What the Arkansas Youth Stockmanship Contest Is
The Arkansas Youth Stockmanship Contest tests teenagers on safe, humane, industry-standard cattle handling. Teams work through a written processing plan, a team problem and a live cattle-working exercise, all built around Beef Quality Assurance (BQA) guidelines. It develops skills, promotes best practices, builds career readiness for the beef industry and rewards excellence at state and national levels. The most recent edition was Thursday, May 14, 2026, at the Southwest Research and Extension Center, 362 Hwy 174 N, Hope, AR 71801.
How It Works: The Timeline
- Registration opened at noon on Monday, March 9, 2026, and closed Monday, April 27, 2026, at 11:59 p.m.
- May 1, 2026: deadline for BQA certification to be completed, verified and submitted.
- May 14, 2026: contest day. Each team gets a start time between 9:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. and checks in 15 minutes before it. Teams may not arrive earlier.
Each team's run takes about 1.5 hours:
- 30 minutes to complete the Cattle Processing Plan.
- 20 minutes for the team problem, while evaluators score and correct the plan.
- Five minutes of practice with the facilities, then a 20-minute limit to work three head of cattle through an alley into a chute and catch each animal's neck in a head gate.
Teams are held apart during the contest, coaches may not contact them in the holding area, and phones and smart watches are not allowed.
Who Can Enter and Rules
- Team members must be 14 to 19 years old as of January 1 of the contest year.
- Teams represent an Arkansas county 4-H program or an Arkansas FFA chapter, with one team per program or chapter.
- A team is three members plus one optional alternate; the three active members are named at check-in.
- Team members and the coach must hold current BQA certification, which can be earned through instructor-led training or online at bqa.beeflearningcenter.org. Teams with uncertified members or coaches are disqualified.
- Only the first 12 registered teams are guaranteed a spot; others go on a waitlist.
- All contestants must have chute-side experience and have practiced on live cattle. Youth who already competed at the National Youth Cattle Working Contest cannot enter.
Scoring
| Section | Points |
|---|---|
| Cattle Processing Plan | 20 |
| Team Problem | 20 |
| Procedures performed (vaccines, deworming, implants, tags, tattoo, notching, DNA samples) | 70 |
| Cattle handling | 10 |
| Safety | 10 |
| Time (under 10 minutes earns the full 10) | 10 |
Ties are broken by the Cattle Processing Plan, then cattle-working time. Judges' point deductions cannot be contested. All products and equipment are provided, along with pencils and calculators.
Awards and What You Get
The top three teams are recognized at a virtual awards ceremony at the end of contest day. The first-place team is invited to represent Arkansas at the National Youth Cattle Working Contest in Elizabethtown, Kentucky, September 22-23, 2026. Registration and travel expenses for the team, one alternate and up to two adult chaperones are sponsored by the Arkansas Cattlemen's Association.
Questions
Can a single student enter?
No. The contest is for three-member teams.
What if a coach's BQA certificate is expired?
The team is disqualified. Certification must not expire before September 2026.
Do we need to bring supplies?
No. Products, equipment, pencils and calculators are provided.
Official Links
- 2026 contest rules: eligibility, scoring and awards
- Contest registration
- Arkansas 4-H Livestock: program page
Other Upcoming Events Nearby
- Hope Watermelon Festival
Hope Watermelon Festival in Hempstead County celebrating the local watermelon crop, with a car show, 5K and children's area. Held each year in August; the most recent dates were August 6-8, 2026.
Hope, AR Official event details - Arkansas Pecan Festival
Pecan festival on Main Street in Keo, scheduled for December 5, 2026, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Main Street, Keo, AR 72083 Official event details - Arkansas Rice Festival
Rice-themed festival in downtown Weiner, scheduled for October 9, 2027.
Weiner, AR Official event details - Arkansas Farm Bureau Annual Convention
Held each year; the most recent dates were December 3-5, 2025 (91st convention). Includes a public trade show with 180+ vendors, a farmers market, workshops and elections of state leaders.
- Four States Agricultural Expo
Annual research and best-practices expo for area growers, held at the Four States Fair and Rodeo grounds in Texarkana; the most recent date was February 12, 2026.
Listing checked Nov. 11, 2026 against this source. Details can change; confirm with the organizer.