More than 750 students from around the county are expected to participate in the 35th annual Denton County Livestock Association Youth Fair and Rodeo next week.

Festivities begin Monday with a 9 a.m. horse show and a 7 p.m. dinner and scholarship presentation at the North Texas State Fairgrounds. The dinner also will honor the rodeo queen and princess candidates.

The fair will continue through March 27, culminating on the final day with a youth rodeo and the presentation of the 2010 DCLA Youth Fair and Rodeo queen and princess.

Organizers say that students from every part of the county are expected to present roughly 1,000 projects throughout the six-day event.

“It seems like mass chaos, but it’s organized chaos that’s a lot of fun,” said Suzanne Fulton, show superintendent and fair board president. “It’s basically a family event. It’s not just heifers and steers, but every aspect of agriculture.”

Horses, sheep, chicken, pigs, goats, cattle and rabbits are scheduled to be shown in competition.

Fulton said youth fair competitors work hard for many months preparing and breeding their animals for the county show. Caring for animals teaches the students valuable skills, and prize money they can receive at the fair will allow them either to purchase other animals or fund their college educations, she said.

“It’s a lifelong teaching thing that helps kids to mature and learn responsibility,” Fulton said. “It allows them to care for something other than themselves.”

Contestants must be elementary, middle or high school students who live in Denton County, attend school in the county or are a member of a county 4-H, FFA or Family Career and Community Leaders of America chapter.

Age-appropriate pee wee, junior, intermediate and senior events are each limited to the first 12 students who sign up.

Competing in this year’s pageant are eight queen and six princess contestants, said Kippie Wilkinson, contest superintendent. Contestants, who are “a good … representation of all the different towns in the county,” are judged on personality, beauty and rodeo ticket sales, she said.

In addition to the animal shows and the queen and princess pageant, youth fair contestants will compete in public speaking, home economics, shop project and tractor driving contests.

All youth fair events, excluding the youth rodeo, are free. Tickets to the rodeo can be purchased prior to March 27 from a queen or princess candidate for $3. Rodeo admission at the gate is $5 for patrons age 13 and older. Net proceeds from the rodeo will support auction sales and student scholarships.

For more information, visit www.dclayf.net .

BRITNEY TABOR can be reached at 940-566-6876. Her e-mail address is btabor@dentonrc.com .

Denton County Livestock Association Youth Fair and Rodeo events will take place at the North Texas State Fairgrounds, 2217 N. Carroll Blvd. in Denton, as follows:

Monday

• 9 a.m.: Horse show — Rodeo Arena

• 7 p.m.: Queen and princess dinner and scholarship presentation — South Exhibit Building

Tuesday

• 1 p.m.: Sheep show followed by the market sheep show — Show Arena

• 5 p.m.: Public speaking contest — Fair Hall

Wednesday

• 10 a.m.: Market broiler show — Show Arena

• 2 p.m.: Breeding swine show followed by the market swine show — Show Arena

Thursday

• 8 a.m.: Judging of home economics projects — Exhibit Hall

• 1 p.m.: Tractor driving contest — south of Rodeo Arena

• 2 p.m.: Breeding goat show followed by the market goat show — Show Arena

• 4 p.m.: Shop project judging — Fair Hall lawn

• 4 p.m.: Rodeo queen and princess personality contest — Fair Hall

• 6 p.m.: Rodeo queen and princess beauty contest — Show Arena

March 26

• 9 a.m.: Cattle show — Show Arena

• 11 a.m.: Rabbit show — Fair Hall

• n 4:30 p.m.: Livestock judging contest — Show Arena

March 27

• 11 a.m. to 12:15 p.m.: Silent auction (baked goods) — Exhibit Building

• 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.: Buyers barbecue — Exhibit Building

• 12:30 p.m.: Auction sale and awards

• 7 p.m.: Youth rodeo, including announcement of Youth Fair and Rodeo queen and princess