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QUALITY COUNTS VERIFICATION!
QUALITY COUNTS VERIFICATION!
MUST COMPLETE QUALITY COUNTS VERIFICATION EXAM IN ORDER TO EXHIBIT LIVESTOCK AT ANY TEXAS MAJOR SHOW!
WHO NEEDS TO COMPLETE VERIFICATION?
ALL 3RD TO 12TH GRADERS
THERE ARE 3 LEVELS OF VERIFICATION.
3-5TH GRADE (JUNIOR AGE DIVISION)
6-8TH GRADE (INTERMEDIATE AGE DIVISION)
9-12TH GRADE (SENIOR AGE DIVISION)
(MUST RETAKE THE VERIFICATION FOR EACH AGE DIVISION!!!)
MORE INFORMATION, VERIFICATION TRAINING & VERIFICATION EXAM CAN BE FOUND AT:
https://www.texaslivestockvalidation.com/qc/qcregister.aspx
https://agrilife.org/qualitycounts/
or contact cassie.ferguson@ag.tamu.edu or your ag teacher!
Are you planning on exhibiting livestock in a junior show at a major?
Are you planning on exhibiting livestock in a junior show at a major?
You will need to order tags and validate your livestock before hand!
You will need to order tags and validate your livestock before hand!
Livestock Validation
Livestock Validation
The mission of the youth livestock validation program is to promote a positive youth development environment focused on ensuring rules for livestock exhibition are being followed under the supervision of County Extension Agents and Agricultural Science Teachers. This helps to foster integrity, virtues, and values of youth and families.
The purpose of validation is to encourage positive relationships with County Extension Agents, Agricultural Science Teachers and local stakeholders, create a level playing field for youth livestock projects, maximize youth experience and life skill development, and facilitate youth engagement with livestock projects.
Validation allows youth to build on life skills such as responsibility, respect, teamwork and communication. By participating in the livestock project, youth exhibitors learn daily care, nutrition, reproduction, and production practices specific to livestock projects.
Steer & Heifer Spring Tag Orders DUE:
Steer & Heifer Spring Tag Orders DUE:
Friday, March 27, 2026
Tags are $30/each (MUST PAY by March 27th!
Order Forms:
Major Show Steer & Heifer Tag Order Form- PDF
Major Show Steer & Heifer Tag Order Form- WORD
LATE Tag Orders (March 28-May 31, 2026) Tags are $35/each (MUST Pay by May 31st)
Validation Dates:
TBA @ J5 Barn- Off OSR West, Normangee, TX
Last Chance Validation: Steer, Heifer, Lamb & Goats: Saturday, June 27, 2026– 7:30am-9:30am @BHS Ag Barn- Behind Buffalo High School
Sign up for a Validation Date & Time Slot: TBA
The major livestock show steer validation will validate steers for the following shows:
State Fair of Texas
Heart of Texas
Sandhills Stock Show (Odessa)
Fort Worth Livestock Show
San Antonio Livestock Show
Houston Livestock Show
Rodeo Austin Livestock Show
San Angelo Livestock Show
Steers:
MUST Validate Steers in June! June validation is the ONLY Opportunity to validate steers for the major show season! Do NOT Miss this!
More information about Steer Validation: https://texasyouthlivestock.com/steer-validation/
Heifers:
More information about Heifer Validation: https://texasyouthlivestock.com/heifer-validation/
With a registered heifer project, once it is validated under the major livestock show validation process, it is validated for life, unless the animal changes ownership or breed association registry. So in most instances, heifers only need to be validated once in their show career. It is important to make sure that at the time of validation that the heifers are registered in the name of the exhibitor and that any brands or tattoos indicated on the registration paperwork are on the heifer. Only registered heifers can be validated under this program. Heifers will have the opportunity to validate in June and October.
