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Introduction: This project is not a part of the junior livestock division, therefore 4H and FFA members can sell
in this program as well as the junior livestock auction (Example: you can sell a pen of heifers in addition to ag
mech, swine, lamb, broiler, rabbit, steer, turkey or goat). However, exhibitors must abide by the general
livestock division rules.
Rules:
1. Exhibitors or a parent must live in Burleson County, and/or, be enrolled in a Burleson County School
for the 2026-2027 school year; and must have entered the third grade. All exhibitors must be a
member of a Burleson County 4-H Club or FFA Chapter, attend 5 4-H Club or FFA Chapter meetings
between September 1, 2025 – August 31, 2026, and be in good standing with their respective club
or chapter. Any incoming FFA member who has not been a member of FFA must have approval by
the Agricultural Science teacher. It is the responsibility of the FFA advisors and AgriLife Extension
agents to inform the Burleson County Fair Association whether an exhibitor has met this requirement
or not. Missed meetings can be made up according to the guidelines set by your FFA Chapter or
Burleson County AgriLife Extension office. Exhibitors must follow the above rules in order to show
and sell in any of the sale auctions.
2. Exhibitors must be closely engaged in the feeding, maintenance, training, grooming, and overall
welfare of his/her animals. Exhibitors and immediate family/guardians are responsible for providing
the primary and continuous daily care of livestock projects throughout the validation period. The
validation period begins immediately following the county validation date through the exhibition of
the project at the Burleson County Fair. Livestock projects must be raised in Burleson County unless
prior approval is given by the Burleson County Fair Board. Prior approval must be given in the event
the animal will be outside the direct care of the exhibitor, immediate family/guardian, and/or the
supervising County Extension Agent or Agricultural Science Teacher.
3. One pen of heifers may be shown per exhibitor.
4. Commercial heifer entries are highly encouraged to come from producers in Burleson or surrounding
counties.
5. All Junior Commercial Heifer entries will be validated at Caldwell Livestock Commission on
Saturday, April 11, 2026 from 8:00 -12:00 noon. There will be a consignment fee of $10.00 per head
and an entry fee of $30 per pen due at validation. Early drop off on Friday, April 10th must be preapproved in advance to help reduce pen congestion and flow to the scales. Pens with water are
limited.
6. Commercial heifer entries must be less than two years of age at validation. Any heifer with eruption
of adult incisors will not be allowed to enter. THIS WILL BE DETERMINED BY A CERTIFIED
VETERINARIAN. This finding will supersede any documented birth Date.
7. All heifers must be Brucellosis calfhood vaccinated prior to validation. Heifers must have a State
approved ID (ex. metal calfhood vaccination tag, USDA button or EID tag) and/or a legible tattoo in
their ear. Heifers without vaccination tags and/or vaccination tattoos in their ear will not be allowed
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to show. Vaccination of heifers will not occur at validation. Non-USDA buttons or EID tags will not
count as proof of vaccination status.
8. A minimum of three and a maximum of five heifers must be weighed in at validation. Each pen of
heifers must average a minimum of 750 pounds per head. Heifers should be of the same breed and
there may not be more than a 200 pound variance among the heifers. Should a heifer be removed by
the Chairman for exceeding this limit, the remaining heifers must be re-weighed to certify their 750
pound minimum average. A minimum of three heifers must be tagged in to participate in the
program. Animals arriving after 12PM on April 11th will not be weighed in.
9. All heifers must be dehorned or naturally polled prior to validation.
10. Classes will consist of the following:
● Brahman X Hereford (F-1)
● Black Brahman Derivative (3/8-1/2 blood Brahman cross, predominantly black hide)
● All Other Breeds
11. Heifers will be classified at validation by a classifier(s) designated by BCFA. If all heifers in a pen do
not meet classifications for the class, heifers will be shown as AOB.
12. Heifers cannot be added or switched after validation (tagged) on April 11, 2026.
13. In the event an exhibitor’s heifer(s) loses an official BCFA ear tag, it is the responsibility of the
exhibitor to notify the commercial heifer Chairman so the heifer(s) can be re-tagged.
