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.
For the 2023-2024 steer and heifer state validation year an eartag will be needed to be pre-ordered. All tags are $25 each (not refundable). Youth participating in the steer and heifer project most contact their FFA advisor or the Texas Agrilife Extension (for 4-H members) to place eartag orders, and pay for them before March 31, 2023 at noon. For more information on this or any other agricultural topic please contact the Hopkins County Extension Office at 903-885-3443 or email me at [email protected],
