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Future Farmers of America members spent the last days until the Moffat County Fair trimming and prepping their livestock and working on their showmanship skills.

This year's FFA members will show sheep, swine, beef and goats at the fair, said Rick Murr, FFA adviser.

But it's going to be hard to say how this year's projects will place until the competition shows what they have to offer, Murr said.

"To me, if the student is taking the time and doing it right. If they did everything they could, in my mind, they're successful," Murr said.

For many students, doing it right means raising the animals correctly during the course of a year. They must first select a good animal, feed it right, and spend enough time with it so that it's well-behaved during the show.

Indeed, an animal's personality plays an important role in competition, Murr said.

"An animal's personality shows a lot in terms of what a student has done," he said.

The more docile an animal is, the more time a student probably spent with it. That's especially important with steers, because it could be dangerous for a student to show a 1,200-pound poorly controlled animal in public.

For the most part, FFA members work on their projects independently, Murr said. But he and adviser John Haddan regularly check on the animals to provide advice on livestock care and are always available to answer questions.

Jessica Snowden and Kacey Snowden have been working on their projects for the past year.

This summer will mark Kacey's 11th fair, and she'll spend it showing her new 6-year-old colt, Malibu, a blue-butt pig and a leather project.

"It's my sport," she said of the fair.

A senior at Moffat County High School, Kacey is FFA president.

During previous years, Kacey has allowed herself to get stressed during competition. That won't be the case this year.

"Winning's not anything to me. This year is all about fun," she said.