Show, sale provides positive, educational experience for youth

By MONETTE TAYLOR | South Central Texas

At right, a young exhibitor makes his own privacy for a quick nap between the rigorous feeding, grooming, and competition schedules. -- Staff photo by Carolyn Rost

February 21, 2002 -- The mission statement of the San Antonio Livestock Exposition, Inc. (S.A.L.E.) states that the reason for the Exposition is " ... to provide a positive, educational experience for the youth of Texas."

On any given day of the show, you will find Texas youth from every corner of the state busy brushing, washing, walking or otherwise caring for their animals.

These students are members of Texas FFA chapters and 4-H groups, among others. Many have traveled over six hours just to get to the show. One of the major draws for this show is the educational commitment made by the organization.

In 1984, funds were dedicated to start the scholarship fund, and it has grown each year. According to the scholarship committee, the educational commitment to date exceeds 16 million dollars, with 738 students attending 51 Texas colleges and universities using these scholarships.

Currently, there are 152 counties in Texas represented in the program, and the numbers continue to grow. The scholarships are earned by students who show their animals at the Exposition, and who plan to pursue a career in agriculture.

Along with furnishing scholarships for the students, the group provides for continuing career education for Extension specialists through the Leadership Extension Programs.

At left, Bailee Allen of Brackettville grooms Earl, one of the two steers she used in competition at S.A.L.E. -- Staff photo by Carolyn Rost

One of the students getting her animals ready for show competition was Bailee Allen of Brackettville.

"We brought two Herfords, Earl and Bob," said Allen, about her two steers.

At 1,250 and 1,180 pounds, respectively, the steers tower over Allen, but she isn't afraid of them. When asked if she'd ever been hurt by her animals, she had to admit that she had.

"When we were halter-breaking Earl, he stepped on my toe and I fell down. Then he stepped on the back of my leg," she said.

Even with the injury, she was determined to continue working with the animals.

"They're real sweet and easy to work with, once you find out what they like. They're just like humans. People don't think that, but they really are," she added.

Allen still has several years to show and save winning dollars, but a group of FFA students from Pilot Point, located in North Texas, included a senior who just won a big scholarship.

Billy Dusenberry, with the Pilot Point FFA, showed his heifer the week before the steer shows, and he did very well.

"I came to the heifer show ... and I got a $6,000 scholarship. That's why I come to this heifer show," said Dusenberry.

"Show me the money!" appears to be the big draw for all of the contestants.

While Cody Koerner, a 10th grader at Pilot Point, has a couple more years to show, he said he enjoys coming to San Antonio, but hates the eight-hour drive to get there.

When asked how FFA has contributed to their lives, the group all agreed that they've learned to be more responsible while learning how to take care of their animals.

"It's just a good learning experience. You learn how to take care of them (animals) in certain situations, and coming to this show, it's just a lot of fun and excitement. You meet new people every time," said Dusenberry.

Another thing noticed when talking with the students is their manners. Something about kids in agriculture seems to contribute to more respect for others. Perhaps, it comes from taking care of their animals and the responsibility it brings to each of them. The youth at the show exemplified the S.A.L.E. mission of "helping youth, today, so that agriculture can grow tomorrow."