Release Forms
Must be filled out and attached to your registration form.
General Registration
Opens August 1st, 2026
FFA Registration
Opens August 1st, 2026
RULES & REGULATIONS
- Contestants must 1. Be enrolled in, and attending, public, private or homeschool in the United States. 2. Be a graduate from a public, private or homeschool in the United States who is no longer able to judge on a 4-H or FFA youth team and is a student enrolled and attending a Texas university, college, or trade school. 3. Individual 25 years or older who does not fall into either other categories.
- Eligibility & Divisions: Please find the three (3) division opportunities below the rules section. These include 1. Youth (Junior, Intermediate, Senior), 2. Rising Star and 3. Ol' Timer.
- Youth divisions may compete on a team or as an individual. Teams can consist of 3-4 members. All team individuals must be registered under the same age division.
- Coaches/Parents/Alternates/Spectators: No one will be allowed in the barn or arena while the judging contest is in progress unless competing or volunteering.
- Classes: Contestants will judge nine cattle classes. Handling will be at the discretion of the judging committee and will be announced before the contest is underway. Contestants will have 12 minutes to observe the class and complete their scan sheet. The classes may consist of one or more of the following:
- Breeding Heifers
- Market Steers
- Breeding Bulls
- Mature Cows
- Meat Quality Class
- Embryo Evaluation
- Calf Fetus Ultrasounds
- Cattle questions classes will consist of five (5) questions per class. There will be four (4) questions classes for the Senior, Rising Star, and Ol' Timer divisions. The Junior and Intermediate divisions will consist of two (2) live cattle eval questions classes. Contestants will be notified of the cattle classes requiring questions before placing that class. Contestants will have five minutes to study notes and five minutes to answer questions. Contestants will not be allowed to review their notes while answering questions.
- Materials: Scantrons will be provided by the committee. Contestants are required to bring a clipboard and #2 pencils. Empty steno pads are allowed.
- Scores: Scores are based on placings of the nine classes plus the question classes unique to each division. All ties among any placing team or individual will be broken.
- General Registration Forms: Registration opens August 1. Team and individual registration forms are available here. Registration fees will increase for late registration. There will be NO on-site registration available.
- Registration Forms FFA ONLY: While the general registration form is encouraged, FFA members will be able to register through their FFA program using JudgingCard.
- Awards: Prizes will be given in all divisions for both teams and individuals.
- The judging committee retains the right to alter these rules at any time.
Tentative Schedule of Events
October 31st, 2026
Registration: 8:00 AM
Orientation: 9:00 AM
Contest Begins: 9:30 AM
Awards: Tentatively set for 2:00 PM
Youth Contest
This contest is for youth in the 3rd-12th grade who are a member of 4-H, FFA, or an American recognized cattle breed association. Divisions are as follows:
- Junior: 3-5th Grade
- Intermediate: 6-8th Grade
- Senior: 9-12th Grade
All divisions will receive a High Point Individual Champion Buckle and Rosette. Further prizes are to be announced.
Rising Star Division
This division is designed for adults ages 18-25 or who are enrolled in an accredited college, university, or trade school.
Top placing division individuals will receive a High Point Individual Champion Buckle and Rosette. Further prizes are to be announced.
Ol' Timer Contest
Do you miss your judging days? Do you wish you could have kept judging? Are you judging for the first time? Regardless of your season of life, come have fun at the Cattlemen's Classic! This division is open to any individual who is over 25 years of age and does not fall into either of the other categories. This includes judging coaches, parents, and Extension agents!
High Point Individual will receive a Champion buckle. Further prizes to be announced.
Common Questions
Do I need experience?
No! You do not need any experience to compete in our contest. This experience is designed for all ages and experience level. Whether you are a seasoned judger or have next handled livestock, this is an opportunity for you to grown, learn, and network with those in the beef cattle industry!
What do I need to bring to the contest?
Please bring a pencil and steno or clipboard. Scantrons will be provided to you by the contest committee.
How can I prepare for the contest?
We have study resources posted for you to review on our Classroom page. Visit our YouTube channel on the page to view practice classes, instructional videos, and more!
How will the embryo, meat, and ultrasound classes be formatted?
Contestants will judge these classes based on a prompt that they are given during the contest. These classes will be printed images layed on tables for evaluation.
Contestants may evaluate based on topics such as meat quality and yield grades, cutability, gestational age of a calf fetus, sex of a calf fetus, and age or quality of embryos.
