08/21/2026
Since everyone is back in school and gearing up for the 2026-2027 show year, here are some important dates and details for exhibitors, parents, Ag teachers, 4-H leaders/extension agents, and anyone interested in our show.
IMPORTANT DATES AND DETAILS FOR THE 2026-2027 JCJLS
-Meetings are the 2nd Tuesday of each month (September 2026-May 2025) at 7 pm at the Jasper-Newton Electric Co-Op meeting room unless otherwise noted. Dues are $5 per person and are due at the September and October meetings. NO DUES WILL BE ACCEPTED AFTER THIS TIME.
-Market Steer and Commercial Heifer weigh and tag in is September 19, 2026, at the JCJLF Pavilion from 8 am until 12 pm. Entry fees are $20 per animal. Families with 2 or more children can enter the same animal in each child’s name if a separate entry fee is paid for EACH animal per child. Participants must designate which animal they will show at the show day check in. ***NEW*** Steers must weigh a minimum of 1000 lbs on show day weigh in to be eligible to show. A 10-pound leeway plus or minus 1000 pounds will be in effect. All steers must be pre-clipped and have hair no longer than ¼” on any part of the steer’s body at show day weigh in. The only exception will be the tail switch. Steers will be checked at the time of weigh in for conformity.
Commercial Heifers must weigh a minimum weight of 400 lbs to a maximum 900 lbs at weigh in and gain 1.5 lbs/day during the feeding period. Exhibitors can enter multiple commercial heifers. All commercial heifers will be dehorned and must be Brucellosis vaccinated by tag in day. Families with 2 or more children can enter the same animal in each child’s name if a separate entry fee is paid for EACH animal per child. Participants must designate which animal they will show at the show day check in.
-Small Animal Tag In (Swine, Lambs, Goats, and Broilers) will be held on December 12, 2026, at the JCJLF Pavilion. Exhibitors may tag in multiple animals of a species (swine, lamb, goat) and pay the $20 entry fee for all animals tagged in. Families with 2 or more children can enter the same animal in each child’s name if a separate entry fee is paid for EACH animal per child. Participants must designate which animal they will show at the show day check in.
Broiler entries will be paid for on this date as well as the fee for purchasing broilers. Minimum order for broiler is 25 chicks per exhibitor, but more can be ordered.
-Scholarship applications are due and need to be postmarked by February 1, 2027, and must be sent by certified mail to ensure delivery. Scholarship recipients must work the ENTIRE sale or until released by sale personnel or relinquish their scholarship. Scholarship recipients will be allowed to take their animals through the sale when their lot number is close.
-Ag Mechanics Entries will be due at the February 9, 2027, JCJLF meeting along with the $20 entry fee.
-Market Rabbit validation will be held on February 20, 2027, along with the $20 entry fee. Market rabbits must be in the actual possession of the exhibitor on or before the validation date. All validated market rabbits will be tattooed in the right ear with a validation tattoo by a show representative. The exhibitor is responsible for a permanent I.D. tattoo in the left ear prior to the show. Exhibitors may validate up to 7 rabbits per entry. If more than 7 rabbits are to be validated, then a $2 fee for each rabbit over 7 will be applied to the entry. Siblings may pick from a common validated group of rabbits provided that each exhibitor has paid the entry
fee. Only ARBA sanctioned breeds will be shown: Angora (French, Giant, Satin), Champagne d-Argent, Californians, Cinnamon, Chinchilla (American), Crème d-Argent, French Lop, Harlequin, Hotot, New Zealand, Palomino, Rex, American Sable, Satin, Silver Fox and Silver Martin. ARBA disqualification guidelines for meat pen rabbits:
a). If any rabbit in the pen is over or under the weight limit, the entire pen is disqualified.
b). All ARBA recognized general and breed disqualifications apply with the following exceptions:
