Longview Harvest Festival and Livestock Show Opens
The annual community event kicks off with rabbit judging at the Longview Fairgrounds.
Updated on Oct. 20, 2026 in Fairs and Festivals
Live Poll
Do you believe supporting local youth agricultural projects is a worthwhile community priority?
The Harvest Festival and Livestock Show has officially opened at the Longview Fairgrounds. The multi-day event draws participants from Gregg County and surrounding areas to showcase student projects.
Why it matters
The festival serves as a vital fundraiser for students, with proceeds helping to cover college costs and expenses for agricultural mechanics projects. Admission to view the various student exhibits remains free to the public.
A total of 199 rabbit pens were registered for the event, with each pen consisting of three rabbits and one alternate. These entries represent a slight increase in participation compared to previous years.
The players
Tony Bell
Tony Bell is an experienced livestock judge who evaluates animal entries based on appearance, uniformity, and specific breed conditions.
The details
Judge Tony Bell is evaluating the rabbit entries based on specific criteria including appearance, uniformity, and tail condition. The festival continues throughout the week with a full schedule of livestock and home economics events, concluding with the Sale of Champions.
Timeline
October 20, 2026: The Harvest Festival and Livestock Show opened.
October 21, 2026: Poultry and speech events are scheduled.
October 22, 2026: Swine, home economics, and ag mechanics events take place.
October 23, 2026: Lamb, goat, and steer judging occurs.
October 24, 2026: The Sale of Champions concludes the festival.
Industry Dynamics
The Harvest Festival aligns with the broader tradition of county-level 4-H and FFA livestock exhibitions across Texas. These events serve as a critical venue for students to develop agricultural skills while fostering long-term community support for youth education.
Residents can view student projects at the fairgrounds free of charge throughout the week. The festival schedule provides daily opportunities for the community to support local students leading up to the final livestock auction on Saturday.
The takeaway
The Harvest Festival is a community-driven initiative that creates a pipeline of financial support for local students pursuing agricultural goals. Residents are encouraged to attend the various judging events to support the ongoing work of regional 4-H and FFA participants.
Further reading
For more information on upcoming regional events, visit the Fairs and Festivals section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Kltv.
Live Poll
Do you believe supporting local youth agricultural projects is a worthwhile community priority?
