Val Verde County 4-H members earn top state mohair honors

Val Verde County put a youth livestock win in the spotlight June 21, 2026, when commissioners court recognized Neal Billings, John Zuberbueler and Helen Zuberbueler for bringing home first place in state mohair judging and third overall in wool judging. The result gave Del Rio-area 4-H families another point of pride in a county where sheep and goats remain part of the agricultural fabric.

County Agent Tommy Yeater told the court that the team’s success came after years of preparation through Val Verde County 4-H, where students learn to evaluate fleeces for quality, consistency and market value. That kind of judging matters in a ranching region because mohair and wool are not abstract contest subjects here; they are products tied to local livelihoods, show programs and the broader livestock economy.

Yeater said Val Verde County sent 15 young people to state competition this year in categories ranging from fashion and shooting to photography and food show entries, underscoring how broad the local program has become. He also identified the team’s coaches as William “Bill” Zuberbueler and Adriana Acosta, and singled out Bill Zuberbueler for about 40 years of service to the county’s 4-H youth program. Yeater said Zuberbueler also received a Texas 4-H Salute of Excellence award, a recognition that reflects the volunteer leadership behind the medals and ribbons.

County Judge Lewis G. Owens Jr. praised the students and thanked the adults who keep the program moving, then pointed to the county’s own investment in the show barn where animals are housed. He recalled that the area had once been dirt before concrete, restrooms and other improvements were added, a reminder that youth success in the ring often depends on support far outside the ring.

The pipeline begins young. Val Verde County 4-H works through Texas A&M AgriLife Extension and serves youth ages 8 to 18, building leadership, life skills and responsibility through hands-on projects and community service. For older members, the wool and mohair contest is especially demanding: Texas 4-H describes it as a senior-only invitational event, with teams of three or four members and 20 fleece rails spread across four classes in the 2026 contest.

Val Verde County’s finish also fits a pattern. A 2024 Texas 4-H results sheet showed the county placing third in State Fair of Texas wool judging team standings, with John Zuberbueler, William Zuberbueler and Neal Billings among the listed members. This year’s first-place mohair finish showed that the county is not just producing one good team, but sustaining a judging tradition that keeps sending trained students from local barns to statewide honors.