January 2026

January 4th-10th- Brown County Youth Fair
January 17th– BCYF Workday, 8am at Fair Barns
January 19th- Extension Office closed for Martin Luther King Jr. Day
January 24th– BCYF Workday, 8am at Fair Barns

• School Excuses: If you are participating in youth fair, we will be sending out school excuse request forms for all participating 4-H members. However, it is the parents responsibility to let the school know what days your child will be absent.
• Rabbits: If you are showing rabbits at the BCYF- Before taking your rabbit home, please check out with the Rabbit Superintendent, Mrs. Patricia Becktold.
• PSA: All children MUST be supervised by a parent/guardian the entire time they are on the BCYF grounds.
• Pen Assignments: Pen assignments will be given for all Brown County 4-H lamb, goat, hog, and cattle exhibitors.

Workdays are:
• January 17, 2025
• January 24, 2025
Times will be 8am start and goes to noon or when jobs have been completed.
To see more rules and dates go to browncountyfair.net youth fair link to see the updated rule book.

EXHIBITOR REQUIRED WORKDAYS-
Two weekends prior to the show and two weekends after the show exhibitors must participate in at least ONE of these 4 workdays. Participation is mandatory in one of these 4 days to receive premium checks from Brown County Youth Fair Premium Auction in addition to having required thank you notes to buyers. Appropriate attire is mandatory, which will be jeans (long pants) and closed-toed shoes. In the event you were unable to participate in at least one of these workdays you must write a one-page essay as to why you were unable to attend and present it in person at the February board meeting to the entire board of directors for consideration.

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 portal PRIOR to 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.

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 rachel.howell@ag.tamu.edu

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 $30.00 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 2025-2026 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 31^st the cost increases to $30!!

IF YOU NEED ASSISTANCE ON ENROLLING PLEASE CONTACT THE EXTENSION OFFICE AT 325-646-0386 OR BY EMAILING RACHEL AT rachel.howell@ag.tamu.edu 

Major Show Livestock Judges

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