Cooke County Jr. Livestock Show

Today's Youth, Tomorrow's Leaders

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The Cooke County Junior Livestock Show was established to support the 4-H, FFA & FCCLA youth of Cooke County. A 501C3 organization, the show is held each year in January for youth to showcase their project work, receive recognition for their efforts and develop leadership and teamwork skills. All of this provides important opportunities for positive youth development. School FCCLA & FFA program participants include Callisburg, Era, Gainesville, Lindsay, Muenster & Valley View. Cooke County 4-H program participants include students attending public Cooke County schools, St. Mary's Catholic School, Sacred Heart Catholic School and home schooled students.

The show is governed by a board of directors who annually elect a General Superintendent, Assistant General Superintendent, Secretary/Treasurer. Directors include Ag Science Teachers, FCCLA Advisors, County Extension Agents and one representative from each school/agency/community. One additional director representing each division of the show are: Beef, Goats, Poultry, Sheep, Equine, Dairy Cattle, Rabbits, Swine, Shop & FCS.


2023-24 Officers

General Superintendent - K.D. Weaver
Assistant General Superintendent - Justin Little
Secretary/Treasurer - Kelly Huston

2024  Division Superintendents

Equine - Hannah Gilmore
Dairy Cattle - Wayne Becker
Beef Cattle - Matt Bryson
Rabbits - Zachary Downe/Elizabeth Huchton
Poultry - Yvonne Sandmann
Sheep & Goats - Justin Little
Shop/Ag Mechanics - Corbin Evans
Swine - Mike Howe
Family & Consumer Science (FCS) - Leslie Bell
Horticulture -Rhonda Smithson

BY LAWS

Cooke County Junior Livestock Show is a 501(c)3 organization. The most recent adopted by laws can be viewed by selecting the link below. By laws are reviewed annually.

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MEETING AGENDAS

Access meeting agendas here.

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APPROVED MEETING MINUTES

Approved Meeting Minutes can be accessed here.

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Quick Reference Guide for Show Specific Procedures Contact your Ag teacher, FCS teacher or Extension Agent with questions. Check in questions can also be directed to show staff by emailing: secretary.ccjls@gmail.com 

Equine

  • Check-in and warm ups will be from Noon - 1:30 pm on December 17, 2023.
  • Show begins at 2:00 pm
  • Location of show is:  Cooke County Cowboy Church, 8207 US 82, Gainesville, TX 76240
  • For show patterns, go to 2024 Equine Show Patterns

FCS & Horticulture Shows

  • Drop off of entries and check-in is from Noon - 5:00 pm on Tuesday, January 2, 2024.
  • Drop off location and site of show is: First Christian Church, 401 N. Dixon St., Gainesville, TX
  • All entries will be tagged with exhibitor name, Entry #,  Division, Class # and Class name upon check-in. PLEASE DO NOT TAG YOUR OWN ENTRIES. You will receive a claim ticket that will match what is tagged to your entry.
  • Food Entries WILL NOT be accepted without a properly formatted recipe card.  Go to: recipeformatter.com to type your recipe and print.
  • All photography entries MUST BE flush mounted on foam core no thicker than 1/4"
  • All Creative Arts Division class #'s 4, 5, 8, 9 and 13 MUST HAVE a Story Card. Refer to page 19 of the 2024 CCJLS rule book for details.
  • Judging will take place on Wednesday, January 3, 2024 at 9:00 am
  • Viewing of judging results will be from 4:00 - 6:00 pm on Wednesday, January 3, 2024 and 9:00 am - Noon on Thursday, January 4, 2024.
  • All projects MUST BE picked up between NOON and 1:00 pm on Thursday, January 4, 2024. Please present your claim ticket issued at check-in when picking up your entries.

Sheep, Goats & Rabbits

BARN OPENS AT 6:00 AM
  • Check-in arrival for rabbits is 7:30 am on Thursday, January 4, 2024 at the Southeast corner of the show barn, near the show office.
  • Show begins at 8:00 am


  • Check-in, weighing and classification of Lambs and Goats is 8:00 am on Thursday, January 4, 2024.
  • Lambs will go first, followed by goats.
  • Back tag exhibitor entry numbers will be issued upon weigh-in and posting of classes
  • Show begins at 10:00 am with Breeding Sheep, followed by Market Sheep, followed by Dairy Goats, Breeding Goats and then concluding with Market Goats.

Refer to the map below for trailer arrival and parking.