I. Body s**t on Californian marked rabbits
II. Non-descended testicles on bucks
III. If any rabbit in the pen is disqualified, the entire pen is disqualified.
-NEW THIS YEAR! Single Fryer Rabbit Show. Validation will be held on February 20, 2027, along with the $10 entry fee. Fryer rabbits must be in the actual possession of the exhibitor on or before the validation date. All validated market rabbits will be tattooed in the right ear with a validation tattoo by a show representative. The exhibitor is responsible for a permanent I.D. tattoo in the left ear prior to the show. Exhibitors may validate up to 7 rabbits per entry. If more than 7 rabbits are to be validated, then a $2 fee for each rabbit over 7 will be applied to the entry. Siblings may pick from a common validated group of rabbits provided that each exhibitor has paid the entry fee. Exhibitors may enter one (1) single fryer. The fryer MAY NOT BE PULLED FROM A MEAT PEN! Only ARBA sanctioned breeds will be shown: Angora (French, Giant, Satin), Champagne d-Argent, Californians, Cinnamon, Chinchilla (American), Crème d-Argent, French Lop, Harlequin, Hotot, New Zealand, Palomino, Rex, American Sable, Satin, Silver Fox and Silver Martin. ARBA disqualification guidelines for fryer rabbits (same as the meat pen):
a). If any rabbit in the pen is over or under the weight limit, the entire pen is disqualified.
b). All ARBA recognized general and breed disqualifications apply with the following exceptions:
I. Body s**t on Californian marked rabbits
II. Non-descended testicles on bucks
III. If any rabbit in the pen is disqualified, the entire pen is disqualified.
Single fryers will not be sold at auction.
-Show dates are March 19 & 20, 2027. The Broilers, Rabbits (Market, Single Fryer, & Breeding), Ag Mechanics, Goat, Lamb, and Swine shows are on Friday, March 19. The Commercial Heifers, Steers, Breeding Beef, Clover Kids, Scholarship Presentation, Buyer’s Dinner, and Auction are on Saturday, March 20. The full schedule is in the rule books.
-A workday will be scheduled for one weekend in March before the show for exhibitors to participate in readying the show grounds for the show.
-Rule books will be available at the monthly meetings and weigh/tag ins. Contact the appropriate committee chairman for further questions or concerns or email [email protected].
RULE CHANGES FOR THE 2026-2027 SHOW YEAR
- Market classes are limited to students of elementary or secondary school districts, private or public, enrolled in 4-H or FFA in Jasper County. Participants enrolled with any other type of education provider at time of entry must provide verifiable documentation from the provider that the participant is actively registered using a home address located within the boundaries of Jasper County.
-The sale commission will be 7% beginning this year to account for inflation and rising prices and expenses
- If an exhibitor goes to a buyer requesting a project back or more money, the exhibitor will be suspended for a season as their first infraction. If a second offense occurs, the exhibitor will be permanently banned from future Jasper County Jr. Livestock shows.
HOME ECONOMICS SHOW, MARCH 17 & 18, 2027
Categories include Photography, Baking, Canning, Fine Arts, and Sewing/Needlework.
--The entry deadline for Photography, Baking, Canning, Fine Arts, and Sewing/Needlework is December 12, 2026, and entry forms will be turned in at the Watson Show at the same time of the small animal tag in. Photography photos will be submitted through a google form on the Jasper County Extension Website on December 12, 2026. The extension office will NOT accept any printed or emailed submissions.
- All these contests will be held at the Jasper County Annex Building, 271 E. Lamar St, Jasper, TX 75951. Check in for the Baking, Canning, Fine Arts, and Sewing/Needlework contests will be March 17, 2027, between 6-7 pm. All projects must be picked up by March 18, 2027, at 7 pm or they will be discarded.
-Baking Contest categories are scratch cakes, creative cakes, scratch cookies, creative cookies, candy, pies, and bread.
-Canning Contest categories are Jams, Jellies, Preserves, Fruit, Vegetables, Pickles, and Relishes.
-Sewing/Needlework categories are hand or machine sewn articles, needlepoint (needlepoint, cross-stitch, and embroidery), yarn (crochet and knitting), and quilt.
-Fine Arts Categories are Paintings (oil, acrylic, pastel, or watercolor), Drawings (ink, charcoal, or pencil), Digital Art (computer assisted) – Digital Art must be printed for entry at time of check-in, and Floral.
-Photography categories are Animals, Landscape & Nature, Leading Line, and Plant/Floral.
-Age divisions are as follows (Birthday as of September 1, 2026): Seniors – 14-18 yrs old; Juniors – 8 (and in the 3rd grade) – 13 yrs old; and Clover Kids – Kindergarten-2nd grade.
-The Baking, Canning, Sewing/Needlework, and Photography Contests are open to all Jasper County 4-H members, Jr. FFA members, and FFA members. The Fine Arts Contest is open to all Jasper County 4-H members, Jr. FFA members, FFA members, and Art Students enrolled in a school district within Jasper County or in Brookeland ISD.
More complete rules will be available in the rule book. The Home Economics Contests are being sponsored by the Jasper County AgriLife Extension Office.
We are looking forward to a great 49th year!
