The main purpose of the two-day event is to teach youth about livestock management and showmanship, said Chad Gulley, AgriLife Extension agent in Nacogdoches County. It will be held at Nacogdoches County Exposition Center, 3805 N.W. Stallings Dr., Nacogdoches.

"The shows provide an educational opportunity for 4-H and FFA members participating in the livestock project areas," Gulley said. "The main purpose is to teach the basic principles of livestock management as they relate to facility maintenance, selection, nutrition, animal health, handling, showmanship and transportation."

Registration fees for the beef cattle series, heifers and steers, are $50 for the first exhibitor, $40 for an additional sibling and $20 per parent or non-animal exhibitor. Fees for the lamb/goat series are $40 for the first exhibitor, $30 for an additional sibling and $20 per parent or non-animal exhibitor.

"Registration will cover meals -- including lunch and dinner on Saturday, breakfast on Sunday -- prizes, facility use and handout materials," Gulley said.

The beef cattle program judges, instructors and topics include:

• Dr. Chris Boleman, Texas 4-H and youth development program director, "Showmanship and Quality Counts."
• Dr. Jason Cleere, AgriLife Extension beef cattle specialist, "Fitting and Grooming."
• Greg Tucker, former agricultural science teacher, "Nutrition and Selection," and judge, Ring B.
• Dr. Jesse Richardson, DVM, "Health Care for Beef Animals."
• Sherman Jones, retired agricultural science teacher, "Showmanship Contest," and judge.
• Tommy Phillips, AgriLife Extension agent for 4-H and youth development, judge, Ring A. The goats/lambs program judges, instructors and topics will include:
• Billy Zanolini, AgriLife Extension agent for agriculture and natural resources for Madison County, judge.
• Tanner Morgan, college student and instructor in fitting, grooming and showmanship.
• Dwight Callis, AgriLife Extension agent for 4-H and Youth Development, Fort Bend County, "Showmanship."
• Marty Gibbs, AgriLife Extension agent for agriculture and natural resources in Runnels County, judge.

Prizes and awards will be given. Registration for both series will begin at 8 a.m. on Oct. 31. After a welcome and a presentation on Quality Counts, the program will split into concurrent sessions for the different species.

"Groups will be divided at registration," Gulley said. "Attend one session in the morning, swap to the other session in the afternoon."

Scales will be available throughout the day for participants to weigh their own cattle, lambs and goats. Weight cards should be turned in the evening of Oct. 31 prior to the Showmanship Contest, Gulley said.

"For beef cattle, five head will constitute a breed," he said. "The exhibitors will declare their own breed."

There will be a Sunday cowboy church service at 8 a.m. Nov. 1. The show will begin at 9 a.m.

Complete rules, entry forms and detailed programs for both series can be found on the AgriLife Extension Web site for Nacogdoches County at http://nacogdoches-tx.tamu.edu . Click on "Publications" tab at the top of the page, then on "East Texas Show Star Series" in the new window.

Participants may also contact the AgriLife Extension offices in Extension District 5, all of which are collaborating in hosting the event. Extension District 5 is comprised of Anderson, Angelina, Cherokee, Gregg, Harrison, Henderson, Houston, Jasper, Marion, Nacogdoches, Newton, Panola, Polk, Rusk, Sabine, San Augustine, Shelby, Smith, Trinity, Tyler, Upshur, Van Zandt and Wood counties.

"Youth from other districts are welcome as well," Gulley said.