ROBERTSDALE, Alabama – Youngsters who want to step up and show off their prize steers are invited to participate in the Baldwin County Cattle and Fair Association Steer Show set for late September in Robertsdale.

The competition at this year's Baldwin County Fair in the fairgrounds arena is open to all Baldwin County youngsters ages 9 through 18 years old.

Registration is free; deadline to sign up is April 1.

“I really feel strongly about this program,” said Eugene Fernandes, steer show chairman and an employee at the Robertsdale Livestock Auction. “It helps the youngsters who enter to develop personal discipline and to learn a skill in caring for their animals.”

Fernandes said participants also benefit from the experience of setting up a business plan to budget their money so they can properly prepare and exhibit their steers.

He said he hopes to sign up at least 10 youngsters to show their steers in September.

“The Baldwin County Fair has gotten away from livestock in past years,” Fernandes said. “We're trying to bring back the interest. We hope to expand in the future to other classes of cattle and even add livestock such as goats and chickens.”

Rules and regulations for the Robertsdale steer show will be the same as those governing the Alabama National Fair in Montgomery, scheduled for Oct. 4-13. Those rules can be found online at http://www.alnationalfair.org/competitions/livestock. 

Judging at the Robertsda1e show will result in first-, second- and third-place winners, who automatically will qualify to enter the Alabama National Fair in October.

The Robertsdale competition will offer prizes including ribbons and plaques, as well as cash awards. Fernandes said he is seeking enough sponsors to offer premiums for possibly as much as $1,250 for first place, $1,000 for second and $750 for third.

Other prizes include education scholarships worth from $200 to $500. Two cash prizes of $250 each will be awarded to by the Poarch Band of Creek Indians.