Chase Brecheisen, 14, a member of the Eudora 4-H Club, shows off Shorty, the Angus steer that will be his entry in this year's Market Steer Show at the Douglas County Fair. The show starts at 9 a.m. Friday.

The Douglas County Fair starts in earnest today. Demystify the judging process and see what’s coming up.

¢ In the showmanship competition, contestants should be neat, clean and presentable. They should be courteous, show good sportsmanship and have their animal presentable at all times.

¢ An ideal market steer should have a long, level rump and a deep, muscular, bulging hindquarter. It should have a natural depth and thickness through its center and lower rounds (between the rump and the lower leg).

¢ Steers should have a straight topline that is naturally thick and muscular. They should be deep-ribbed and deep-bodied, with uniform conditions over the ribs.

¢ Steers should have a long, muscular stifle (the joint above the hock in the hind leg) and hocks that line up vertically with the rump.

¢ Front and rear legs should not be bowlegged, knock-kneed, splayfooted or pigeon-toed. Legs should face forward with rear legs set wide apart.

¢ A steer’s shoulder should be smooth. The dewlap (loose skin hanging under the neck) and brisket (breast or lower chest) should be neat and smooth. Arm and forearm should be muscular.

¢ In the showmanship competition, contestants should be neat, clean and presentable. They should be courteous, show good sportsmanship and have their animal presentable at all times.