06/12/2026
2027 LSU AgCenter State Livestock Show Market and Commercial validation Procedure
Agent/Ag Teacher responsibility:
Kits will consist of a tag and validation envelope. The 2026-7 validation fee is $7 per validation. This fee should be collected from exhibitors when they submit their validations to parish offices. All checks submitted to the Livestock Show Office must be made out to “Livestock Show Office”. Ag Teacher should request validation kits from parish LSU AgCenter office by date specified by LSU AgCenter parish staff.
Parish Agents will request Market Steer kits for Market Steers from their District Show managers no later than July 17th, 2026.
Parish Agents will request validation kits for remaining market and commercial animals from their District Show Manager no later than August 24, 2026.
All validation should be placed in the mail to the Livestock Show Office the day after validations are due to parish offices.
The mailing address is as follows:
Livestock Show Office
188 Knapp Hall
110 LSU Union Square
Baton Rouge, LA 70803-0106
Attention: Validation
Validation/Possession Deadlines:
Steers:
August 14, 2026
Must be validated by exhibitor and submitted to Parish LSU AgCenter Office on or by August 14th, 2026.
Beef & Dairy Commercial Heifers, Market lambs & Commercial Ewes, Market Goats & Commercial Does:
November 9, 2026
Must be validated by exhibitor and submitted to Parish LSU AgCenter Office on or by November 9th, 2026.
Market & Commercial Hogs:
December 1, 2026
Must be validated by exhibitor and submitted to Parish LSU AgCenter Office on or by December 1st, 2026.
Rabbit Meat Pens:
January 19, 2027
Must be validated by the exhibitor in 4-H online on or by January 19, 2027.
Exhibitor Responsibility:
1. Animals must be in continuous possession of exhibitors from time of validation until the LSU AgCenter State Livestock Show. See the rules in 2026-27 LSU AgCenter State Livestock Show catalog or consult the livestock show manager for specific possession rules.
2. Exhibitors should request validation kits from agents and FFA advisors as per parish guidelines. Each parish LSU AgCenter 4-H office will supply validation kits to exhibitors upon request.
3. Validation will consist of:
Ear tagging animal.
Collecting hair sample and/or DNA sample; hair sample should be placed in a properly identified validation envelope for each animal validated. Validation envelopes must be returned to the local LSU AgCenter office with a validation fee by the specified deadline.
Exhibitors enter animal information into the 4-H Online system on or before possession deadlines.
The responsibility of entering animal info into 4-H online, ear tagging animals, and collecting DNA and/or hair samples will be that of the exhibitor and/or parent. Agents/FFA advisor MUST be present and can assist.
4. Animals previously tagged for the 2024 Louisiana State Fair may utilize the State Fair TAG to complete LSU AgCenter State Show validations. New DNA samples must be submitted to LSU AgCenter for all animals previously validated for the State Fair
5. Animals must be validated in either the exhibitor’s name or in the family name (Family consists of parents, legal guardians, brothers, and sisters). When official entries are completed, animals validated in family name must be entered in the name of the exhibitor that will show the animal at the District and State Livestock Shows.
Validation Hardship Statement
The district and/or State Show manager must be notified within (7) seven days after the validation deadline to be considered for a validation hardship. After contacting District and/or State Show Manager, hardship forms must be immediately submitted with supporting material and stating hardship. These hardships will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis by parish agent, district show manager, and state show manager. Only cases where it is determined to have been unavoidable will the exhibitor be allowed to validate. This decision will be final and not subject to appeal.
2027 LSU AgCenter State Livestock Show Breeding Animal Possession Dates.
November 9, 2026: Beef, Sheep, Goat, Dairy Breeding, and Exhibition Poultry.
November 16, 2026: Miniature Cattle
December 1, 2026: Market Hogs and Swine Breeding
December 18, 2026 Exhibition Rabbits
