About this event
The Livestock Show Sale of Champions closes the Hill County Youth Fair in Hillsboro. Youth display artistic and agricultural talents, and the fair covers cattle, swine, lambs, sheep, goats, rabbits, broilers and horses, plus ag mechanics and creative arts.
Dates and schedule
These are the 2025 dates, the most recent verified. The Sale of Champions was Saturday, January 18 at 12:30 p.m., preceded by a Fair Board scholarship meal from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. that was open to the public. The week ran as follows.
- Jan. 13: rabbits 10 a.m.; creative arts and ag mechanics judging.
- Jan. 14: lamb, sheep and goat shows 8 a.m.; A Day in the Ring for special needs students 1:30 p.m.
- Jan. 15: swine shows 8 a.m.; broilers 3 p.m.
- Jan. 16: heifer and steer shows 9:30 a.m.
- Jan. 17: horse show 9 a.m.; Creative Arts Sale of Champions 6:30 p.m.
Getting there
The main venue is the Hill County Fairgrounds in Hillsboro. The Commercial Steer Show, Jan. 9-10, is at the Hubbard Sale Barn.
Tips for families
- The show was livestreamed on Facebook Live and Restream, with daily links on the Hill County Fair Facebook page.
- The scholarship meal is open to the public.
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
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81 N Covington St, Hillsboro, TX 76645
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