Fort Worth Community Produces Big Payday for Youth Stock Show Exhibitors
FORT WORTH, TEXAS – Community leaders stepped up to the plate for Texas youth on the Fort Worth Stock Show & Rodeo’s final day, as more than $3.4 million was generated from the 2016 Junior Sale of Champions. Local business owners, executives and individuals were responsible for purchasing 292 steers, barrows, lambs and goats.
“The great work that our buying groups and area leaders put into supporting our junior exhibitors is simply amazing,” said Stock Show President and General Manager, Brad Barnes. “Our youth exhibitors are rewarded for their hard work because of a community of individuals and organizations that care about the future of the livestock industry in Texas.”
The grand champion steer, a 1,362-pound European crossbred, was exhibited by Jagger Horn of Jones County 4-H. Hillwood topped all challenges with an impressive $210,000 bid. The reserve grand champion steer was a 1357 pound European crossbred exhibited by Saige Martin a 4-H member from Hereford, Texas. Women Steering Business purchased the reserve steer for $170,000.
Continuing the strong momentum, the grand champion barrow was purchased by Standard Meat Company for $44,000. Carsyn Hodde with Washington County 4-H showed the crossbred barrow. Dr. Bill Bonnell topped the bidding at $21,000 for the reserve grand champion barrow. The crossbred was shown by Colt Wolf with Whitesboro FFA.
The grand champion lamb, a crossbred shown by El Paso County 4-H member, Carlie Shea Witte, was sold to Ladies on the Lamb for $41,000. Abbey Currie with Cleveland FFA sold her reserve grand champion lamb, also a crossbred, to Ladies on the Lamb for $21,000.
The grand champion wether goat shown by Stran Stultz with Mason FFA, sold for $22,000 to 4K Land and Cattle Company and Luther King Capital Management. The reserve champion wether goat, shown by Weatherford FFA member Peyton Thomas went to D&M Leasing for $21,000.
Sale proceeds were raised by the Fort Worth Stock Show Syndicate, a group of Fort Worth area business people dedicated to enhancing agricultural education activities of Texas youth. Members of the organization, along with the Ladies on the Lamb, U Ol’ Goat Committee, Fort Worth Businessmen, The Tallest Hog at the Trough Committee, The Shortest Goat at the Bar Committee and Women Steering Business were responsible for the purchase of all animals offered in the Junior Sale of Champions. Since 1980, the syndicate has raised more than $46 million for the youth exhibitors, provided more than $1 million in scholarships for Texas 4-H and FFA members.