2026 Livestock Publications Council Contest

Contest General Information and Rules

Eligibility

LPC MEMBERSHIP

Any LPC member whose dues are paid for the calendar year of 2026 is eligible. New members who join LPC in 2026 may compete if 2026 dues are paid. To join or renew membership, complete the membership form and submit dues.

Mail a Check
Livestock Publications Council
P.O. Box 446
Springtown, TX 76082

Pay Membership Dues Online
Livestock Publications Council Website:
livestockpublications.com/membership/

Publication members: $275
Service members: $275
Dual members: $475
Freelance/Contractor members: $150
Student members: $35
Legacy members: $100

ENTRY ELIGIBILITY
Entries must have been published between January 1, 2025 and December 31, 2025. Publication date is based on the date that appears on the publication’s cover. The publication cover date, and not the release or mailing date, must be used.

Click here to view all categories and category descriptions.

All entries must have a predominantly livestock theme.
“Livestock” refers to any aspect pertaining to the industry and the production and marketing of beef cattle, dairy cattle, horses, swine, sheep, goats, llamas, and ranch/game species such as elk, deer and bison. Acceptable entrants could include meat, by-products, livestock equipment, livestock pharmaceuticals, livestock feeds, rodeo, etc.

Members may enter as many categories and as many entries in a category as desired.

Reprinted material or portions of any works that have first appeared elsewhere are not eligible.

Identical entries submitted in previous years may not be resubmitted.

An organization may enter one publication and multiple newsletters under the same membership name. The membership name, not the publication or newsletter name, will appear on any award plaques received.

Entries outside the scope of membership must be entered on a second membership.
For example: A publication member cannot enter a logo design completed for/by its parent organization for an event not directly related to published publication content. This logo design should be entered under a service membership or by the freelance/contractor, if completed by an individual that fits within that description. 

STIPULATIONS FOR PUBLICATION STAFF AND FREELANCERS/CONTRACTORS
For publications, the individual or company that created the entry must be listed in the publication’s staff box or in a byline. Any material purchased by a member is considered to be staff-created.

Members who are freelancers/contractors may have their work submitted via service or publication member that content was created for and published, or may submit through their own membership. It is at the discretion of those involved in the creation of the content to determine who will enter the content, but each piece of creative content can only be entered once. Individuals or agencies must be working on behalf of a publication or service member and must be paid for work done.

Entries

ENTRY OPEN AND DEADLINE
Entries will open March 16, 2026.
Early entries are due by Friday, April 17, 2026 at 11:59 p.m. CT.
All entries are due Friday, May 8, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. CDT. 

ONLINE AND/OR MAIL ENTRY SUBMISSION
Entries in categories 1-3 and 8-10, must be uploaded electronically and mailed to the LPC office. Category 4 may have mailed entries if sending a print newsletter. In addition to mailing the physical entries, please submit full entry information on the online submission site. All other categories must be uploaded to the online system hosted by Reviewr. Any entries mailed to the LPC office not in those categories will be discarded.

The link for LPC entries is: https://my.reviewr.com/s2/site/lpcawards 

CATEGORY ENTRY FEES
Following the early entry deadline on April 17, LPC will email an invoice for all early entries. Following the final deadline on May 8, the LPC office will e-mail an invoice for all regular entries. If paying by credit card, a service fee will be applicable. Entry fees must be received by May 31.  

General categories: $30/early entry and $60/late entry
General Excellence categories and James Flanagan: $50/early entry and $80/late entry
Skill Excellence categories: $100/early entry and $130/late entry

ENTRY SYSTEM DETAILS – Reviewr
Click here to create an account or login. Click here for a short guided walkthrough of creating an account.

Once you have created your account and submitted your first entry, you’ll be able to access the submitter portal. To create an additional entry, click “Add more Submissions” in the top right corner of the submitter portal. Click here for a guided walkthrough of the submitter portal.

Please note: The system is programmed to send you a confirmation email following each submission.

Guidelines for Judging and Awards

Each category must have a first place, second place and honorable mention. If there are less than 3 total entries for a category, this will be noted in awards announcement. Ties will be broken by the category judges prior to awards announcements.

A score rubric will be utilized for all categories. A score rubric and critique (not in-person) will be provided to all entrants.

Placings will be announced and awards presented at Ag Media Summit.

Entries Requiring Hard-copy Submissions

Categories 2-4 require two different issues from 2025 to be submitted/uploaded. Entry information for Categories 2 and 3 must be submitted online and a hard copy submitted via mail to the LPC office. Entries in Category 4 that are only print must also be submitted online and a hard copy mailed to the LPC office.

Address to submit hard-copy entries:
Livestock Publications Council
P.O. Box 446
Springtown, TX 76082
All hard-copy submissions must be postmarked by May 8, 2026.