High bids from generous buyers were secured for Texas youth Champion and Reserve Champion poultry projects during the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo Junior Market Poultry Auction Friday, March 9.
Payton Labay, a 15-year-old Needville FFA member, sold his Grand Champion Junior Market Pen of Broilers to Jeff Aronoff, Robin Young-Ellis and Joe Ellis, Mach Industrial Group, and Gregory Miller for $150,000. Miller said these families know how to raise kids and that’s what he chooses to invest in.
“I’ve been a supporter of the auction since 1998,” Miller said. “Once you get involved and see the hundreds of thousands of kids going through the program and putting in the hard work, you want to keep coming back.”
Future Texas A&M University student Trung Luong, 18, from George Ranch FFA, exhibited the Reserve Grand Champion Junior Market Pen of Broilers. Billy Parker, Anne and Chris Richardson, Kristina and Paul Somerville, and Jennifer and Joe Van Matre purchased the Reserve Champion pen for $118,000.
“We love to support this auction because the youth are working hard,” Jennifer Van Matre said. “They are learning responsibility, and they are committed to bettering themselves.”
Cade Burkholder, 16, a Sandra Day O’Connor FFA member from Boerne, Texas, sold his Grand Champion Junior Market Turkey to buyers Kathleen and Tom Mach, Shirley and Randy Meyer, Wesley Ward and Raegan Foundation, and Misty and Tyson Weihs for $110,000. Kathleen Mach said she grew up in a small town like many of these kids and loves being able to commit to this cause.
“This takes me back to my roots,” Kathleen Mach said. “It’s a joy for me to give back for these kids. Education opens doors of opportunity, and I want these kids to know they can do anything in the world.”
Buyers Debbie Adams and Ron Logan, Roger Camp, Charlene Thompson Foundation, and Texas Renaissance Festival partnered to buy the Reserve Grand Champion Junior Market Turkey, shown by 16-year-old Pleasanton FFA member Hailey Cowey, for $95,000. Logan said he has been blessed to be a member of the Poultry Auction Committee for 34 years.
“When you’re a part of it [the committee], it’s easy to want to contribute when you see how hard these kids are working,” Logan said.
The Junior Market Poultry Show received 36,325 broiler entries and 13,950 turkey entries. These entries were exhibited by 920 exhibitors, 300 of which qualified for the auction. Learn more about how the Junior Market Auctions work at rodeohouston.com/Visit-the-Rodeo/Livestock-Horse-Show/Auctions-Sales.
JUNIOR MARKET BROILERS
GRAND CHAMPION
- Exhibitor: Payton Labay, 15
- Hometown: Needville, Texas
- Club/Chapter: Needville FFA
- Price: $150,000
- Buyers: Jeff Aronoff, Robin Young-Ellis and Joe Ellis, Mach Industrial Group, and Gregory Miller
RESERVE CHAMPION
- Exhibitor: Trung Luong, 18
- Hometown: Rosenberg, Texas
- Club/Chapter: George Ranch FFA
- Price: $118,000
- Buyers: Billy Parker, Anne and Chris Richardson, Kristina and Paul Somerville, and Jennifer and Joe Van Matre
JUNIOR MARKET TURKEYS
GRAND CHAMPION
- Exhibitor: Cade Burkholder, 16
- Hometown: Boerne, Texas
- Club/Chapter: Sandra Day O’Connor FFA
- Price: $110,000
- Buyers: Kathleen and Tom Mach, Shirley and Randy Meyer, Wesley Ward and Raegan Foundation, and Misty and Tyson Weihs
RESERVE CHAMPION
- Exhibitor: Hailey Cowey, 16
- Hometown: Pleasanton, Texas
- Club/Chapter: Pleasanton FFA
- Price: $95,000
- Buyers: Debbie Adams and Ron Logan, Roger Camp, Charlene Thompson Foundation, and Texas Renaissance Festival