Cattle & Poultry

BARN OPENS AT 6:00 AM
  • Check-in time for Breeding Beef Heifers, Commercial Heifers, and Dairy Cattle is 8:00 am on Wednesday, January 3, 2024.
  • Weigh-in time for Market Steers is 8:00 am on Wednesday, January 3, 2024. Scales will be located at the Southwest corner of the show barn.
  • Breeding Beef Heifer exhibitors MUST HAVE current registration papers showing ownership. Bring your registration paperwork to the Southeast side of the show barn by the show office to check in. Registration tables will be set up for check-in.
  • Dairy Cattle and Commercial Heifers must check-in at registration table.
  • Stalling will be first come, first serve. Shavings will be provided.
  • Back tag exhibitor entry numbers will be issued at check-in.
  • Show starts at 10:00 am or at the conclusion of the poultry show. Show order will be: Dairy Cattle, Market Steers, Breeding Heifers.


  • Check-in time for Poultry is 8:00 am on Wednesday, January 3, 2024. Check-in at the South end of the show barn.
  •  Coop tags will be assigned at check-in.
  • Show will begin at 9:00 am with Breeding followed by Market

Refer to the map below for trailer arrival and parking.

Shop, Ag Mechanics, Leather Work

  • Large projects may begin arriving Thursday afternoon, January 4, 2024. Please enter from the North side of the show barn.
  • Projects must all be in place by 10:00 am on Friday, January 5, 2024.
  • Check-in at the registration table located at the Southeast corner of the show barn near the show office.
  • Show will begin at 1:00 pm 

Swine

  • Arrival begins at 4:00 pm on Thursday, January 4, 2024. No unloading of swine in barn until conclusion of the Goat show.
  • Pen assignments will be posted to this website by Wednesday evening, January 3, 2024. NEW FOR 2024: All swine will be required to pen in the barn.
  • Classification and weigh-in will begin at 6:00 pm on Thursday, January 4, 2024. Weigh-in Order will be: 4-H Entries 1st followed by FFA Chapters in ABC order...Callisburg, Era, Gainesville, Lindsay, Muenster, Valley View
  • Show will begin at 9:00 am on Friday, January 5, 2024 with Breeding, followed by market
  • Back tag exhibitor entry numbers will be issued upon completion of weigh-in and posting of classes. 

2024 Equine Show Patterns

Select "Learn More" below to access the link to view and download the show patterns for the 2024 show.

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Sunday, December 17, 2023

02:00 PM
Equine Show
Location: Cooke County Cowboy Church, 8207 US 82, Gainesville, TX

Equine Show begins at 2:00 pm, with warm-up from Noon - 1:30 pm

Tuesday, January 2, 2024

12:00 PM - 05:00 PM
FCS & Horticulture Show Entry Check in
Location: First Christian Church, 401 N. Dixon St., Gainesville, TX 76240

Wednesday, January 3, 2024

08:00 AM
Steer Weigh in & Classification and Heifer Check in
Location: Cooke County Fairgrounds, 1901 Justice Center Blvd., Gainesville, TX 76240
08:00 AM
Poultry Check in
Location: Cooke County Fairgrounds, 1901 Justice Center Blvd., Gainesville, TX 76240
09:00 AM
Poultry Show
Location: Cooke County Fairgrounds, 1901 Justice Center Blvd., Gainesville, TX 76240

Broilers will show first, followed by the breeding poultry show.

09:00 AM
FCS & Horticulture Show Judging
Location: First Christian Church, 401 N. Dixon St., Gainesville, TX 76240

Show will be closed to the public and exhibitors during judging.

10:00 AM
Cattle Show
Location: Cooke County Fairgrounds, 1901 Justice Center Blvd., Gainesville, TX 76240

Show Order: Dairy Heifers, Steers, Beef Heifers, Longhorns
Showmanship will be held for dairy exhibitors at the conclusion of the dairy heifer show; showmanship for steers, heifers and longhorns will be held at the conclusion of the longhorn show.

04:00 PM - 06:00 PM
FCS & Horticulture Results Viewing
Location: First Christian Church, 401 N. Dixon St., Gainesville, TX 76240

Exhibitors and the public can view results from the FCS and Horticulture shows.

Thursday, January 4, 2024

07:30 AM
Rabbit Check in
Location: Cooke County Fairgrounds, 1901 Justice Center Blvd., Gainesville, TX 76240
08:00 AM
Rabbit Show
Location: Cooke County Fairgrounds, 1901 Justice Center Blvd., Gainesville, TX 76240

Meat Pens will show first, followed by Breeding.

