About Val Verde County Livestock Show and Premium Auction
83rd annual show with nearly 70 students in 8 categories; the premium auction totaled $114,410 in January 2024. City inferred; 2024 is the latest verified edition, annual assumed.
When and Where
Thursday, January 4, 2024 - Saturday, January 6, 2024 at Val Verde County Fairgrounds 4-H barns, Del Rio, Val Verde County, Texas.
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 Val Verde County
- Devil's River SWCD
Devil's River SWCD is a soil and water conservation district based in Del Rio, Texas, listed in a directory of Texas conservation districts that includes SWCDs across the state.
Del Rio, TX - KYVV-TV Del Rio
Broadcasting on channel 10, KYVV-TV carries Grit programming; Wikipedia lists it under the Del Rio market of Texas.
Del Rio, TX - Tractor Supply Co. - Del Rio
Tractor Supply Co. farm and ranch store at 803 Texas Spur 239 in Del Rio, Val Verde County; the retail listing gives 830-775-1281 and carries feed, fencing, livestock supplies and tractor implements.
803 Texas Spur 239, Del Rio, TX 78840 | 830-775-1281 - Val Verde 4-H
Val Verde 4-H and Texas 4-H program with Quality Counts and shooting sports, run from the AgriLife Extension office at 300 E 17th Street, Del Rio.
300 E 17th St, Del Rio, TX 78840 | 830-774-7591 - Val Verde County AgriLife Extension Office
Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service county office serving Val Verde County. Located at 300 E 17th St, Del Rio, TX 78840. Listed in the AgriLife People directory of Extension county offices.
300 E 17th St, Del Rio, TX 78840 | 830-774-7591 Website
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.