KTRE.com | Lufkin and Nacogdoches, Texas Youth fair competitors prepare for final competition

Months of preparing livestock and perfecting recipes brings 11-hundred competitors to the Lufkin Expo Center each hoping to win the title of grand champion.

"Just hope when you walk out that gate he picks you right then," saves competitor Kylee Wright.

Kylee Wright spends hours each night working with her hog.

"I just had to make sure I feed her right, work with her. Make sure you put the lotion on the skin and she looks really nice," said Wright.

Competing is something she's enjoyed since she was a child.

"I've been doing it my whole life so it's going to be hard this is my last year," said Wright.

Senior Paige Hutto finds herself in the same situation, except she prefers whipping up her own specialties in the kitchen.

" I've always baked with my mom since I was little so it just comes natural and I just love to bake and have people try my recipes," said Hutto.

Hutto and others perfect their favorite desserts and bread recipes to tantalize taste buds. You can always tell when a judge likes what they taste.

"Their eyes they kind of light up because the flavors are good together, I find that a good sign," said Hutto.

 Fair organizer Kody Jenkins says the challenge and the reward keeps competitors coming back year after year.

"When they walk in the showroom and they walk out of the showroom they can hold their head up with pride and sense of accomplishment," said Jenkins.

 After years of dedicating time to special projects, students have experiences they take beyond graduation.

"If you don't put in a whole lot you're not going to get that much. But if you put out a lot its going to be good at the end," said Wright.

The fair picks up Thursday morning with a hog show followed by goat, heifer and steer shows throughout the day.

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