LIVESTOCK SHOW

Established as the Houston Fat Stock Show in 1932, the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo™ has grown to more than 30,000 entries. The Houston Livestock Show is organized by three categories of competitions: Junior Show, Open Show and Youth Show.

The Show is not only the largest livestock show, but also sets world records at the junior market show auctions.

Results

2027 Exhibitor Handbook

2027 Tentative Schedule/Judges

2026 Classes

Auctions & Sales

Each year, the Houston Livestock Show draws thousands of Texas 4-H and FFA exhibitors to compete at the world's largest livestock show. These students bring various species of livestock — from rabbits and poultry to goats and steers — each hoping to take home the coveted title of Houston champion. Each exhibitor works several months to prepare for competition among the finest junior livestock the state of Texas has to offer.

JUNIOR SHOW ENTRY PORTAL

*Access for Teachers and Agents Only

Entry Worksheets

Competitions

Breeding Beef Heifers
Breeding Gilts
Breeding Sheep
Dairy Cattle
Market Barrows
Market Broilers
Market Goats
Market Lambs
Market Steers
Market Turkeys

Calf Scramble

Visit the Calf Scramble Page here

Team Judging Contests

Enter via www.judgingcard.com starting this fall.

Wildlife Video & Poster Board Contests

Submissions are due January 10
Poster Boards must be mailed or dropped off to the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo offices
View examples of Wildlife Videos submitted in the past here. For Wildlife Poster Board and Video entries, please use the Junior Show Entry Worksheet linked above.

Shooting Sports

For Shooting Sports events, please see the Shooting Sports tab above

Rabbits and Cavies

The Rabbit and Cavy shows are listed in our Open & Youth Show. For more information please see the Open & Youth Show tab.

Trailer Build-off Contest

The 2027 Trailer Build-Off Contest is on Thursday, October 29, 2026.
Sign Up Here »

2026 Trailer Build-Off Results
2027 Trailer Build-Off Contest Info Sheet
2027 Trailer Build-Off Rules
2027 Trailer Build-Off Teams

If you would like to be added to the Trailer Build-Off email list, please click here to subscribe for the latest contest information.

In the meantime, if you have any questions, please contact us at [email protected]

To review contest schedule, locations, and contest rules, please click the Exhibitor Handbook button in the above section.

Individual Judging Contests – Public Speaking & Ag Science Fair

Enter via JudgingCard.com
Deadline for entries is December 1
Starting December 15 at 8 a.m, all required documents must be uploaded to JudgingCard.com for registered contestants. The submission deadline is 11:59 p.m. on January 10

Team Judging Contests

Enter via www.judgingcard.com starting this October 15
Deadline for entries is February 1

Intercollegiate Judging Contests

Click here to enter our Intercollegiate Judging Contests.
Deadline for entries is February 1
For detailed instructions on how to enter online, see our IC Entry Instructions document here
Paper entry forms will not be accepted

4-H/FFA Indemnity Form

INSTRUCTIONS: Print and complete the 4-H/FFA Judging Contest Indemnity form for each contestant. If the contestant is competing in multiple contests, check each participating contest at the top of the form. Your club/chapters completed Indemnity forms must be turned in to Registration on contest day. We will not accept Indemnity forms submitted prior to contest day.

Intercollegiate Indemnity Form

INSTRUCTIONS: Print and complete the respective Intercollegiate Judging Contest Indemnity form for each contestant. If the contestant is competing in multiple contests, check each participating contest at the top of the form. Your college’s completed Indemnity forms must be turned in to Registration on contest day. We will not accept Indemnity forms submitted prior to contest day.

Online Record Book

View 2027 Record Book Instructions »

Entries are to be made on the Junior Show Entry Portal by your County Agent or Ag Teacher.
Junior Show Entry Portal link can be found on the Junior Show tab of this page.

Official contest rules can be found in the 2027 Exhibitor Handbook, linked above.

Documents

From across the U.S. and Texas, exhibitors of all ages come to the Houston Livestock Show each spring for a chance at a championship title. Also included in the open show are youth-only competitions, which allow kids the chance to exhibit at the largest livestock show in the world and experience the show ring from an early age.

OPEN & YOUTH SHOW ENTRY PORTAL

» Download W-9 Form

Dates: Meat pen rabbit entry opens November 15 | All other departments open December 15

Competitions

Beef Cattle
Breeding Rabbits*
Dairy Cattle
Dairy and Boer Goats*
Llamas and Alpacas*
Meat Pen Rabbits*
Rabbits and Cavies
Sheep and Goats
Sheep Dog Trials
Specialty Cattle*

* Includes youth classes

Rabbits and Cavies

Youth Meat Pen
- Enter through Open & Youth Entry Portal
  - Note: Enter each exhibitor under a separate order with the exhibitor listed as the Payee to allow 2 pens per person
- Entries Due December 15
- For Schedule, Rules, Validation information, and breeding dates see the Exhibitor Handbook above
Youth Breeding Rabbits and Cavies
- Enter through Open & Youth Entry Portal
  - Note: Each Exhibitor entry should be completed as a separate order with the exhibitor as the Payee
  - Register for the Costume and Judging Contests online as well while completing your entry
- Entries Due February 1
- For Schedule and Rules see the Exhibitor Handbook above
- IMPORTANT: Review the schedule as the specific dates for each breed vary
Open Breeding Rabbits and Cavies
- Enter through Open & Youth Entry Portal
- Entries Due February 1
- For Schedule and Rules see the Exhibitor Handbook above

Llama and Alpaca

Llama and Alpaca Show Entry Portal
Entries will be via alpacareg.com and are due February 17
Lloan-A-Llama Application

Archery Competition

Competition: October 9 – 11, 2026
Entries Open: September 1, 2026
Entries Close: October 1, 2026

Events for 2027: 20 Yard Indoor Target, Indoor 3-D, NASP Competition (Friday, October 9 only | High School Division only | 600 shooter limit)

View Archery Results for Target and 3-D » View NASP Results »

NASP Competition entries are handled separately through nasptournaments.org and require a BAI Certified coach.

Young Guns Shooting Sports Competition

Competition: February 5 – 7, 2027
Entries Open: October 15, 2026
Entries Close: January 15, 2027

Events for 2027: Sporting Clays, Skeet, Modified 5-Stand (single entry includes all three)

Register for Young Guns Competition »
View Competition Rules in the Exhibitor Handbook »

Livestock Care

The care of livestock is of the utmost importance to the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo. It is important for all Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo exhibitors to be conscientious stewards of the livestock that they raise, care for and exhibit each year at the Rodeo. Treating these animals with care and respect is an important part of exhibitors’ daily practices. Applying good animal welfare practices leads to great productivity, not only in the show ring, but also, in the case of market animals, to high quality, safe products in the food chain.

The Rodeo has put rules in place to enforce these good practices with its exhibitors. It is the responsibility of all exhibitors to provide humane care of animals.

The Rodeo will disqualify and remove any exhibitor deemed to be in violation of this basic principle of animal husbandry. In accordance with Section 42.09, as defined in the Texas Health and Safety code, any exhibitor found in violation of these principles is subject to disqualification and a $10,000 fine.

Residue Avoidance Program

In cooperation with the Texas Veterinary Medical Association and with the approval of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo developed a residue avoidance program in 1989 for all junior market animals.

Selected animals are tested extensively, and any animal testing positive will be disqualified. The Show continually aims to assure consumers that their animal purchases from the market auctions are safe, wholesome products, free from any substance residue.

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