get on the dog’s level so they do not turn into top views.  They should also be clear and light enough we can see all markings and color of the dog.
• None of the previously validated dogs carried over to 4-H Online.  Everyone will need to complete the full online validation form and upload photos this year.
• We do encourage you to validate any dogs that you are eligible to show.  Situations may change through the year.

• September 28 – October 23, 2022
• Entry Forms DUE to CEA by 12:00 Noon on  Thursday, August 11, 2022 (Updated 04/06/22)
• Download Entry Form Here

• October 2022 – Official Dates TBA
• Entry Forms DUE to CEA by 12:00 Noon on  Thursday, August 11, 2022 (Updated 04/06/22)
• Download Entry Form Here

• January 2023 – TBA
• Entry Forms DUE to CEO by 12:00 Noon on Thursday, November 03, 2022 (Updated 04/06/22)
• Download Entry Form Here

• January 2023 – TBA
• Entry Forms DUE to CEO by 12:00 Noon on Thursday, November 03, 2022 (Updated 04/06/22)
• Download Entry Form Here

• January – February 2023 – TBA
• Entry Forms DUE to CEO by 12:00 Noon on Thursday, November 03, 2022 (Updated 04/06/22)
• Download Entry Form Here

• February 2023 – TBA
• Entry Forms DUE to CEO by 12:00 Noon on Thursday, November 03, 2022 (Updated 04/06/22)
• Download Entry Form Here:
  • • Agriculture Mechanics Competition – please contact Mellanie for Information
    • Agriculture Speaking Contest
    • Junior Breeding Heifer Show
    • Junior Rabbit Show
    • Junior Shows

• February 2023 – TBA
• Entry Forms DUE to CEO by 12:00 Noon on Thursday, November 03, 2022 (Updated 04/06/22)
• Download Entry Form Here

• February 2023 – TBA
• Entry Forms DUE to CEO by 12:00 Noon on Thursday, November 03, 2022 (Updated 04/06/22)
• Download Entry Form

• March 2023 – TBA
• Entry Forms DUE to CEO by 12:00 Noon on Thursday, November 03, 2022 (Updated 04/06/22)
• Download Entry Form – must be notarized

• March 2023 – TBA
• Entry Forms DUE to CEO by 12:00 Noon on Thursday, November 03, 2022 (Updated 04/06/22)
• Download Entry Form

• January 2023 – TBA
• Website: https://www.elginlivestockshowassociation.com/
• Membership Due: October 1st
• Entries Due: November 1st –  turned in or post marked to Elgin Livestock Show
• Download the Rules Here (in process of being updated)
• Download Bylaws Here

• March 2-4, 2023
• Entries Due: Multiple, please see dates in rule book
• Website: https://bastrop.agrilife.org/bals/ 
• Download 2023 Rule Book Here (Updated 05/09/22)

• April 2023 – TBA
• Entries Due: Multiple, please see dates in rule book
• Website: N/A
• Download Rule Book Here (updated 09/10/21)
• Download Important Dates & Schedule (updated 04/05/22)
• Download Project Expense Sheet (Due 04/10/22)

Please note that ordering birds does NOT enter you in any of the shows

2022-2023 Turkey Orders are due Thursday, May 26, 2022, by 12:00 Noon – order forms will be posted around the first week of May

• This order is for birds to be entered in the Texas Spring Major Show (Spring 2023)

Order Online Here    Download PDF Order Form

Please note that ordering birds does NOT enter you in any of the shows

2022 State Fair Broiler Order are due Thursday, May 26, 2022 by 12:00 Noon – order forms will be posted around the first week of May

• This order is for birds to be entered in the State Fair of Texas or Heart O’ Texas Livestock Shows taking place in Fall 2022

Order Online Here    Download PDF Order Form

2022-2023 Major Show Broiler Orders are due Thursday, September 1, 2022, by 12:00 Noon – order forms will be posted around the first week of August

• • This order is for birds to be entered in the Texas Spring Major Shows and the Bastrop Area Livestock Show (Spring 2023)

Order Online Here    Download PDF Order Form

To help with planning a livestock project, we have a few resources – be sure to check out the Livestock Project One-Pager and the Livestock Shows & Validation Page.  All youth wishing to show animal projects must also pass the Quality Counts Test as a Junior (3rd-5th grader), Intermediate (6th-8th grader), and  Senior (9th-12th grader).  If you have any questions at any time, or you are feeling overwhelmed and are having trouble finding a starting point, please contact the Bastrop County Extension Office at 512-581-7186.

