With education and the future of agriculture on their mind, buyers flocked to the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo Junior Market Poultry Auction, Friday, March 17.
Buckholts FFA member, Cooper Meinardus, 16, exhibited the Grand Champion Junior Market Pen of Broilers. Jeff Aronoff, Mach Industrial Group, Gregory N. Miller and Billy Parker purchased the pen for $150,000. Parker said he hopes to help more students further their education by purchasing the champion lot.
“That’s all of our future,” Parker said. “All these kids here. If everybody can get a great education, it makes the world better for everybody.”
Wharton County 4-H member Kamryn Till, 11, exhibited the Reserve Grand Champion Junior Market Pen of Broilers. Anne and Chris Richardson, Kristina and Paul Somerville, and Jennifer and Joe Van Matre purchased the pen for $75,000. Chris Richardson said buying at the Show is his way of returning the favor to those who have helped him.
“Supporting youth means a lot,” Richardson said. “I help them get a shot at going to college. I got a shot like this when I was young and it’s made a big difference in my life.”
Junior Market Turkey Grand Champion, Thomas Oman, 12, from Taylor, Texas, sold his turkey to the Clark and Charlene Thompson Foundation, D’Anna Michelle Jones, Texas Renaissance Festival – Terre Albert, and Misty and Tyson Weihs for $110,000. Albert, the King of the Texas Renaissance Festival, said he supports the Junior Market Poultry Show because it provides youth with the opportunity for an education.
“First of all, we love Texas,” Albert said. “We love Houston, and we want to support children. The youth and children are our future, so we want to give them the best start we possibly can.”
Buyers Roger Camp, Madison Charitable Foundation, Stephanie and Neil Yelderman, and Mark Young purchased 9 year old Wrede 4-H member Hewston Lochte’s Reserve Grand Champion Junior Market Turkey for $68,000. Camp, a Poultry Auction Committee member, has supported the Show as a buyer for 17 years.
“It’s always fun to be out here and support the kids and the Show,” Camp said. “It all really boils down to the kids. We’re fortunate to be able to do this, and we’re pleased to be able to support it [the Show].”
GRAND CHAMPION BROILERS
- Exhibitor: Cooper Meinardus, 16
- Hometown: Buckholts, Texas
- Club/Chapter: Buckholts FFA
- Price: $150,000
- Buyers: Jeff Aronoff, Mach Industrial Group, Gregory N. Miller, and Billy Parker
- World Record: $215,000 (2015)
RESERVE CHAMPION BROILERS
- Exhibitor: Kamryn Till, 11
- Hometown: Nada, Texas
- Club/Chapter: Wharton County 4-H
- Price: $75,000
- Buyers: Anne and Chris Richardson, Kristina and Paul Somerville, and Jennifer and Joe Van Matre
- World Record: $140,000 (2007)
GRAND CHAMPION TURKEY
- Exhibitor: Thomas Oman, 12
- Hometown: Taylor, Texas
- Club/Chapter: Taylor County 4-H
- Price: $110,000
- Buyers: Clark and Charlene Thompson Foundation, D’Anna Michelle Jones, Texas Renaissance Festival – Terre Albert, and Misty and Tyson Weihs
- World Record: $175,000 (2007)
RESERVE CHAMPION TURKEY
- Exhibitor: Hewston Lochte, 9
- Hometown: Fredericksburg, Texas
- Club/Chapter: Wrede 4-H
- Price: $68,000
- Buyers: Roger Camp, Madison Charitable Foundation, Stephanie and Neil Yelderman, and Mark Young
- World Record: $140,000 (2014)
The Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo is a Section 501(c)(3) charity that benefits youth, supports education, and facilitates better agricultural practices through exhibitions and presentation. Since its beginning in 1932, the Show has committed more than $430 million to the youth of Texas. For more information, visit rodeohouston.com and connect with #RODEOHOUSTON online via Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube for all of the latest news. The 2017 Show runs through March 26.