A resource for breed papers can be found here: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/138xzLnAUSW9j2flZ9onGPAdBGJr84W4I
Questions Contact Validation Chair- cassie.ferguson@ag.tamu.edu
Lamb & Goat Spring Tag Orders DUE:
Lamb & Goat Spring Tag Orders DUE:
Friday, March 27, 2026
Tags are $30/each (MUST PAY by March 27th!)
Order Forms:
Major Show Lamb & Goat Tag Order Form- PDF
Major Show Lamb & Goat Tag Order Form- WORD
LATE Tag Orders (March 28-May 31, 2026) Tags are $35/each (MUST Pay by May 31st)
Validation Dates:
TBA @ J5 Barn- Off OSR West, Normangee, TX
Last Chance Validation: Steer, Heifer, Lamb & Goats: Saturday, June 27, 2026– 7:30am-9:30am @BHS Ag Barn- Behind Buffalo High School
Sign up for a Validation Date & Time Slot: TBA
The major livestock show validation will validate lambs & goats for the following shows:
State Fair of Texas
Heart of Texas
Sandhills Stock Show (Odessa)
Fort Worth Livestock Show
San Antonio Livestock Show
Houston Livestock Show
Rodeo Austin Livestock Show
San Angelo Livestock Show
Lamb & Goats will have a second chance to validation in October for Spring Major Livestock Shows as well.
More information about Texas Lamb & Goat Validation- https://sheepandgoatvalidation.tamu.edu/
Questions Contact Validation Chair- cassie.ferguson@ag.tamu.edu
Swine Spring Tag Orders DUE:
Swine Spring Tag Orders DUE:
Monday, April 20, 2026
Tags are $30/each (MUST PAY by TBA!)
Order Forms:
Major Show Barrow & Gilt Tag Order Form- PDF
Major Show Barrow & Gilt Tag Order Form- Word
LATE Tag Orders (April 21-May 20, 2026) Tags are $35/each (MUST Pay by May 31st)
Validation Dates:
Sunday, June TBA from 3:00-4:00pm- Clark’s Barn, off of Hwy 7 East outside of Centerville. Will NOT be travelling around the county.
Last Chance Validation: Steer, Heifer, Lamb & Goats: Saturday, June 27, 2026– 7:30am-9:30am @BHS Ag Barn- Behind Buffalo High School
Sign up for a Validation Date & Time Slot: TBA
Important Information:
All pigs must be validated in June!
Gilt registration papers must show an ownership date and litter registration date on/or before June 30th!
The deadline for sending Registered Gilt Papers to haley.acord@ag.tamu.edu by end of June!
Mrs. Acord then has to upload online via the Swine Validation Website
Any animals not having a tag at the time they enter the holding pens at a show are considered “NOT Validated” and will not be eligible to show. You can retag at major livestock shows and pay a retag fee.
Ear Notches must match the drawing on the DNA envelope.
State major show validation tags are official 840 tags and will replace any pre-existing 840 tags that may be in the ears. Pre-existing 840 tags should be removed and that number and other information should be recorded on the 840 Replacement Tag Form and sent to the office at the conclusion of the validation program
All information regarding Major Livestock Show Validation program can be found by clicking https://texasffa.org/swine-validation
Questions Contact Validation Chair- haley.acord@ag.tamu.edu
Broiler State Fair of TX Orders DUE:
Broiler State Fair of TX Orders DUE:
TBA
Spring Major Show BROILER ORDER DEADLINE is TBA
Order by calling Leon County AgriLife Extension Office at 903-536-2531
Must Order Broilers in increments of 25. and maximum 75!
$1.50/Bird
More Information at: https://poultry.tamu.edu/major-livestock-shows/#State-Fair-of-Texas-Broiler-Show
Heifer Fall Tag Orders DUE:
Heifer Fall Tag Orders DUE:
TBA
Tags are $30/each (MUST PAY by TBA!
