November 3rd–Major Stock Show/Youth Fair Sign Up Night November 6th– Fort Worth entries due to Extension Office November 8th– Swine Validation November 11th– Office closed for Veterans Day November 13th– D7 Food Show-Abilene November 16th– Rabbit Club meeting November 18th– Major stock show entries due to Extension Office November 27th/28th– Office closed for Thanksgiving holiday
DO NOT FORGET:
MAJOR STOCK SHOW AND YOUTH FAIR ENTRY NIGHT
This year we are only having one night in November that we designate for families who want to enter the major stock shows and Brown County Youth Fair. The only way you can enter the major stock shows is if you bought state tags. The date we are having stock show sign up isNovember 3rd from 4pm-7pmat the Extension Office.
If you are planning on entering Ft. Worth or Sandhills Stock Show, you will need to attend the night of November 3rd due to the deadline to enter Ft. Worth & Sandhills Stock Show is November 6th.
The deadline to enter Houston, San Antonio, Austin, Texas Elite Gilt Show, and San Angelo Stock Show is November 18th.
This will be your opportunity to enter the Brown County Youth Fair at this time. (Entries for BCYF are due to the Extension office December 8th, 2025.)
REMINDERS:
You must be enrolled in 4-H.
Quality Counts need to be completed/up to date at the time of entries.
Must have social security number at the time of entries.
Payment is due at the time of entries.
2026 TEXAS 4-H SCHOLARSHIP OPPORTUNITY
KEY RESOURCES & REMINDERS
Please thoroughly read the Rules & Guidelines!I encourage anyone considering going through the process this year to review these. (Linked below)
NEW LAST YEAR!There is a CEA Verification Form that will require a CEA signature. The applicant will need to get this signed and uploaded into the portalPRIORto submitting their application. (Linked below)
NEW LAST YEAR!The top-ranking scholars will be invited back for virtual interviews May 1-2 to interview for a $30,000 scholarship.
Complete their FAFSA ASAP! It is open NOW! FAFSA® Application is linked below.
Work closely with your school counselors to complete the Counselor Verification Section. The window on this is tight because it must include this Fall 2025 semester grades. So, your counselor needs to complete that section between January 1 – February 15th. If you turn in an application without the Counselor Verification Section being completed by February 15th, your scholarship will be deemed incomplete. Same goes for your transcript, the applicant must upload it into the portal after January 1, but before February 15th. The transcript must also reflect 2025 Fall Semester Grades.
IMPORTANT DATES
November 1, 2025 – Application will be available online
November TBD – Scholarship Workshop
November 17, 2025– Notify Nick Gonzales that you will be completing the scholarship application.
December 8, 2025– Submit to Extension Office if you would like Agent to review.
January 31, 2026– FAFSA must be completed
· February 15, 2026, by 11:59 PM – Deadline to Apply
April 24-26, 2026 – Interviews in College Station
May 2026 – Award Notifications
June 3 & 4, 2026 – Scholarship Banquets in College Station
RESOURCES
Please take the time to look at the following pages (linked below) on Texas 4-H Foundation website! You will find links to the Rules & Guidelines, link to the scholarship portal, CEA Verification Form, Timeline, Tip Sheet, Portal FAQ, a list of outside scholarships, etc.
If your family plans to show at San Antonio this year, we encourage you to go online to the parent/exhibitor portal (linked below) and create an account for your family, then upload the W-9’s that are needed. This will help populate your family into our Brown County 4-H account and will make things go more smoothly and quickly during our sign up night. Thank you!
The Brown County Youth Fair is approaching fast. Everyone should have your animals if you are planning on entering in the Livestock Division of the Youth Fair. There are a few other things that have to be done in order to participate in the Brown County Youth Fair. Below is a check list for you to go by to make sure you are covered.
Enroll in 4-H
Attend Validation (have your animal validated for county or state)
Purchase a Youth Fair Membership (this is mandatory if you are entering livestock or home economics)
Fill out an entry form for the Brown County Youth Fair (Our deadline for entries is December 8th, 2025.)
