Eight Wood County 4-H members will represent the county at the 2026 Texas 4-H Roundup, June 1-5, in College Station, where they will compete against some of the state’s top 4-H participants in a variety of contests.
Hosted annually by the Texas 4-H Youth Development Program, Roundup brings together qualifying youth from across Texas to showcase skills developed through months — and often years — of preparation. Competitions range from judging events and skillathons to fashion and photography contests.
“It’s intense,” said Wood County Extension Agent Hilary Grider-Henk, describing the weeklong event. “The contests start bright and early at 7 a.m. It should probably say 5 a.m. because that’s when the kids are getting up and getting ready.”
Grider-Henk said participants spend long days competing before gathering each evening for awards ceremonies and activities celebrating the accomplishments of youth from across the state.
“The adults are in T-shirts, but the kids are in suits and ties, dresses and slacks, whatever is most appropriate for their contest,” she said.
Leading Wood County’s delegation is a highly competitive meat-judging team consisting of Makenzy Driver, Becca Jordan and Jayce Todd. The team is coached by volunteer Nathaniel Jordan, an agricultural science teacher at Hawkins ISD and Becca’s father.
Competitors in meat judging evaluate carcasses and meat cuts while defending their decisions through oral reasons, a hallmark of many 4-H contests.
Grider-Henk noted that oral communication is one of the biggest distinctions between 4-H and other youth agricultural organizations.
“I think that’s the biggest difference between us and FFA. We ask that they have to speak,” she said.
Austyn Fuller will compete in horse judging and hippology, a comprehensive equine knowledge contest that tests participants through written exams, identification stations and hands-on problem-solving activities. Joining him in those events will be his sister, Kynlee Fuller, who also qualified for the state fashion show in the construction category with a ball gown she designed and created herself.
“The fashion project as a whole has been dormant in Wood County for probably ever since I was a kid, a very, very long time,” said Extension Agent Lindsey Yeager. “We’ve had the Fuller family come in and kind of resurrect it, and they’ve done an amazing job.”
Carley Goodson and Claire Groter will compete in the veterinary science skillathon, a relatively new contest area for Wood County. The competition challenges students to demonstrate knowledge of animal health, diseases, veterinary procedures and problem-solving skills.
Robert Schuttler will represent Wood County in horse judging, hippology and photography judging. Photography judging is one of the newer contests offered through Texas 4-H and requires participants to evaluate photographs using professional criteria such as composition, focus and the rule of thirds before defending their selections.
Yeager said the communication component is woven throughout nearly every contest at Roundup.
“Almost every contest has a speech that goes along with it,” she said.
For Wood County’s delegation, the week offers more than competition. It provides opportunities to develop leadership, public speaking and career skills while representing their communities on a statewide stage.