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In order for any 4-H/FFA member to make entry into any livestock show in Texas (this includes the Gillespie County Youth Livestock Show- County), their livestock projects must have been validated within the Texas 4-H/FFA Livestock Validation Program.
The validation of 4-H/FFA livestock projects occurs annually to establish a permanent identity of the animal and verify ownership by the exhibitor. The validation program helps to ensure all animals are placed on feed and under the direct care of the owner on a designated date. The validation process occurs on a predetermined date established by the State Validation Committee.
At the time of validation, all animals (excluding horses and dogs) are ear tagged, individual hair samples are collected on each animal to be used for DNA testing to verify identity later, a record of exhibitor(s)/animal project(s), and a code of ethics policy form must be completed by each 4-H and FFA member.
What do you need to do to validate your animal(s)?
Order validation tags at the Gillespie County Extension Office with cash or check or online, https://gillespie-4-h.square.site/. This will include Harper and Fredericksburg FFA members for the 2026-2027 show year as we work together to streamline this process for everyone.
Swine
Swine
Validation
Validation
Deadline to Order Tags:
TBA
Physical Validation Dates: TBA
Breeding Gilt Ownership Deadline:
TBA
Cost: $26 cash/check, $28 credit card
Late Tags: $31 cash/check, $33 credit card
Sheep & Goat Validation
Sheep & Goat Validation
Deadline to Order Tags:
Monday, March 30, 2026
Physical Validation Dates:
TBA
Breeding Sheep/Goat Ownership Deadline:
June 30, 2026
Cost: $26 cash/check, $28 credit card
Late Tags: $31 cash/check, $33 credit card
Steer & Heifer Validation
Steer & Heifer Validation
Deadline to Order Tags:
Monday, March 30, 2026
Physical Validation Dates: TBA
Heifer Ownership Deadline:
Cost: $26 cash/check, $28 credit card
Late Tags: $31 cash/check, $33 credit card
June validation is the only steer validation.
There are two validations for heifers. One in June and One in October.
Please note that tag prices have increased due to a price increase by the state. Tags are now $26 each if paid by cash or check in person, or $28 each for credit card payments (online or in person). Payment for tags is due at the time of ordering in-person or online. You will need to order 1 tag (1 ticket if online) per animal in which you plan on validating. Due to the price increase, we will not be ordering extra tags, so please make sure you order enough. Late tag orders will be $31 (cash / check), or $33 (credit card).
Sheep & Goat Validation Details:
Sheep & Goat Validation Details:
Lambs and goats validated during the 2026 State Fair Validation Period WILL BE ELIGIBLE for 2027 Spring Major Shows. Once validated, the project MUST stay in the care of the exhibitor that project is validated to; if the exhibitor chooses to sell the project to a new exhibitor, the new exhibitor MUST REVALIDATE the project within the next validation period.
If you validated a sheep/goat for State Fair of Texas and they do not have a TLBA/TGBA recorded on their validation paperwork, and you would like to be able to show them at San Angelo you MUST revalidate that animal to add the TLBA/TGBA tag so they will be eligible.
San Angelo Stock Show: ALL market lambs and goats must be Texas bred and have a TLBA/TGBA tag recorded on their validation paperwork and in their ear to be eligible to show.
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