LIVESTOCK SHOW

ABOUT

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.

Archery Rules posted under “Shooting Sports” tab below.

Junior Show

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.

» ENTER JUNIOR SHOW NOW


» CONTEST ENTRY

    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

    Wildlife Video & Poster Board Contests

    • For Wildlife Poster Board and Video entries, please use the Junior Show Entry Worksheet linked above
      • Submissions are due January 10
        • Poster Boards must be mailed or dropped off to the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo offices
        • Videos must be submitted through the online submission portal (portal will open Dec. 15th)
        • Click here for PDF instructions on how to submit your required documents
      • View examples of Wildlife Videos submitted in the past here
      • Wildlife Poster Board Finalist List
      • Wildlife Video Finalist List

    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

    Ag Mechanics

    Trailer Build-off Contest

    See linked document below for the contest rules for the upcoming Trailer Build-Off Contest to be held on Thursday, October 24. Do not forget that registration opens at 9 a.m. on September 5.

    Contest Rules

    To review contest schedule, location, and rules for please click the 2024 Exhibitor Handbook button in the above section.

    Entry Information

    Indemnity Form

    INSTRUCTIONS: Print and complete the Agricultural Mechanics Project Show Indemnity form for each contestant. If a 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 the day of move-in. We will not accept Indemnity forms submitted prior to move-in.

    2024 Ag Mechanics Indemnity form

    Judging Contests

    To review contest schedule, locations, and contest rules, please click the 2024 Exhibitor Handbook button in the above section.

    Individual Judging Contests – Public Speaking & Ag Science Fair

    • Enter via Junior Show Entry
    • Deadline for entries is December 1
    • Required document upload site will be available starting on December 15 at 8 a.m. The submission deadline is 11:59 p.m. on January 10
    • Click here for PDF instructions on how to submit your required documents

    Team Judging Contests

    Intercollegiate Judging Contests

    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.

    4-H/FFA Judging Contest Indemnity form

    4-H/FFA and Intercollegiate Meat Judging Contest Indemnity Form

    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.

    4-H/FFA and Intercollegiate Livestock & Wool Judging Contest Indemnity Form

    4-H/FFA and Intercollegiate Meat Judging Contest Indemnity Form

    Junior Commercial Steer

    Entry

    Entries have sold out for the 2025 Junior Commercial Steer Feeding and Management Contest at 175. If anyone drops out before August 15 a spot may become available.

    Rules

    Preliminary Rules can be found here. Final rules will be posted in the handbook and all rules are subject to change.

    Online Record Book

    Contestants must complete the online record book for this contest. See Handbook for details on scoring. If you have any questions about how to use the online record book system, please refer to the Record Book Instructions. Credentials will be sent out after the system has been updated for 2025 and entries are completed.

    Documents

    Open & Youth Show

    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
    » OPEN CATTLE SUBSTITUTION FORM

    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 2024 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 2024 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 2024 Exhibitor Handbook above

    Llama and Alpaca

    Shooting Sports

    Archery Competition

    Please review the 2024 Archery Rules here.

    Dates: October 19-20, 2024
    Location:
    NRG Center: Halls A & B
    Events:

    • 20 Yard Indoor Target Archery
      • $75 per entry
      • Barebow
      • Compound
      • NASP
      • Recurve
      • See rules for details
    • 3-D Competition - ASA style
      • $45 per entry
      • See rules for details

    Registration Links:

    Vendor Space Application

    2024 Final Results

        Young Guns Shooting Sports Competition

        • February 9 – 11, 2024
        • Enter via www.iclays.com
        • Deadline for Entries is February 1

        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.

        How Junior Market Auctions Work

        Generous donors are not only supporting the exhibitors’ livestock projects, the donations also go toward funding scholarships and educational programs for the youth of Texas. Based upon placing, the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo establishes a guaranteed premium for each exhibitor who qualifies for a junior market auction. Once guaranteed premiums are paid to the exhibitors, the net proceeds from the auction are contributed to the Educational Fund to support the Show’s commitment to the youth of Texas and education.

        See the payout distribution below.

        The following payout distribution shows the guaranteed premium for each exhibitor placing. Each auction is conducted by a dedicated committee of volunteers who pre-sell a majority of the lots to ensure that each exhibitor receives a guaranteed premium, regardless of whether or not a bid is received on every lot.

        Barrows

        PLACE GUARANTEED PREMIUM
        Grand Champion $40,000
        Reserve Grand Champion 25,000
        Breed Champions 10,000
        Reserve Breed Champions 7,500
        Division Champions 5,000
        Reserve Division Champions 4,000
        1st Place 3,000
        2nd Place 2,700
        3rd Place 2,500
        4th Place 2,300
        5th-12th Place 2,200

        Broilers

        PLACE GUARANTEED PREMIUM
        Grand Champion $30,000
        Reserve Grand Champion 15,000
        2nd-10th Place 6,000
        11th-15th Place 3,000
        16th-25th Place 2,500
        26th-50th Place 2,400
        51st-75th Place 2,300
        76th-100th Place 2,200

        Goats

        PLACE GUARANTEED PREMIUM
        Grand Champion $30,000
        Reserve Grand Champion 20,000
        Division Champions 10,000
        Reserve Division Champions 7,500
        1st Place 6,000
        2nd Place 5,000
        3rd Place 4,000
        4th Place 3,200
        5th Place 2,800
        6th Place 2,500
        7th-15th Place 2,300

        Lambs

        PLACE GUARANTEED PREMIUM
        Grand Champion $40,000
        Reserve Grand Champion 25,000
        Breed Champions 10,000
        Reserve Breed Champions 7,500
        1st Place 6,000
        2nd Place 5,000
        3rd Place 4,000
        4th Place 3,200
        5h Place 2,800
        6th Place 2,500
        7th-19th Place 2,300

        Steers

        PLACE GUARANTEED PREMIUM
        Grand Champion $75,000
        Reserve Grand Champion 40,000
        Breed Champions 20,000
        Reserve Breed Champions 17,500
        1st Place 12,500
        2nd Place 10,000
        3rd Place 9,500
        4th Place 9,000
        5th-12th Place 8,500

        Turkeys

        PLACE GUARANTEED PREMIUM
        Grand Champion $30,000
        Reserve Grand Champion 15,000
        2nd-12th Place 5,000
        13th-24th Place 3,500
        25th-36th Place 2,500
        37th-50th Place 2,200

        RESULTS

        Search for results by contest, date or keywords. Please allow for at least a day after the contest for results to be posted.

        Photos

        Order your Houston Livestock Show photos through Next Level Images.

        Thanks to United Airlines!

        United Airlines recognizes the hard work of the following junior show champions with airline tickets to travel to a place of their choice.

        • Breed Champions in the Junior Breeding Beef Heifer Show
        • Supreme Champion Gilt
        • Reserve Supreme Champion Gilt
        • Supreme Champion Ewe
        • Reserve Supreme Champion Ewe

        CONTACT US

        Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo
        NRG Center
        3 NRG Park
        Houston, Texas 77054

        Email: [email protected] 
        Phone: 832.667.1125 
        Fax: 832.6671140

        CONNECT

        Join the conversation on the Houston Livestock Exhibitors Facebook page. The Facebook page showcases updates, photos and fun facts.

        2024 OPEN SHOW

        BREEDING SHEEP

        All Other Registered Breeds
        Delaine-Merino
        Dorper
        Dorset
        Hampshire
        Other Registered Wool Breeds
        Rambouillet
        Royal White
        Shropshire
        Southdown
        Suffolk
        White Dorper

        2024 JUNIOR SHOW