Please take time to completely read the rules for this contest and make sure you understand requirements and expectations for coaches and contestants.  It is the responsibility of each coach and contestant to read, understand, and abide by all contest rules.

This is one contest where the rules cover how the event is scored, what you should/shouldn’t include on your processing map, etc.  It is extremely important that you read and understand the rules, as they are important to your safety and success in the contest.

Additionally, you will find the 2026 Cattle Processing Map, and 2026 Youth Cattle Working Permission Slip that is required for all participants.

Contest Dates are as follows:

Friday, March 27th, Southern Piedmont, The Adams Farm, 855 Jones Store Road, Red Oak, 10:00 AM

o Contest Coordinator: Joanne Jones jojenki1@vt.edu

Saturday, March 28^th, New River Valley, G & G Livestock, 169 Fort Chiswell Rd, Fort Chiswell, 9:00 AM

o Contest Coordinator: Cynthia Hurst, cyhurst@vt.edu

Wednesday, April 1^st, Central Virginia, Senterfitt/Virginia Livestock, 5866 Orange Rd, Radiant, 10:00 AM

o Contest Coordinator:  Kelly Mallory kemallo1@vt.edu

Friday, April 3^rd, Southwest Virginia, Copenhaver Farms, 31118 Blue Springs Road, Meadowview, 9:00 AM

o Contest Coordinator: Matthew Miller, mamille6@vt.edu

Thurs. April 9^th, Shenandoah Valley, 1718 Keezletown Road, Weyers Cave, 9:00 AM and 12:00 start times

o Contest Coordinators: Andy Seibel, gseibel@vt.edu and John Benner, benner89@vt.edu

***PLEASE NOTE: Each Regional Contest will have a 15 Team Maximum Limit***

 Each Chapter/Unit is allowed a Maximum of THREE Teams with a TWO Team/contest location limit.  Chapters must be chartered and have a submitted Roster to the State FFA Program to be considered eligible.

Regional Contest Site Locations are NOT to be used by any teams for pre-contest practices unless they are open to ANY team that wishes to practice there.

 Please take note that some of the contests are on different days and dates than they have been traditionally – we work with the producers’ schedules and cattle availability.

The State Youth Cattle Working Contest will be WEDNESDAY, April 15th – VA Beef Expo – Rockingham County Fairgrounds, Harrisonburg, VA.

***The Top Two Teams from each of the Regional Contests will advance to the State Youth Cattle Working Contest***

Team members who comprise a team at the Regional Event, must be the same ones who compete at the State Contest.  THERE IS NO SUBSTITUTION OF TEAM MEMBERS PRIOR TO THE STATE CONTEST.

Youth who have been members of previous State Champion Youth Cattle Working Teams are no longer eligible to compete.

IMPORTANT REMINDERS:

• Entry Deadline is Wednesday, March 18th at 5:00 pm
• Entry Link is:  https://tinyurl.com/2026-VA-YCWC-Entry
• Entry fee is $50/Team – payment details and information are in the entry system.  Payment is expected on all teams entered.  Teams who enter but do not participate will be invoiced for the appropriate entry fees.  All payments need to be made payable to:  Treasurer of Virginia Tech
• All participants must be 14 years of age by September 30, 2026, and have not had their 19^th birthday by January 1, 2026.
• Please enter all youth that you think might participate so they can be verified eligible.  Only pre-entered youth are eligible to compete.  Do not ask to substitute youth who were not pre-entered.
• All participants must have a valid/current Beef Quality Assurance Certification – those not currently certified must complete their certification by March 20^th, 2026.
  • Please do not submit your entries until youth have been BQA Certified, or you have verified they hold a valid certification – the entry form requires their BQA Number.
  • If you need to check certification status for a participant, please contact me at carterke@vt.edu