By STEPHANIE FARLEY

sfarley@gctelegram.com

Kansas 4-H'ers and FFA members will start off their show season this weekend with the annual Finney County Spring Beef Livestock Show.

The show, which starts at 10 a.m. Saturday for the public at the Finney County Fairgrounds, includes show classes for breeding heifers, previous year bucket calves and market beef. Finney County Extension 4-H agent Barbara Addison said the show allows 4-H and FFA members ages 7 to 18 to train their animals, get them halter broke and learn the animals' temperament and behavior.

Addison said the show typically ranges from 65 to 80 entries. She said the show also serves to get the animals around people and teach 4-H and FFA members how to clip and groom their animals, as well as increase their self-confidence in working with livestock.

Concessions are available from the 4-H Junior Leaders -- proceeds go to Relay for Life.

The livestock show will be joined by the National Little Britches Rodeo Association (NLBRA) Rodeo at 10 a.m. Saturday and 9 a.m. Sunday at the fairgrounds' Horse Palace. The event includes three divisions: Little Wranglers (age 5-7), Junior Girls and Boys (age 8-13) and Senior Girls and Boys (age 13-18).

Jamie Schweer, chairwoman for the Garden City Little Britches Rodeo, said the event includes barrel racing and bull riding, and brings 50 to 60 families to the Garden City area. She has contestants coming from as far as Wyoming, Nebraska, Colorado, Texas and Oklahoma. The event is free to the public, and concessions are available.

Schweer said contestants are vying for gift certificates from area establishments, such as the Crazy House and Garden City Area Chamber of Commerce.