“It takes a lot of feed and a lot of money for the feed to get good livestock,” said 4-H member Melissa Carman, 17, Eddyville.

Carman said she feeds her cattle a variety of sweet feed, all stock and hay.

She said she does not live on a farm, but after she joined 4-H, she wanted to do more than just family and consumer science projects and took an interest in showing livestock.

Carman said a lot of feeding and a lot of grazing in the pastures is the best thing for cattle to gain weight, she believes.

“We try and keep them out in the pastures as long as we can and keep a constant rotation going,” she said. “Grass is the best thing for them to gain weight.”

Wapello County Iowa State University Extension Youth Coordinator Mekca Smith was there during the livestock weigh-in.

She said there were more than 90 cattle registered for showing in different classes.

“The judging will come later,” she said.

The expo continues through Sunday at the Bridge View Center.

Scott Niles can be reached at (641) 683-5360 or via e-mail at sjniles@mchsi.com.