Download the Livestock Project One-Pager

Go to the Livestock Shows & Validation Page

Go to the Quality Counts Page

Please Note: Some special deadlines need to be kept in mind for new families wishing to exhibit livestock projects:
Texas has a State Validation program that assists with establishing and verifying the ownership period for livestock animals that will be shown at Major Shows.  This process requires exhibitors to order validation materials (RFID ear tag and DNA hair collection envelopes, in addition to nose-printing materials for lambs & steers) in order to prepare for the physical validation where the ear tag is administered, a hair sample is collected, and nose prints are taken for the species that require it.  The timeline for these steps are listed below:

Bastrop & Lee County 4-H Virtual Livestock Education Series (2020-2021)

• 09/03/20 Beef 101 – Dusty Boullion – no longer available
• 09/10/20 Lamb/Goat 101 – Wayne Morse
• 09/17/20 Poultry 101 – Rachel Bauer
• 09/24/20 Swine 101 – Jeff Shows
• 10/01/20 Rabbit 101 – Jason Platt
• 10/22/20 – Lamb/Goat 201 – Wayne Morse
• 10/29/20 – Beef 201 – Dusty Boullion & CJ Wolf
• 11/05/20 – Poultry 201 – Dr. Craig Coufal
• 11/12/20 – Swine 201 – CANCELLED due to internet outages
• 11/19/20 – Rabbit 201 – Jason Platt

Rockne Livestock Booster Club Buyer’s Letter Resources:

• Video Overview on writing Buyer Letters
• RLB Buyer Letter Template (Word)
• Sample Buyer’s Letter Template (Word)

Texas 4-H Livestock Project Pages:

• Animal Science: Educational Presentations | Scoresheet | Project Pages
• Beef: Educational Presentations | Scoresheet | Project Page
• Dairy Judging: 2020 Information | Project Page
• Hippology: Information | Project Page
• Horse: Educational Presentations | Scoresheet | Project Page
• Horse Judging: Project Page
• Horse Quiz Bowl: Information | Project Page
• Livestock Judging Contest and Invitational: FAQS | Project Pages
• Livestock Quiz Bowl Information | Project Page
• Livestock Skill-A-Thon: Information | Project Pages
• Meat Judging Invitational: Project Page
• Meat Judging: Guidelines | Project Page
• Mohair Judging: 2019 Information | Project Page – Update Available by November,2019
• Open: Educational Presentations | Scoresheet | Project Page
• Open-Ag Natural Resources: Educational Presentations | Scoresheet | Project Page
• Poultry Judging: Follow FFA CDE Rules | Project Page
• Promote 4-H: Educational Presentations | Scoresheet | Project Page

Texas Youth Livestock & Agriculture – Livestock Project Support

Each project page listed below has handouts and resources for each specie listed, including project leader descriptions and handouts on the project from start to finish.

• TYLA Website with Ambassador & Project Resources–
  • TYLA Cattle Page
  • TYLA Goat Page
  • TYLA Horse Page
  • TYLA Poultry Page
  • TYLA Rabbit Page
  • TYLA Sheep Page
  • TYLA Swine Page
• Facebook Page Link
• 05/19/20 Updated Lamb Classification Guidelines Video – Facebook; Handout
• 4/30/20 Steer & Heifer Showmanship Video – Facebook
• 4/28/20 Creating Success with Steer and Heifer Projects – Facebook

Judging Card Events:

The Judging Card website has a calendar of most of the judging contests available (livestock, meats, skillathon, etc) – if you would like to participate in any of the opportunities through Judging Card, please complete the following steps:

1. 1. Visit the Judging Card Calendar and locate the event you would like to participate in.
   2. Contact the County Extension Office at MLMickelson@ag.tamu.edu or 512-581-7186 to get registered for the desired event – you will need to provide the date and the name of the event for registration.

Other Upcoming Events and Workshops:

[ecs-list-events cat=”4-H Livestock” limit=”50″]