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Manteca Unified staging pre-show this Saturday at school farm site
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The San Joaquin County Fair is right around the corner.

But in order to prepare students and their junior livestock projects, the Manteca Unified’s Future Farmers of America conducts its annual Fair Pre-Show at the school farm.

This year’s event will take place Saturday, beginning at 9 a.m. behind the district office complex, 2271 W. Louise Ave.

According to ag instructor Ryan Costa, the event is set up to help those FFA students with livestock projects exhibit and compete in the2010 SJC Fair scheduled June 16 through 20.

This pre-show event will also include a flower sale, barbecue tri-tip beef from Fagundes with all the fixings (cost is $7), and a tour of the new school farm buildings.

The state-of-the-art facility is currently under construction.

Thanks to a Career Technical Education Grant, the school farm will soon have a new barn for sheep, beef, and swine. The new building will also accommodate capstone courses along with ag mechanics and other ag-related Regional Occupational Program classes, Costa said.

The Ag Boosters Committee – made possible by the Manteca Unified Student Trust in partnership with the MUSD Agricultural Advisory Committee – will be on hand.

The group, in order to support students come fair time, will be looking to raise money via sponsorships.

Members of the community and businesses will have a chance to make a tax-deductible donation.

The sponsorships will help ensure that ag students receive fair market price for their project during the SJC Fair’s junior livestock auction, Costa said.

“This is a price-support system,” he added.

The farm animals are often purchased by students, who, in turn, are responsible for treating, tending, grooming, and feeding.

Proceeds from the money made from the auction not only help defray cost of the project, but can help fund that student’s college education.

More information on the MUST Ag Boosters Committee can be obtained by calling (209) 858-0999.