The annual Texas State 4-H Horse Show, which has been held at the Taylor County Exposition in Abilene for the past 35 years, will now be held at the Brazos County Expo Center in Bryan for the next five years.

The Brazos County Expo Center won the bid to host the state show from 2019-2023. The first show at the new venue will be July 21-27, 2019.

The move was the result of a competitive bidding process, said Dr. Parr Rosson, interim director of the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service, the educational outreach agency of the Texas A&M University System administering the Texas 4-H Youth Development Program.

“The city of Abilene and the Taylor County Exposition have graciously hosted the show for the past 35 years,” Rosson said. “We deeply appreciate their efforts and the hospitality they have shown.”

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, said Dr. Courtney Dodd, Texas 4 – H Youth Development Program leader.

“The show is held every summer and competitors must qualify through their district in order to compete in events such as Western pleasure, working cow horse, hunter under saddle, barrel racing and more,” she said.

Dr. Jennifer Zoller, AgriLife Extension horse specialist, and Chelsie Huseman, AgriLife Extension horse program specialist, along with numerous county extension agents and volunteers, manage the week-long show.

“The show is also supported by sponsors and donors who generously provide monetary donations, services and awards,” Dodd said. “Thanks to this generous support, we were able to implement a division scholarship program that offers scholarships for college to the highest-placing senior in each of the six major divisions.”

Dodd said Texas 4-H strives to provide horse show participants with the best possible educational and positive competitive experience.

“We feel the move to the Brazos County Expo site will also allow us to expand on some existing programs and activities as well as offer new ones,” she said. “In 4-H our motto is to make the best better, and we hope to do that with the Texas State 4-H Horse Show at its new venue.”