PHOTO BY DAVID LOWE David Henry Straley, a Lampasas High School freshman, cleans the wheels on the landscaping trailer he built for the Lampasas County Youth Livestock Show’s ag mechanics competition. The show began last night and will conclude on Saturday with cattle exhibitions, awards, a buyers’ appreciation dinner and a premium sale. The 2010 edition -- the 73rd year -- of the Lampasas County Youth Livestock Show continues through Saturday, with several hundred animals being exhibited over the course of the three-day event. The annual Food Fair as well as the Ag Mechanics Show also are scheduled.

Lampasas County Youth Livestock Association officers include Andrew Irvin, president; Judy Vann Kennedy, vice president; Jill Carroll, secretary; and Lee Loeffler, treasurer.

The broiler show was held Thursday.

Today, judging will take place for market lambs, meat goats, market hogs, rabbits, the Food Fair and the Ag Mechanics Show.

Luther Hensley is the goat superintendent and assistant sheep superintendent, and Roy Stewart is the sheep superintendent and assistant goat superintendent.

Mark Langford is the swine superintendent.

Rabbit superintendent is Jimmy Hicks, and Steve Stone is the broiler show superintendent and assistant rabbit superintendent.

Irvin is the assistant poultry superintendent.

Ms. Vann Kennedy has charge of the Food Fair, and Mrs. Carroll is the assistant Food Fair superintendent.

Mitch Ramon is the building and ag mechanics superintendent.

On Saturday, the heifer and steer shows will take place, with competition to kick off at 9 a.m. Dale Postel is the steer superintendent, and Danny Vann is the assistant.

Bobby Liverman is the heifer superintendent and assistant swine superintendent, and Roy Cockrell is the assistant heifer superintendent.

A Buyer’s Appreciation Dinner is planned for Saturday evening, followed by the premium sale.

Throughout the competition, special awards and belt buckles will be given. Junior and senior showmanship awards also are presented in various divisions.

In conjunction with the livestock exhibition, the seventh annual Agricultural Mechanics Show will take place today for 4-H and FFA youth who work with metal fabrication and woods. A number of projects will be judged this morning. Premiums and prize money, provided by local businesses and business leaders, will be awarded.

Several exhibitors will offer their projects for sale at the conclu- sion of the show.

The sixth annual Food Fair also is set today at the showbarn, under the supervision of sisters Anita Allen, Jan Klose, Doretha Bohning and Becky Isom.

Cash prizes will be awarded in each division, along with ribbons and other prizes. Champions and reserve champs will earn extra money at the junior and senior levels.

Participants will have the opportunity to sell their entries at the Country Store.

The youth stock show will close with cleanup of the showbarn Sunday at 9 a.m. All animals must be out of the barn by 8 a.m.

The Colorado River CattleWomen and Lampasas County Youth Livestock Ladies Auxiliary will host a hot dog lunch for elementary school students, and auxiliary members will staff a concession stand.

Auxiliary officers include Laura Ramon, president; Tina Loeffler, vice president; Heather Moore, secretary; and Lisa Dibble, treasurer.

Ag teachers working in a supervisory capacity throughout the show include Dr. Steve Forsythe, Wes Harris and Judith Ann McGhee from Lampasas ISD, and Brad Barnett of Lometa ISD.

Lampasas County Extension Agent Jason Byrd also will offer assistance.

Auctioneers include Hilton Hopson and Billie Yeary, and Lampasas County Judge Wayne Boultinghouse will be the show announcer.

Texas Young Farmers also will offer show assistance.