News! From Washington County

• Good Friday, Extension Office Closed - April 3, 2026
• Happy Easter! He is Risen! - April 5, 2026

County Upcoming Events

• PB&J Donation Drive - April 1-30, 2026
• Livestock Judging Practice - April 2, 2026
• Livestock Quiz Bowl Practice - April 7, 2026
• CDM Practice - April 7, 2026
• WCF Shrimp Boil Volunteer Event - April 9, 2026
• Livestock Judging Practice - April 9, 2026
• Soil Judging Practice - April 11, 2026
• Livestock Quiz Bowl Practice - April 14, 2026
• CDM Practice - April 14, 2026
• Senior Spotlight Forms DUE - April 15, 2026
• Livestock Judging Practice - April 16, 2026
• Food & Nutrition Practice - April 16, 2026
• 2026-2027 County Council Officer Applications DUE - April 20, 2026
• Livestock Quiz Bowl Practice - April 21, 2026
• CDM Practice - April 21, 2026
• Washington County Ag Day Volunteer Sign Up DEADLINE - April 22, 2026
• Washington County 4-H Council Officer Interviews - April 23, 2026
• Livestock Judging Practice - April 23, 2026
• Washington Co 4-H Fair Queen Candidate Intent Forms DUE - April 27, 2026
• Livestock Quiz Bowl Practice - April 28, 2026
• CDM Practice - April 28, 2026
• 4-H Record Book Training - April 29, 2026
• Livestock Judging Practice - April 30, 2026
• Washington Co 4-H Award & Theme Nominations DUE - April 30, 2026
• Parent Association Meeting & Elections - May 4, 2026
• Washington County 4-H Council Officer Meeting & Elections - May 4, 2026
• Washington County Ag Day - May 13, 2026

Major Show Happenings

• Heifer, Steer, Sheep & Goat Early Tag Orders DUE - April 6, 2026
• Swine Tag Early Orders DUE - April 28, 2026
• Swine Tag LATE Orders DUE - May 29, 2026
• Heifer, Steer, Sheep & Goat LATE Tag Orders DUE - June 12, 2026
• Steer Physical Validation - June 15, 2026
• Heifer Physical Validation - June 16, 2026
• Sheep & Goat Physical Validation - June 17, 2026
• Swine Physical Validation - June 18, 2026

District Upcoming Events

• District 11 Spring Spectacular Registration DEADLINE - April 6, 2026
• District 11 Horse, Livestock, & Meat Judging LATE DEADLINE - April 6, 2026
• District 11 Spring Spectacular Registration LATE DEADLINE - April 10, 2026
• District 11 Horse Judging Contest - April 18, 2026
• District Soil Judging Contest - April 21, 2026
• District 11 Livestock & Meat Judging Contest - May 2, 2026
• District 11 Spring Spectacular - May 5-6, 2026
• District 11 Horse Show Registration DEADLINE - May 8, 2026
• District 11 Horse Show Registration LATE DEADLINE - May 15, 2026
• District 11 Horse Show - May 27-28, 2026

State Upcoming Events

• HTYA Online Learning Series - April 9, 2026
• 4-H Beekeeping Essay DEADLINE - April 12, 2026
• State 4-H Photography Entry DEADLINE - April 15, 2026
• 4-H Horse Show Validation DEADLINE - April 15, 2026
• Livestock, Equine, & Poultry Ambassador Applications DUE - April 15, 2026
• 4-H Horse Show Validation LATE DEADLINE - May 1, 2026
• Hands Helping Heroes Donations DUE - May 11, 2026
• Summer 4-H Virtual Sportfishing Registration DEADLINE - May 15, 2026
• Buc Days - April 30-May 10, 2026
• Deep in The Heart of Texas 4-H Podcast

Scholarship Corner

• Washington County 4-H Scholarship DEADLINE - April 6, 2026
• Bluebonnet Master Gardener Association Scholarship DEADLINE - April 6, 2026
• Washington County 4-H Council Scholarship DEADLINE - April 24, 2026

Washington County Fair Corner

• Livestock Exhibitor Meeting Requirements
• Bucket Calf Mentor Applications DUE - April 10, 2026
• WCF Species Tag-In & Tag Order Dates
• WCF Turkey Order Form DUE - April 15, 2026
• Bucket Calf Mentor Mandatory Meeting - April 19, 2026
• Text Update System

Major Show Happenings

VALIDATION INFORMATION

Below are tag order forms to validate major livestock projects for the Texas Major Livestock Shows for the following species:

• STEERS - This validation is for ALL STEERS intending to show at ANY Fall 2026 or Spring 2027 Major Livestock Show
• HEIFERS - This validation is intended for heifers needing to be tagged in time to be eligible to show at State Fair & Heart of Texas, but any heifer validated now will maintain eligibility for their entire show career (unless there is a change to ownership or registration papers)
• SHEEP & GOATS - This validation is intended for:
• Market Lambs & Market Goats needing to be tagged in time to be eligible to show at State Fair & Heart of Texas but any market lamb/goat tagged now maintains eligibility for Spring 2027 shows unless TLBA/TGBA tags are added, or ownership changes.
• Commercial/Wether Does/Dams needing to be tagged in time to be eligible to show at State Fair & Heart of Texas but any commercial/wether doe/dam tagged now maintains eligibility until 2029 unless TLBA/TGBA tags are added, or ownership changes.
• SWINE - This validation is intended for Gilts & Market Barrows to be shown at State Fair/Heart of Texas.

Help Washington County become the county with the most donations provided to our local first responders! How to donate:

• Bring any listed items, or closely related items to the Washington County Extension Office by Monday, May 11, 2026
• County Council Team will deliver to local first responders
• Ms. Capps will complete the collection response form & report our success!

Important Information for families who wish to participate in the Washington County Fair in 2026:

Start attending your 4-H meetings NOW!! Here's a breakdown of what those Junior Livestock Division rules look like for the Washington County Fair:

6. Any youth that is interested in showing in the Washington County Fair must be in the third (3rd-12th) grade, minimum age 8 and maximum age 18 in accordance with 4-H Rules. All third graders wanting to show in the Washington County Fair will need to note that some projects will need to be purchased while in the second (2nd) grade. Upon the purchase and start of the project, these members are required to attend the mandatory weigh-in/tag-in programs and educational programs relating to their projects.

7. 4 – H and FFA members must have joined a Washington County 4-H Club or FFA Chapter by the ownership deadline of their Fair project and must attend 50 % of their 4 - H Club or FFA Chapter meetings. Exhibitors must show their project under a 4-H Club or FFA Chapter that they are a member in good standing of at the time of the fair. (NOTE – Any Exhibitor that joins FFA at the beginning of a high school year must show under 4-H and must have attended at least 50% of their 4-H Club meetings unless they were an active Junior FFA member.)

Please see the list of clubs below and make sure to attend your meetings!

NEW Text Message System - Washington County Fair

Exciting news! WCF is rolling out a new text message system for their Livestock Show! Get important announcements, updates, and reminders sent straight to your phone.

To sign up, text the code below to (979) 256-5787 and stay in the loop!

USEFUL WEBSITE LINKS