Animal Science Youth Programs

Join the TAMU Horse Judging Team at Aggiefest for an educational horse judging workshop. The clinic will cover English, Western and Halter classes, including evaluation of live classes, as well as reasons format and presentation. Members of the TAMU Horse Judging Team will present example set of reasons to the audience. More details for the 2025 clinic will be available soon.

Contact: Sarah Schobert

Each year, the Texas A&M Livestock Judging Team hosts a competitive contest for FFA and 4- H students across the state during Aggiefest.  Participants aged eight and up compete in eight classes as well as in a questions division.  Awards are given to the top competitors in each age and species division.  More details about the 2025 event will be available soon.

Contact: Kyle Despain

The Texas A&M Meat Judging Team will host a competitive contest for FFA and 4- H students across the state during Aggiefest.  More details for the 2025 event will be available soon.

Contact: Jennifer Wyle

Join the Texas A&M University Wool Judging Team during Aggiefest! More information about the 2025 event will be available soon.

Contact: Shawn Ramsey, Ph.D.

Held each July, the Aggieland™ Lamb & Goat Camps are designed for youth lamb and goat exhibitors and their parents. The three-day conference includes information on youth goat show programs, feeding, showmanship, show preparation, etc., and features some of the state’s leading experts on junior meat goat and lamb competitions. Dates and information about the 2025 camp will be available soon.

Learn more about Aggieland Lamb and Goat Camp
Contact: Shawn Ramsey, Ph.D.

The Horse Judging Camp is a three-day event in which youth, ages 10-18, will be instructed in judging performance and conformation classes along with giving oral reasons.

Learn more about Texas A&M University Horse Judging Camp
Contact: Sarah Schobert

Horse Judging Clinic: March 29, 2025; College Station, TX
The Horse Judging Clinic is a half-day event held each March in which youth will cover classes in rail (western pleasure, hunter under saddle) and reining. Registration and more details will be available soon.

Contact: Sarah Schobert or Jennifer Zoller, Ph.D.

The Livestock Judging Camp is designed for 4-H and FFA members interested in building their knowledge of evaluating market and breeding animals, including beef, swine, sheep, and goats. The reasons camp focuses on selection principles, oral reasons, live market evaluation, and breeding animal performance data. Any 4-H and FFA member is welcome to attend. Instructors include Texas A&M faculty and staff, and members of the 2023 livestock judging team.

Learn more about Texas A&M University Livestock Judging Camp
Contact: Kyle Despain

Livestock Judging Clinic: March 29, 2025; College Station, TX
The Livestock Judging Clinic is a half-day event designed for 4-H and FFA members interested in building their knowledge of evaluating market and breeding animals, including beef, swine, sheep, and goats.

Registration and more details will be available soon
Contact: Kyle Despain

The Meat Judging Camp is a 2 ½ day program dedicated to teaching sponsors and students the fundamentals of evaluation, selection, and grading of beef, pork, and lamb carcasses and cuts. Details about the 2025 camp will be available soon.

Learn more about the Meat Judging Camp
Contact: Jennifer Wyle

March 29, 2025; College Station, TX
The Meat Judging Clinic is a half day clinic held in March, hosted by the Fightin’ Texas Aggie Meat Judging Team, and department faculty and staff. All classes including grading and retail ID will be available for viewing in various locations throughout the Rosenthal Meat Science and Technology Center.

Registration and more details will be available soon.
Contact: Jennifer Wyle

This course is designed for youth and collegiate horse judging team members, their coaches, and anyone interested in learning more about horse judging. Learning objectives include understanding the rules for each class, applying the judging guidelines to each class, and learning to articulate placings during oral reasons.

View more details and purchase the Online Horse Judging course at AgriLife Learn.
Contact: Jennifer Zoller, Ph.D.

Wool Judging Clinic: March 29, 2025; College Station, TX
The Wool Judging Clinic is a half-day clinic held each March hosted by the Texas A&M Wool Judging Team. The clinic is set up in a typical 4-h/FFA wool judging contest.

Registration and more details will be available soon.
Contact: Dr. Shawn Ramsey

The Texas A&M Horse Beginnings Kids Camp is perfect for kids ages 9-12 with no horse experience. Don’t miss out on this amazing opportunity for your child to learn and have fun. More information about the 2025 camp dates will be available soon.

Contact: Chelsie Huseman, Ph.D.

This program covers all aspects of a dairy operation and is open for high school seniors in Erath, Comanche, and Hamilton counties to learn about the dairy careers in the dairy industry.

Contact: Jennifer Spencer, Ph.D.

July 20-26, 2025: Bryan, TX

Over 350 4-H youth plus their families attend the show from all over the state of Texas. The Texas State 4-H Horse Show is the pinnacle of the 4-H horse project and offers many opportunities to 4-H youth including up to 40 classes of competition, educational programs, scholarships, and college preparation opportunities.

Learn more here.
Contact: Chelsie Huseman, Ph.D. or Jennifer Zoller, Ph.D.

Training and programs in the area of veterinary science are offered to youth through the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service Veterinary Science Certificate Program, VSCP. The VSCP hosts a variety of events, workshops and more for a range of youth audiences with an interest in veterinary science.

Learn about the VSCP program and upcoming events here.

Contact: Nikki Boutwell or David Sessum