FOOD CHALLENGE
If you are interested in being a part of a Food Challenge team, let us know! Food Challenge is a team-based culinary contest where groups of 3-4 have 40 minutes to create a dish using a set of provided ingredients, emphasizing food safety, cost effectiveness, and nutritional value. Teams then present their dish to judges, explaining their recipe’s preparation, nutritional content, food safety, serving size, and overall cost. The challenge aims to develop participants’ food preparation, nutrition, teamwork, and communication skills while promoting healthy food choices. If this sounds like fun and you are a Junior/Intermediate/Senior enrolled in 4-H, let us know! For more info, call the Brown County Extension Office at 325-646-0386.
SAVE THE DATE FOR THE BROWN COUNTY 4-H PROJECT SHOW
The Brown County 4-H Project Show will be held onSaturday, December 6th at the Brown County Youth Fair Barns.Details for the show will be posted at a later date. Mark your calendars and we look forward to seeing you on December 6th.
Quality Counts Enrollment Instructions
Quality Counts is open and ready for any youth who need to take the course for the first time or renew their verification.
Quick Reminder: Exhibitors only need to complete the course once per grade division:
Junior: Grades 3–5
Intermediate: Grades 6–8
Senior: Grades 9–12
Don’t Forget
Quality Counts is required for all major livestock show entries.
Exhibitors must complete the course before entry deadlines.
Many county/local shows also require it — check your local rules.
If you would like help with this process or if you would prefer an instructional video to be sent to your email, reach out to Rachel at 325-646-0386 or at[email protected]
The enrollment process for the 2025-2026 4-H year begins August 15, 2025. All 4-H families, new and returning, are encouraged to log in and enroll to become an official 4-H member.
As you begin your enrollment for the year, here are some tips in using 4-H ONLINE:
If you already have a profile DO NOT create another one!
If you lost your email and password call the county office so we can reset, it for you.
An active membership will not be granted until the $25.00 participation fee is paid on 4-H Connect!
You cannot register or participate in an event until your profile is ACTIVE.
When you are doing your re-enrollment for the 2023-2024 4-H Year please make sure you update your address, phone number, and e-mail address.
For any youth who is joining 4-H in 2025-2026 for the first time as a 3rd/4th grader we ask for you NOT TO ENROLL until September 1st. September 1st is actual first day of the new 4-H year and what is used to calculate grade/age. If a 2nd grader moving into 3rd grade enrolls before September 1st it will “tag” them as a Clover Kid, not charge an enrollment fee and lock them in as a Clover Kid for the year.
The Texas 4-H fee schedule is below:
$25.00 – Club Member Enrollment Discounted Fee: August 15 – October 31
$30.00 – Club Member Enrollment Regular Fee: November 1 to the completion of 4-H year
$10.00 – Clover Kid Enrollment Regular Fee
$10.00 – Adult Volunteer Application Fee
Don’t wait until the last minute to enroll because after October 31st the cost increases to $30!!
IF YOU NEED ASSISTANCE ON ENROLLING PLEASE CONTACT THE EXTENSION OFFICE AT325-646-0386OR BY EMAILING RACHEL AT[email protected]
State Fair of Texas 2025
Market Lambs – Jimmy Davis
Market Goats – Bryan Kennedy
Market Steers – Spencer Scotten
Mart Barrows – Clay Zwilling
San Antonio Stock Show 2026
Market Lambs – Steve Sturtz
Market Goats – Barrett Carlisle
Market Steers – Dr. Blake Bloombers, Associate Judge: Kyndal Reitzenstein
Market Barrows – Chad Day & Nick Hofschulte
Rodeo Austin 2026
Market Lambs – Dan Willoughby
Market Goats – Jimmy Davis
Market Steers – Dr. Scott Greiner
Market Barrows – Justin Rodibaugh
