It is time to place validation tag orders for the following livestock projects:
2026-2027 BCYF & Major Show Cattle
• State/BCYF Market Steers
• State/BCYF Registered Heifers
2026 State Fair of Texas
• Market Lambs & Goats
• Registered/Commercial Breeding Sheep & Goats
• Market Barrows
• Registered/Crossbred Gilts
Bell County validations REQUIRE all 4-H and FFA members to order and pay for their tags prior to validation to ensure the correct number of tags are ordered. All orders must be handled through the Bell County Extension Office or placed online through the Bell Livestock Coalition Square Site.
Order Deadlines:
All cattle, State Fair, and Heart O’ Texas Fair tag orders are due by
Wednesday, April 1st!
There are two options for exhibitors to submit tag orders:
• To order online and pay by credit card, visit: https://bell-livestock-coalition.square.site/
• To order in person and pay with cash or check, please go to the Extension Office with payment, payable to the Bell Livestock Coalition.
Tag orders will not be accepted without payment. Orders placed after the deadline will be subject to late fees.
SCHEDULED DATES & SPECIAL NOTES
Steer & Heifer Validation: Monday, June 22nd from 7:00–10:00 AM and 4:00–6:00 PM at the Cadence Bank Center
REGISTERED HEIFERS: The deadline for ownership, transfer, and registration for Registered Breeding Heifers is June 30, 2026. A color, PDF copy of the original registration papers should be emailed to your County Extension Agent (Meagan.Cline@ag.tamu.edu) or Ag Teacher by June 30, 2026.
All state validated heifers will be tagged similar to steers.
Both steers and heifers will be charged an increased validation fee of $30/head. In an effort to be in compliance with Texas Animal Health Commission, 840 frequency EID tags will allow our state validated livestock to move in compliance with TAHC across state lines and be in compliance when issues a Certificate of Veterinary Inspection (health papers).
1. Heifers already validated do NOT have to be revalidated. Heifers ONLY need to be revalidated if they change breed or ownership.
2. If your heifer has a previously existing 840 premise ID tag, there will be retag form/process, in coordination with TAHC, to remove the tag and replace with an official Texas Validation 840 tag. More information will be forthcoming on the official process and form for doing so.
State Fair of Texas Sheep & Goat Validation: Location and Schedule TBD
Lambs and goats validated during the 2026 State Fair Validation Period will be eligible for 2027 Spring Major Shows. Once validated, the project must stay in the care of the exhibitor that project is validated to; if the exhibitor chooses to sell the project to a new exhibitor, the new exhibitor must revalidate the project within the next validation period. Please see the Validation Guidelines for more details.
BREEDING SHEEP & GOATS: All Registered and Commercial Breeding Sheep and Goats must be validated to be eligible to show at the State Fair of Texas. Once validated, Breeding Sheep and Goat projects will be eligible for 3 years unless a change in ownership occurs. The deadline for ownership, transfer, and registration is June 30, 2026. A color, PDF copy of the original registration papers should be emailed to (Meagan.Cline@ag.tamu.edu) by June 30, 2026. If applicable, please carbon your ag teacher.
State Fair of Texas & Heart O’ Texas Fair Swine Validation: Location and Schedule TBD
All Registered and Commercial Gilts must be validated for the State Fair of Texas and Heart O’ Texas Fair.
REGISTERED GILTS: The date of ownership, transfer, and registration must all be on or before June 30, 2026. A color, PDF copy of the original registration papers should be emailed to your County Extension Agent (Meagan.Cline@ag.tamu.edu) or Ag Teacher by June 30, 2026.