Junior Livestock Show starts Friday

MOSES LAKE - About 75 to 100 4-H and FFA livestock participants are expected to lead their animals into the show ring at this weekend's Junior Livestock Show.

The event is scheduled for this Friday and Saturday at the Grant County Fairgrounds, 3953 Airway Dr. NE., Moses Lake.

Another 100 to 150 FFA participants are expected on Saturday for competition in livestock judging and meat evaluation, said Scott Mortimer, Wilson Creek agriculture teacher and one of the organizers. All activities will be in the Ardell Pavilion, he said.

Admission to all activities is free.

The show is open to youths from age 8 through seniors in high school, Mortimer said. The kids will be showing lambs, steers and hogs in confirmation and market competition, beginning at 8 a.m., said Debbie Kulm, one of the organizers. The schedule also includes showmanship competition, Mortimer said.

The market competition judges the animal on its body type and how it compares to the ideal type. Showmanship judges both animal and handler on behavior in the ring and how well the handler displays the animal.

That competition is followed by the "Beef Bonanza," which is for cattle only. Kids pay $20 to enter, Kulm said. Money awards, or "payout," will depend on participation, but in 2012 kids got payout for the first five places. All entries received their entries fees back plus a small amount of money, she said. Kulm said organizers have received 65 entries for the Bonanza, including steers, heifers and one working cow.

Some participants will be selling livestock at the sale, which begins at noon Saturday. Prospective buyers have two options, Kulm said. They can pay the difference between the floor price and the final sale price, "or you can always have it processed and put in your freezer," she said.