Over 1 million visit Stock Show, Rodeo in San Antonio

By MONETTE TAYLOR | South Central Texas Edition

There's a goat in there This young exhibitor holds her Angora goat as the judge feels for conformation during competition at the San Antonio Livestock Show. The Angora goat originated in Turkey, and is produced for its long strands of mohair. Texas, a leader in mohair production, produces enough to knit more than 135 million sweaters. -- Staff photo by Carolyn Rost

February 27, 2003 -- The San Antonio Stock Show and Rodeo ended its two-week run with record-breaking attendance for five of those days. The total attendance for the 16-day stock show was reported to be 1,066,778, with all shows sold out at an average attendance of 13,066 seats per show.

The total of livestock entries was even up from previous years - a total of 470 exhibitors this year. Among those entries was the Grand Champion steer, exhibited by Brandt Edwards, Hamilton FFA, which this year, sold for $92,003 to Rush Retail Centers, HEB, MG Building Materials, Marshall and Carr, Luke and Merle Foundation, George and Norma Strait, Holt Caterpillar, Primary Business System and Joeris General Contractors.

Last year's Grand Champion steer sold for $90,000.

The Reserve Champion steer, shown by Cortney David of Pilot Point FFA came away with $52,003.

According to Scereta Rodriguez, scholarship coordinator, $1.7 million of scholarships have been awarded during this 2002 fiscal year which ends March 1, and includes this 2003 stock show.

The San Antonio Livestock Exposition, Inc. has supported Texas youth for 54 years, by providing a "venue for competition and a market for their junior agricultural and livestock projects." After expanding the program through the years since 1984, more than 2,600 Texas college students have received scholarships. At the latest count, there were 153 counties represented by these students, who are attending Texas colleges and universities.

According to the literature provided from the San Antonio Livestock Exposition, Inc., they continue to "expand and enhance" education and information for Texas youth and to further their mission: "Helping Youth Today So That Agriculture Can Grow Tomorrow."