Virginia Youth Livestock Program

04/16/2026

Day 2 of the Virginia Beef Expo and we have so many fun and educational opportunities available! Come participate in the Youth/Adult Skillathon in a come and go set up with fun prizes for the young and the young at heart!!

Venture outside of the Hoop Barn and check out the Virginia 4-H Life Sciences Mobile Learning Lab and the VSU Agriculture Learning Lab!

Cattle sales, Block and Bridle Food, amazing vendors… head to Harrisonburg and check it out!

04/08/2026

Entries are rolling in and we are excited for a fun and competitive 2026 Virginia Junior Beef Roundup next weekend! There's still time, but you need to enter NOW. Entries close TOMORROW, THURSDAY, APRIL 9th at 5:00 PM.

Use this link: http://jrbeefroundup.fairentry.com/ to submit entries. $35/head entry fee. Judge is Jed Sidwell.

Held in conjunction with the Virginia Beef Expo, the VJBR is open to Virginia 4-H and FFA Youth, and Virginia youth that are members of their respective National Breed Associations.

Classes for Registered Breeding Cattle (Heifers and Bred and Owned Bulls), Commercial/Crossbred Heifers, Registered and Crossbred Prospect Steers. Showmanship for Novice, Juniors, Seniors, and Collegiate/Advanced.

Go to the link now and get those entries in!

03/31/2026

Rockingham 4-H back in the spotlight as these youth work to become Beyond Ready under the leadership of Agent Ashley Craun🍀🍀🍀Awesome job Sutton, Trey, and Wyatt!!

03/31/2026

We are excited to welcome Jed Sidwell as our 2026 Virginia Junior Beef Roundup Judge! Jed grew up in Northern Colorado where he and his family raise and show nationally competitive sheep and cattle. He was a member of the livestock judging team at Butler Community College and a member of the Champion Team at the Cattlemen's Congress. From Butler, Jed made his way to Stillwater, OK and was on the Livestock Judging Team at Oklahoma State where they also won Cattlemen's Congress, The National Western, and The National Barrow Show. Jed graduated from OSU with a degree in Finance and now lives in Northern Illinois, working as a commodity broker and media creator for AgBull Trading.

Entries are open with details at this link: http://jrbeefroundup.fairentry.com/

The Virginia Junior Beef Roundup is open to Virginia 4-H and FFA Youth, as well as Virginia youth who are active, dues paying members of their respective registered breed association. Entry Deadline is Thursday, April 9th and entry fees are $35/head.

03/14/2026

Entries have closed and the contest is at maximum capacity!!

Entries are officially Closed.

03/09/2026

One of our favorite partnerships each year!! Entries are rolling in and we’ve passed the 200 contestant mark🎉🎉 If you’re planning to enter, please do so ASAP- don’t miss this great opportunity to participate in a top shelf contest planned by an amazing family!

Contest Info link and entry lin are in the original post below!

03/06/2026

February 28th, the 2026 State 4-H and FFA Meat Judging Contest was held in Blacksburg! Nearly 140 students from across the state came together to test their knowledge of meat identification, retail and carcass judging, meat science general knowledge, yield and quality grading, and team problem solving.

A huge congratulations to Frederick County 4-H and Broadway FFA for their success in the Senior 4-H and FFA contests. We wish them luck as they travel to Kansas City and Indianapolis to represent Virginia at their respective National Contests this fall.

Thank you to Dr. Mark Wahlberg, Dr. Scott Greiner, Mr. Mark Gwin, and Mr. Richard Preisser for officiating the contest, the Virginia Tech Meat Lab for their support and assistance with providing meat and contest space, Creative Virtue Crafts for designing and providing awards, and Virginia Tech Block and Bridle for lunch and ensuring that the event ran smoothly!

The event was sponsored by Smithfield, Certified Angus Beef, Virginia Beef Council, Virginia Cattlemen’s Association, Virginia Pork Council, and Virginia Sheep Producers Association.

A special shout out and Thank You to Katie Powell, program Alum, and Virginia Tech School of Animal Sciences Senior for her leadership of this event!

03/05/2026

We are excited to once again partner with Buffalo Gap High School FFA on their long running "Judge Like a Champion" Livestock Judging Camp and Coaches Clinic!

Dates: May 29 - 31, 2026
Location: Rockingham County Fairgrounds, Harrisonburg
Who: Youth ages 9 - 19, all experience levels welcome
Please see the attached flyers for details.

Judging Camp Registration Link: https://tinyurl.com/2026-JLAC-Judging-Camp

Coaches Clinic Registration Link: https://tinyurl.com/2026-JLAC-Coaches-Clinic

Clinic Coaches this year will be: Jacob Klaudt, Blaine French, Garrett Vaughn, Emily Taylor, Emma Jo Donnelly, and Karley Sonifrank

Coaches Clinic will be led by Matt Claeys

This camp fills fast every year - get your registrations in now!

02/03/2026

Have you registered for Beef Boot Camp sponsored by the VA Tech Beef Leadership Council? Sign up today!!

Beef Boot Camp – Hosted by the VT Beef Leadership Council 📍 Location: Alphin-Stuart Livestock Arena – Virginia Tech (500 Plantation Rd Blacksburg, VA 24060) 📅 Date: March 6 ⏰ Time: 8:00 AM – 4:00 PM (detailed schedule to follow, lunch is provided) 💲 Cost: $15 per participant (must p...

01/21/2026

4-H Day at the Capitol has long been a favorite and today was one of the best yet🍀🍀🍀🍀

Our Virginia 4-H Livestock Ambassadors and Virginia 4-H Horse Ambassadors joined forces once again to visit Richmond and share their passion for the animal Agriculture Industry while learning first hand how State Government works.

We had amazing visits with Delegate Michael Webert and Delegate Chris Runion, both giving valuable time in their busy schedules to talk to these youth and learn more about each of them, what their 4-H experiences have instilled in them and asking about their future plans. A shout out to Layton Dudding for a powerful explanation of why youth development organizations like Virginia 4-H need support, financial and otherwise, from state governments to allow future members to gain valuable life skills that these programs offer!!

Delegate Runion gave a fabulous introduction of the entire group from the House Floor and they received a “warm House welcome” from the House of Delegates.

The 4-H Rally included comments from our new Secretary of Agriculture and Forestry, Katie Frazier, as she encouraged and applauded the work of Virginia 4-Hers while sharing the skills gained from her personal 4-H experiences as a former youth member in Rockingham County🍀🍀🍀🍀

Nearly 500 youth and adult supporters on the Capitol grounds today sharing the message of Virginia 4-H and the irreplaceable, extremely valuable life skills 4-H provides to make youth BEYOND READY🍀🍀🍀🍀