08:00 AM
Sheep & Goat Weigh In & Classification
Location: Cooke County Fairgrounds, 1901 Justice Center Blvd., Gainesville, TX 76240
09:00 AM - 12:00 PM
FCS & Horticulture Results Viewing
Location: First Christian Church, 401 N. Dixon St., Gainesville, TX 76240

Exhibitors and the public can view results of the FCS and Horticulture shows.

10:00 AM
Sheep & Goat Show
Location: Cooke County Fairgrounds, 1901 Justice Center Blvd., Gainesville, TX 76240

Show order: Breeding Sheep, Market Sheep, Breeding Goats, Market Goats

12:00 PM - 01:00 PM
Release of FCS & Horticulture Show Entries
Location: First Christian Church, 401 N. Dixon, Gainesville, TX 76240

Exhibitors must pick up their entries at this time.

02:00 PM
Swine Move in
Location: Cooke County Fairgrounds, 1901 Justice Center Blvd., Gainesville, TX 76240

Move in will begin at the conclusion of the goat show or no earlier than 4:00 pm.

06:00 PM - 08:00 PM
Swine Weigh in & Classification
Location: Cooke County Fairgrounds, 1901 Justice Center Blvd., Gainesville, TX 76240

Friday, January 5, 2024

09:00 AM
Swine Show
Location: Cooke County Fairgrounds, 1901 Justice Center Blvd., Gainesville, TX 76240

Breeding Swine will show first, followed by Market Swine.

08:00 AM - 10:00 AM
Shop Project Check in
Location: Cooke County Fairgrounds, 1901 Justice Center Blvd., Gainesville, TX 76240
01:00 PM
Shop Show
Location: Cooke County Fairgrounds, 1901 Justice Center Blvd., Gainesville, TX 76240
02:00 PM
Abilities United Show
Location: Cooke County Fairgrounds, 1901 Justice Center Blvd., Gainesville, TX 76240

Saturday, January 6, 2024

12:00 PM
Buyers & Supporters Luncheon
Location: Cooke County Fairgrounds, 1901 Justice Center Blvd., Gainesville, TX 76240
12:30 PM
United Way Group Photo & Announcement of Scholarship Winners
Location: Cooke County Fairgrounds, 1901 Justice Center Blvd., Gainesville, TX 76240
01:00 PM
Premium Sale

2024 Rule Book

The 2024 show rules, regulations and guidelines can be accessed here for reference. Select "Read More" to access.

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Catherine Johnson

Equine

Blake Hoegger

Dairy Cattle

Colton Douglas

Steers & Heifers

Brian Lowe

Poultry

Tony Bell

Rabbits

Kevin Mock

Sheep & Goats

Luke Parr

Swine

Kenneth Williamson, Heath Story & Kyle Einhorn

Shop/Ag Mechanics

Tyler McCoy

Horticulture

Equine Results

Congratulations to our Exhibitors!

Dairy Cattle Results

Market Steer Results

Congratulations to our 2024 Exhibitors!

Breeding Heifer Results

Congratulations to our 2024 Exhibitors!

Poultry (Broilers) Results

Congratulations to our Exhibitors!

Breeding Poultry Results

Congratulations to our Exhibitors!

FCS Results

Congratulations to our FCS Show Exhibitors.

Horticulture

Congratulations to our 2024 Exhibitors!

Rabbit Meat Pen Results

Congratulations to our Exhibitors!

Breeding Rabbit Results

Congratulations to our Exhibitors!

Award recipients are recognized annually prior to the start of the Premium Sale.
$500 Scholarships are presented in the Memory of the following individuals:

Amy Bryant Kirkpatrick
Missy Dangelmayr
Doug Anderle
Herky Biffle
Pete Shauf

2024 Scholarship Applications are due to be submitted by Friday, December 8, 2023. High School Seniors, graduating in 2024, should complete the application from the link provided below and submit.

2024 Scholarship Application



Sale will begin at 1:00 pm on Saturday, January 6, 2024. Buyers must register for a bidder number prior to the sale. Complementary lunch will be served at NOON for all registered buyers. Buyer Registration will open at 11:00 am at the Southeast end of the show barn. Look for registration tables near the show office. Volunteers will be available to help buyers with registration and any questions. Payments are due 30 days from date of sale unless other arrangements have been made.

2024 Sale Order

Our 2024 Sale Order and add-on list will be posted on Friday, January 5, 2024 once the swine show is complete and the sale order has been confirmed.

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OUR AUCTIONEER

Chisam Cain

ADD ON INFORMATION

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  • Mailing Address: PO Box 83 Era, TX 76238