Lincoln County youth are ready to round up their cattle, lambs and goats this weekend for the Fourth Annual Lincoln County Junior Livestock Association Showdown.

About 175 Future Farmers of America and 4-H students from around Mississippi will be showing animals Saturday at the Lincoln Civic Center.

“The livestock group is like a family and the showdown is like a family reunion,” said MSU extension agent in charge of 4-H/Youth Brandon Alberson.

Alberson said the local students would be able to reconnect with friends they have met through other competitions across the nation. He added it is a very close-knit community, and he is looking forward to getting the group together.

The show starts at 9 a.m. Saturday (with weigh in on Friday from 5 to 9 p.m.) and will run all day long until all the animals have been judged. There will be two judges and two show rings going at the same time. The overall winners of the completion will receive belt buckles.

Alberson said a livestock show is similar to the dog shows people participate in or watch on television. The student’s work with the animals to make sure they are in peak condition.

“To me it signifies the start of winter and the livestock show season,” said Civic Center Facilities Manager Quinn Jordan. “It’s one event we look forward to hosting every year.”

The will be three point shows at the event: Mississippi Club Calf Association Point Show, Mississippi Junior Santa Gertrudis Association Point Show and Mississippi Club Goat Association Point Show. In ring one, students will be showing dairy cattle, market lambs, dairy goats, market goats and commercial meat goat does. In ring two, they will show beef breeding, commercial heifers and steers.

The next big event will be the Lincoln County Winter Classic on Jan. 9 and 10.