Order Forms:
LATE Tag Orders Tags are $35/each (MUST Pay by TBA)
Validation Dates:
TBA @ J5 Barn- Off OSR West, Normangee, TX
Last Chance Validation: Steer, Heifer, Lamb & Goats: TBA 7:30am-9:30am @BHS Ag Barn- Behind Buffalo High School
Sign up for a Validation Date & Time Slot: TBA
The major livestock show steer validation will validate steers for the following shows:
Sandhills Stock Show (Odessa)
Fort Worth Livestock Show
San Antonio Livestock Show
Houston Livestock Show
Rodeo Austin Livestock Show
San Angelo Livestock Show
Heifers:
More information about Heifer Validation: https://texasyouthlivestock.com/heifer-validation/
With a registered heifer project, once it is validated under the major livestock show validation process, it is validated for life, unless the animal changes ownership or breed association registry. So in most instances, heifers only need to be validated once in their show career. It is important to make sure that at the time of validation that the heifers are registered in the name of the exhibitor and that any brands or tattoos indicated on the registration paperwork are on the heifer. Only registered heifers can be validated under this program. Heifers will have the opportunity to validate in June and October.
A resource for breed papers can be found here: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/138xzLnAUSW9j2flZ9onGPAdBGJr84W4I
Questions Contact Validation Chair- cassie.ferguson@ag.tamu.edu
Lamb & Goat Fall Tag Orders DUE:
Lamb & Goat Fall Tag Orders DUE:
TBA
Tags are $30/each (MUST PAY by TBA!)
Order Forms:
LATE Tag Orders Tags are $35/each (MUST Pay by TBA)
Validation Dates:
TBA @ J5 Barn- Off OSR West, Normangee, TX
Last Chance Validation: Steer, Heifer, Lamb & Goats: TBA– 7:30am-9:30am @BHS Ag Barn- Behind Buffalo High School
Sign up for a Validation Date & Time Slot: TBA
The major livestock show validation will validate lambs & goats for the following shows:
Sandhills Stock Show (Odessa)
Fort Worth Livestock Show
San Antonio Livestock Show
Houston Livestock Show
Rodeo Austin Livestock Show
San Angelo Livestock Show
More information about Texas Lamb & Goat Validation- https://sheepandgoatvalidation.tamu.edu/
Questions Contact Validation Chair- cassie.ferguson@ag.tamu.edu
Swine Fall Tag Orders DUE:
Swine Fall Tag Orders DUE:
TBA
Tags are $TBA/each (MUST PAY by TBA!)
Order Forms:
LATE Tag Orders (TBA-May 31, 2026) Tags are $35/each (MUST Pay by May 31st)
Validation Dates:
Sunday, November TBA from 3:00-4:00pm- Clark’s Barn, off of Hwy 7 East outside of Centerville. Will NOT be travelling around the county, 1 location this year.
Sign up for a Validation Date & Time Slot: TBA
Important Information:
All pigs must be validated in June!
Gilt registration papers must show an ownership date and litter registration date on/or before June 30th!
The deadline for sending Registered Gilt Papers to haley.acord@ag.tamu.edu by TBA
Mrs. Acord then has to upload online via the Swine Validation Website
Any animals not having a tag at the time they enter the holding pens at a show are considered “NOT Validated” and will not be eligible to show. You can retag at major livestock shows and pay a retag fee.
Ear Notches must match the drawing on the DNA envelope.
State major show validation tags are official 840 tags and will replace any pre-existing 840 tags that may be in the ears. Pre-existing 840 tags should be removed and that number and other information should be recorded on the 840 Replacement Tag Form and sent to the office at the conclusion of the validation program
All information regarding Major Livestock Show Validation program can be found by clicking https://texasffa.org/swine-validation
Questions Contact Validation Chair- haley.acord@ag.tamu.edu
Broiler & Turkey Orders DUE:
Broiler & Turkey Orders DUE:
TBA
Spring Major Show BROILER ORDER DEADLINE is
Order by calling Leon County AgriLife Extension Office at 903-536-2531
Must Order Broilers in increments of 25. and maximum 75!
$1.50/Bird
More Information at: https://poultry.tamu.edu/major-livestock-shows/#State-Fair-of-Texas-Broiler-Show
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