ENROLLMENT IS OPEN!

UPCOMING EVENTS

Stay up to date with everything happening in Denton County 4-H! This page is your go-to resource for upcoming events, registration information, important deadlines, and key dates throughout the year. We strive to keep our website updated daily with the latest information; however, for real-time announcements, reminders, and last-minute updates, we encourage you to follow our Facebook page and join our BAND. Be sure to check this page often so you never miss an opportunity to learn, lead, serve, and discover through 4-H.

STATE FAIR OF TEXAS

The portal is now open! Entries can be submitted through the State Fair Parent Portal:

State Fair of Texas Parent Portal: https://livestock.bigtex.com/login/

Deadline: August 22

HEART O'TEXAS FAIR

The deadline for the following Heart O' Texas entries is August 22:

Livestock Shows
Individual Contests
Trap Shooters Extravaganza

Team contest entries have a separate deadline of September 11

This includes:

Food Challenge – Junior
Food Challenge – Intermediate
Food Challenge – Senior
Livestock Judging Contest – Junior
Livestock Judging Contest – Senior
Ag Product ID Contest – Junior
Ag Product ID Contest – Senior

Please review the appropriate entry form(s) and plan ahead. If you have any questions about entries, required paperwork, or payment, contact the Denton County Extension Office before the applicable deadline.

HOT_Team_Entry_Form

HOT_Trap_Shoot_Entry_Form

HOT_Exhibitor_Entry_Form

LIVESTOCK VALIDATION

What is Livestock Validation? Livestock validation is the process used to officially identify and verify livestock projects that 4-H members plan to show. Validation helps ensure that each animal is properly identified and connected to the correct 4-H member before the show season.

Livestock validation is required for animals that will be exhibited at major livestock shows, as well as the Denton County Youth Fair. Completing validation is an important step in preparing your livestock project for the upcoming show season. Families should make sure their animals are validated by the appropriate deadline. An animal that has not been properly validated may not be eligible to show.

2026 Fall Validation: The 2026 Fall Validation Tag Order Form is available to families who need validation tags for heifers, sheep, and goats. Tags are $29.00 each when ordered by the regular deadline. A $34.00 late fee applies after August 27, 2026. Payment must be received before validation tags will be ordered.

2026 Fall Validation Tag Order Form (1).pdf

SWINE VALIDATION & TAGS

If your family plans to show swine this year, you must have your swine properly validated and tagged. Swine validation confirms ownership of your project and is required in order to exhibit your swine at the county show, as well as applicable major livestock shows.

Tag Cost & Deadlines:

$29 per tag — Early Deadline: September 20, 2026
$34 per tag — Late Deadline: October 1, 2026

Families should order early to save money and make sure they are ready for show season. No exceptions after the late deadline.

Email steven.baringer@ag.tamu.edu to learn more or place your tag order.

DENTON COUNTY 4-H FOOD CHALLENGE

Put your cooking skills, creativity, and teamwork to the test at the Denton County 4-H Food Challenge on October 12!

If you are new to 4-H, Food Challenge is a team-based contest that gives members the opportunity to learn about food, nutrition, food safety, budgeting, communication, and teamwork in a fun, hands-on setting. Think of it as a 4-H version of a cooking competition show!

How Does Food Challenge Work?

Teams are given a key ingredient and access to a pantry of additional ingredients. Working together, team members have a limited amount of time to plan and prepare a dish.

But Food Challenge is about more than just cooking! After preparing their dish, teams present it to a panel of judges. Members explain their recipe and preparation process while demonstrating what they know about nutrition, food safety, food preparation, cost analysis, and teamwork.

The contest is designed to help 4-H members build practical life skills while learning how to work together and communicate under pressure.

Contest Information

Date: October 12
Check-In: 9:00 AM
Orientation: 9:15 AM
Registration Fee: $30 per team
Registration Deadline: October 5 at 11:59 PM

Team Requirements

Teams must have at least three members but no more than four members.

All members of a team must compete in the same age division. Teams may not include members from different age divisions.

How Can My Child Prepare?

Our Denton County 4-H Food & Nutrition Project will be holding meetings and practices to help members learn the skills needed to participate in Food Challenge. These meetings are a great option for members who are new to the contest and want an opportunity to learn, practice, and prepare with other 4-H members.

Attending the Food & Nutrition Project meetings and practices is not required to compete.

Families are also welcome to put together their own team and practice independently. If you already have a group of 3–4 members in the same age division, you can form a team, prepare on your own, and register for the county contest.

Whether you prepare through our county Food & Nutrition Project or practice independently, we encourage members interested in cooking, nutrition, and teamwork to give Food Challenge a try!

Registration

Registration will be posted below soon. Please check back next week!

Questions about Food Challenge? Contact Deva Bruce at deva.bruce@dentoncounty.gov or 940-349-2884.

DISTRICT CONTEST MEMOS

District IV 4-H contests give members the opportunity to take the skills they have developed through their 4-H projects and compete with youth from across our district. Contests cover a variety of project areas and may include judging events, public speaking, food and nutrition, photography, livestock, leadership, and more.

The District IV 4-H Contest Memos below contain the official information for each contest, including eligibility, contest rules, registration information, deadlines, schedules, locations, and other important details. Families planning to participate in a district contest should carefully review the current contest memo.

Please Note: Some District IV contests require 4-H members or teams to qualify through a Denton County contest before advancing to the district level, while others allow members to register directly for the district contest. We will do our best to note below when a county qualifying contest is required.

Contest information and dates may be updated throughout the year, so families are encouraged to check back regularly and review each memo carefully before registering.

2026-2027 Food Challenge Contest Memo.pdf

2026-2027 Horse Judging Contest Memo.pdf

County Qualifier Required: Denton County 4-H will host a County 4-H Food Challenge Contest to determine the teams that advance to the District IV contest. Members interested in competing at District IV must first participate in and qualify through the county contest.

Please see the County 4-H Food Challenge Contest information above on this webpage for dates, registration details, and additional information.

TEXAS 4-H ROUNDUP

Texas 4-H Roundup is the premier state-level competitive event for Texas 4-H and is held each summer in College Station. Roundup is for Senior 4-H members (grades 9–12) and brings together youth from across Texas to compete in approximately 50 contests and activities.

Roundup contests cover a wide variety of 4-H project areas, including Food Challenge, judging contests, educational presentations, public speaking, Fashion Show, Leaders 4 Life, quiz bowls, photography judging, robotics, livestock contests, and more. Some contests are qualifying contests, meaning members must advance through the appropriate county and/or District IV competition, while others are invitational and do not require district qualification.

Families interested in Texas 4-H Roundup should review the current Texas 4-H Roundup Handbook and individual contest rules carefully for eligibility, qualification requirements, registration information, and contest guidelines. You may also contact the Denton County Extension Office for assistance determining how to participate or qualify for a particular contest.

Texas 4-H Roundup Website

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