Decatur Livestock Show

— FFA and 4-H students got a little extra time in the show ring at the Decatur Livestock Show on Saturday to help them prepare for the Benton County Fair.

More than 53 entrants exhibited their sheep and goats at the show, held at the Decatur High School, according to agricultural teacher Lisa Barrett.

“We had a pretty good turnout,” she said, with a number of entrants from Lincoln, Garfield, and as far away as Oklahoma and Texas.

Judge Ryan Page gave entrants plenty of tips and explained his decisions to help educate the students.

Shanna Cook, a parent of several Bloomfield 4-H students, said smaller shows, like the one in Decatur, help students prepare for the fair.

It takes a lot of time spent behind the scenes to succeed in the show ring, Cook said. Students buy their animals in March through May and have to set up a feeding, grooming, training and exercise program to get them in shape for the show ring.

“It teaches kids a lot of responsibility and work ethic,” she said.