All of the lambs lined up uniformly like the New York Rockettes in Ector County Coliseum's Building D Friday morning. The white stock show animals were shaved as though they were wearing leg warmers.

Mae McIvor, 9 years old, was grooming her favorite lamb "Baaaa-b", or Bob, for her first lamb show. She will be the fourth generation of McIvors from Fort Davis to participate.

"She is the future of agriculture," Mae's mother, Julie McIvor, said. 

It was a family affair for the McIvors - Mae's older sister was competing while her father, Scott McIvor, looked into the ring with one eye and checked on his youngest with another.

Julie McIvor said competing in the lamb show is a valuable experience for her children because it teaches them responsibility - the children spend all year working out their chosen lamb, as well as practicing proper feeding and grooming.

She said her children also get to learn the significance of agriculture, something both Scott and Julie have had in their family for six generations in the Fort Davis area where they live today carrying on family tradition.

"It's a sport like anything else," Julie McIvor added to the list of benefits.

While the lamb show was well on its way in Building D, heifers and steer lined up to get their hair done with hairspray (spray glue), combing and blow-drying just like any other salon.

It, too, was a family affair - three generations of Harrises came out from Lamesa to support 9-year-old McKenna Harris while she showed steers Ranger and Socks, which had unforgiving girth and legs like tree trunks.

McKenna's 4-year-old brother, Keller, watched his dad, Tracy, and grandfather, Larry, in admiration as they groomed the animals.

He's looking forward to being able to show steers when he gets a little bigger, his mother, Sheri Harris, said.

"I think it's fun because you can meet other people and learn what they do," McKenna said of the competition.

She said she was looking forward to the event for two reasons - showmanship and a really cool belt buckle if she wins.

Assistant superintendent Dena Floyd said 135 steers and 34 heifers entered this year's competition, which is an increase from the 50 steers and 12 heifers entered last year.

And what does a judge look for?

"Qualities the American public wants to see in the dinner plate," Floyd said.

Muscle confirmation and lines are the defining qualities, she said.

Inside the Outback Arena the children lined their bulky mammals up while the judge admired "sheer mass, volume and depth."

"It's about family time. They all work together," Floyd said.

 DID YOU KNOW?

>> DO NOT call a steer or heifer a "cow." It is insulting (I learned this the hard way ... several times).

>> The number of steers entered in this year's competition more than doubled last year's number.

>> Only Hereford cattle compete in the SandHills steer and heifer show.

>> The girth, muscles, body lines and more bring not only notoriety to the future farmers, but to their land and future generations of little Herefords.