About this event
The McLennan County Junior Livestock Show (MCJLS) is the county's youth livestock show, listed with Extraco Events Center in Waco. The January 2026 county newsletter does not name the show venue; it names the Extraco Show Pavilion (Glass Room) only for validation and pickup, so the city and venue here are inferred.
Dates, deadlines and schedule
The most recent posted dates are February 2-6, 2026. Annual recurrence is assumed.
- Market sheep and market goat: February 2-3
- Meat rabbit: February 3
- Steer and heifer: February 3-4
- Swine: February 4-5
- Poultry: February 5
Meat pen rabbit validation was January 5, 2026, 4:30-6:30 pm in the Extraco Glass Room at $0.50 per rabbit, and MCJLS broiler pickup was 4-5 pm the same day. Breeder rabbits do not need validation.
Judges
Steers: Ronald Blum. Heifers: Chad Oates. Goats: Denton Lowe. Sheep: Wayne Morse. Swine: Luke Parr. Meat rabbit: April Cade.
Getting there
The McLennan County Extension Office is at 4224 Cobbs Drive, Waco. Phone 254-757-5180.
Tips for exhibitors and families
- The newsletter includes MCJLS weight break tables for market barrows, lambs, goats and steers. Check them before choosing animals.
- County tag orders for steers, summer heifers, state fair sheep and goats, and swine are due March 27, with validation in June.
- The newsletter does not mention an MCJLS auction.
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 McLennan County
- Texas Farm Bureau Annual Meeting
The 93rd annual meeting of Texas Farm Bureau, held Dec. 4-6, 2026 in Waco; the site lists nearby hotels rather than one venue.
- Capital Farm Credit - Waco
Capital Farm Credit office in Waco, Texas, listed in the Rural1st directory of Texas Farm Credit offices. Farm Credit lenders finance farmers, ranchers and rural landowners.
337 Enterprise Blvd, Waco, TX 76643 | 254-776-7506 - Cargill Meat Solutions - Waco
Cargill Meat Solutions' Waco plant on East Lake Shore Drive is a USDA-inspected processing site in McLennan County, per the FSIS 2021 directory.
2510 East Lake Shore Drive, Waco, TX 76705 | (254) 412-3400 - Cottonwood Creek Veterinary
Veterinary practice in Waco, McLennan County, Texas, listed by the Texas Animal Health Commission among clinics with a veterinarian certified to test cattle for trichomoniasis.
Waco, TX | 254-757-0460 - H & B Packing Co.
H & B Packing Co. Inc. on Forrest Street in Waco is a long-established McLennan County meat packer in the FSIS 2021 directory.
702 Forrest, Waco, TX 76704 | (254) 752-2506 - Heart of Texas Farmers Market
Heart of Texas Farmers Market is a farmers market in Waco, McLennan County, Texas. Address given as 4601 Bosque Blvd. Held Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday, 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. Source: the Texas A&M AgriLife farmers market list.
4601 Bosque Blvd, Waco, TX | (254) 562-5663 - Homestead Weekly Market
Homestead Weekly Market is a farmers market in Waco, McLennan County, Texas. Address given as 747 Dry Creek Rd. Hours listed: Saturday 10 am - 2 pm. Source: the Texas Department of Agriculture 2026 certified farmers markets map.
747 Dry Creek Rd, Waco, TX 76705 - KCEN-TV Waco
Broadcasting on channel 6, KCEN-TV carries NBC programming; Wikipedia lists it under the Waco-Killeen-Temple market of Texas.
Waco, 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.