Move in day for hundreds of FFA and 4H students who are getting ready for the Big Fresno Fair

FRESNO, Calif. (KFSN) -- With less than 24 hours until gates open you can find the next generation of ag industry leaders unloading at the livestock pavilion.

Show time is fast approaching for Jt Leonardo and his 2-year-old cow Lil' Tune.

"I named all my cows after Lil Wayne this year."

Now in his sixth year showing, the sophomore at Riverdale High School is making sure his four cows are picture perfect for their debut. Leonardo is one of more than 400 students moving in their animals from schools throughout Fresno County.

"It's really fun. You meet a lot of new people."

Having grown up working his grandfather's dairy farm, Leonardo is no stranger to hard work and handling animals more than twice his size.

"It takes a lot of time and care, they're little babies after a while, though."

"It's an everyday job. Every morning you're getting up at six o clock, you're taking care of your chores, your feeding, you're exercising," said Terri O'Leary-Collins, Livestock Superintendent.

The Big Fresno Fair livestock program not only gives students the opportunity to show and sell their animals it teaches them responsibility and work ethic.

"My hats off to these kids because they do such great work with their animals and they get here and give us a quality product for the sale," said O'Leary-Collins.

Sale days are both Saturdays of the fair, but you're also invited to check out the two newest livestock exhibits including the baby boom farm. There you can see baby pigs, calf, miniature donkeys, and horses.

"They all drink from bottles and buckets so it's just like taking care of a baby," said O'Leary-Collins.

The annual exhibit represents a full year of work for 4H and FFA students who purchase, feed, and groom livestock to be judged and sold at the fair.

Visit the livestock pavilion to see their hard work for yourself.