14. All heifers will be pregnancy tested on Saturday, September 12, 2026 by a veterinarian selected by
BCFA. Heifers must be at least 90 days bred and not have a calf prior to check in on Thursday,
September 24, 2026. A pen of three bred heifers must be exhibited for completion. Incomplete pens
will be eligible to sell, but not eligible for competition or prize money.
15. Any heifer declared less than 90 days pregnant is eligible for protest. All protests must be in writing
and accompanied by a $150 (cash or check) protest fee per exhibitor. Protest fees will be forfeited if
the protest is not sustained. All protests must be submitted to the Chairman within 30 minutes after
completion of the initial pregnancy check on Saturday, September 12, 2026. All protested heifers
must remain at the Caldwell Livestock Commission unless approved by the Chairman. All protested
heifers will be reevaluated via ultrasound by a second veterinarian selected by BCFA after
conclusion of the initial palpation on Saturday, September 12, 2026 at the Caldwell Livestock
Commission. The pregnancy determination of the second veterinarian will be final. If the veterinarian
selected to conduct the initial pregnancy test has, and is capable of using an ultrasound, any heifer
declared less than 90 days pregnant will be immediately checked via ultrasound to determine her
stage of pregnancy and there will be no protest. The determination by ultrasound will be the final
diagnosis.
16. Heifers will be checked in on Thursday, September 24, 2026 from 7-10:00AM at the Burleson
County Fairgrounds.
17. Heifers will be judged on Thursday, September 24, 2026 at 1:00 pm. No exhibitors will be allowed in
the barn during judging. The parade of champions will follow at 5PM. The judges walk to discuss
heifers with exhibitors will immediately follow the parade of champions. NO parents will be allowed
in the pen area during the judges walk.
18. Exhibitors are required to submit a digital record book by noon September 20, 2026. Each record
book will be judged, and the exhibitors will be interviewed to determine placing. Exhibitor interviews
will be on Wednesday, September 23, 2026 beginning at 8:00 am. Interviews will be divided into
three classes, Junior (3 rd – 5 th ), Intermediate (6 th – 8 th ), and Senior (9 th – 12 th ). Interview
times will be pre-assigned. Any scheduling requests must be made in writing. Record books and
interviews are required for all exhibitors. Exhibitors failing to submit a record book or attend an
interview will not be eligible to show or sell their heifers.
19. Since this is a terminal show, all bred heifers must sell in the Commercial Heifer Sale on Friday
September 25, 2026 at 6:00PM. Heifers will sell as a group with the number of heifers times the bid
price being the amount received. A 6% sale fee will be deducted from each sale.
20. Feeding, watering, and cleaning of heifer pens are the sole responsibility of the exhibitor upon
check-in on Thursday, September 24, 2026 until release on Saturday, September 26, 2026.
21. The committee has the right to sift or reject any heifer for defects or injuries, upon check-in at the
BCFA fair.
22. In order to comply with the national law on Beef Check-Off, two dollars will be deducted from the
sale of each heifer.
23. All heifers must comply with Texas Animal Health Commission rules governing entry in the Burleson
County Fair. Health papers will be provided after palpation by the BCFA.
24. All heifers will be released on Saturday, September 26, 2026 from 8-11:00AM by the heifer
committee.
25. Barn cleanup deadline will be October 3, 2026 at 5PM. All exhibitors must have stalls cleaned on or
before this day. If stalls are not cleaned, a $500.00 fee will be deducted from the exhibitor’s check.
26. All heifers entered in this program and sold, become property of the buyer and will remain sold.
27. The Burleson County Fair Association and the commercial heifer committee act as agents only for
the exhibitors. All guarantees are between buyers and sellers.
28. There will be no harassment of the judges, veterinarians, or classifiers prior to, during, or after the
show. The judge will give reasons for the placings and that will be considered adequate explanation
of the placings.
29. This program is designed to be educational and beneficial to the youth of Burleson County. Any
parent or exhibitor who does not adhere to the rules pertaining to the Commercial Heifer Show may
be banned for a period of one (1) year from exhibition in the program.
30. Premiums will be set according to monies available.
31. The commercial heifer committee reserves the right to amend these rules and settle disputes with
the approval of the Executive Committee of the Burleson County Fair.
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