About this event
The Anderson County Youth Livestock Show is run by the Anderson County Youth Livestock Association at the Anderson County Youth Livestock Pavilion. It serves 4-H and FFA members from across the county. The association is a nonprofit with 19 volunteer board members, and it funds scholarships through its annual events. More than $40,000 in scholarships had been distributed as of the 2018 report.
Dates, deadlines and schedule
The dates on this listing (April 16-19, 2018) are the latest verified; no newer schedule was found. The 2018 week ran like this:
- Sunday: move-in
- Monday: broiler check-in 7-9 a.m. and judging 10:30 a.m.; market rabbit check-in noon-2 p.m. and judging 3 p.m.; commercial heifers 1:30 p.m.; breeding gilts 7 p.m.
- Tuesday: breeding rabbits, project show judging 10 a.m., breeding goats 1 p.m., market goats 3 p.m., market swine 6 p.m.
- Wednesday: lambs 3:30 p.m., breeding heifers 5:30 p.m., market steers 7 p.m.
- Thursday: buyer's barbecue 5:30 p.m. and premium auction 7 p.m.
- Friday: move-out
Divisions or species
Broilers, market and breeding rabbits, commercial and breeding heifers, breeding gilts, breeding and market goats, market swine, lambs, market steers, and a project show.
Getting there
The show is held at the Anderson County Youth Livestock Pavilion. The source gives no street address, so check with the association or the county Extension office.
Tips for exhibitors and families
- The 2018 schedule put the buyer's barbecue immediately before the sale, so buyers and families gathered on the last night.
- Participating 4-H clubs that year were Cayuga, Dogwood, Elkhart, Frankston, Harmony-Broyles Chapel, Ioni Creek and Old Cayuga. FFA chapters were Cayuga, Elkhart, Frankston, Neches, Palestine, Slocum and Westwood.
- Because the schedule above is from 2018, confirm all times before you go.
Official links
Texas County Junior Livestock Shows: The Essentials
A county junior livestock show is where Texas 4-H and FFA members exhibit market animals they have raised, usually in winter, and the best projects sell at a premium auction to local buyers. Exhibitors must be members of a Texas 4-H club or FFA chapter in good standing and work under a County Extension Agent or ag teacher. Age and grade limits are set by each county.
Validation and ownership
Most county shows require Texas 4-H/FFA livestock validation, when animals are ear-tagged, DNA-sampled and tied to the exhibitor, who signs the ethics policy. Typical validation is June for steers, October for lambs and goats and November for swine, but local deadlines win. Offering an animal for sale during the feeding period can make it ineligible for the remaining shows that season.
Sales and ID
Premium sales are run by each county, and many take add-on and sponsor support from local businesses. Animals must carry official ID under USDA and Texas Animal Health Commission rules. Quality Counts, the AgriLife online course, is expected by some shows. Selling a project at a major show makes it ineligible for later majors.
Read the full guide: Texas County Junior Livestock Shows: How They Work
More in Anderson County
- Anderson County AgriLife Extension Office
Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service county office serving Anderson County. Located at 519 North Sycamore, Palestine, TX 75801. Listed in the AgriLife People directory of Extension county offices.
519 North Sycamore, Palestine, TX 75801 | 903-723-3735 Website - Anderson County Livestock Auction
Livestock auction market at Highway 287 and Highway 294, Elkhart, Texas. Listed on a Texas farm auction directory as an auction barn that buys and sells livestock; confirm sale days with the market before hauling.
Highway 287 and Highway 294, Elkhart, TX 75839 | (903) 764-1919 - Anderson County Youth Livestock Association
Nonprofit run by a 19-member volunteer board that stages the county youth livestock show and awards scholarships; it listed more than $40,000 in scholarships in a recent year.
TX - Anderson-Houston SWCD
Anderson-Houston SWCD is a soil and water conservation district based in Palestine, Texas, listed in a directory of Texas conservation districts that includes SWCDs across the state.
Palestine, TX - Elkhart Ag Holdings LLC
Elkhart-area farm supplier Elkhart Ag Holdings LLC at 100 Lewis St (Anderson County), listed by BBB in its Texas farm-supply category.
100 Lewis St, Elkhart, TX 75839 - Elkhart Horse Sale
Horse sale listed in Elkhart, Texas, in the Texas farm auctions directory.
3826 S State Hwy 19, Elkhart, TX 75839 | (903) 764-1495 - Frankston Farmers Market
Frankston Farmers Market is a farmers market in Frankston, Anderson County, Texas. Address given as 160 W. Railroad Street. Located at the City Park in Frankston. Source: the Tyler and East Texas farmers markets list.
160 W. Railroad Street, Frankston, TX - KNET 1450 AM Palestine
Small-market classic hits radio from Palestine: KNET on 1450 AM, licensed to Zula Com, LLC and reaching listeners around Anderson County; Palestine has about 19,555 residents.
Palestine, TX
More Events in Texas
- Heart of Texas Trade Days
Monthly trade days at G. Rollie White Downs in Brady with handcrafted goods, produce and barnyard finds, plus pens for livestock. Runs the second Saturday of each month except July; 2026 season ends Dec 12.
- Area XI Gulf Coast District FFA LDEs
District-level Texas FFA Leadership Development Events for Gulf Coast District chapters of Area XI, held at Edna High School. Top finishers advance to the Area XI LDEs and on toward the State LDEs.
- Jordan Cattle Auction Barber Ranch and Express Angus Bull Offering
Special offering of Barber Ranch Hereford and Express Angus bulls at Jordan Cattle Auction in San Saba, Nov. 11, 2026.
- Area VI Longview LDE Contest
Texas FFA calendar listing for Area VI Longview LDE Contest, scheduled November 12, 2026 at Panola College, Carthage, Texas. Confirm times and entries with the chapter advisor or area FFA office before attending.
- Area III Northwest District LDEs
Texas FFA calendar listing for Area III Northwest District LDEs, scheduled November 12, 2026 at Berry Center Northwest Houston, Cypress, Texas. Confirm times and entries with the chapter advisor or area FFA office before attending.
- Area III North District Skills & Job Interview LDEs
Texas FFA calendar listing for Area III North District Skills & Job Interview LDEs, scheduled November 12, 2026 at Lonestar-Tomball, Tomball HS, Tomball, Texas. Confirm times and entries with the chapter advisor or area FFA office before attending.
- Fort Bend County Pecan Show
Pecan competition open to Fort Bend growers; entries are current-year single-variety pecans, at least 40 nuts, no fee. Results shown at the Pecan Harvest Festival in Richmond on November 21, 2026.
- Fall Integrated Pest Management Seminar Dallas
Fall Integrated Pest Management seminar in Dallas on November 12, 2026, per the AgriLife Today Central Texas events page.
Listing checked Nov. 11, 2026 against this source. Details can change; confirm with the organizer.