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Rory Bettes shed a few tears while saying goodbye to his prizewinning Grand Champion steer following their final turn in the ring at last weekend’s NETLA Junior Market Livestock Show and Sale. Bettes was one of over 130 competitors who showed the animal projects they’ve spent months training, feeding and caring for. See Page 10 for more photos of the 2024 grand and reserve Junior Market Show on Page 10. NETLA Photos by Tammy Vinson
|Northeast Texas Livestock Association
Northeast Texas Livestock Association’s 2024 Hopkins County Junior Market Livestock Show featured the hard work of Hopkins County students, both in and out of the show ring. The Sale of Champions Saturday, Feb. 24, raised more than $542,000 and counting.
While that’s impressive for the more than 130 lots of animals were auctioned off, that’s still $160,000 less than the records $173,985 collected from 134 lots sold in 2023, but is still $13,000 more than in 2022.
To contribute to any of the youth who sold their livestock projects or to help in general, just drop by Texas AgriLife Extension Office on Houston Street to donate ad-on funds to raise the amounts the youth earn for their animals.
The Sale of Champions featured grand and reserve champion and animals which earned showmanship awards, and placed among the top in their classes during the market show which began Thursday, Feb. 22, with the lambs and goats. Poultry, swine, steer and heifer rounds were held Friday. The show featured participants from elementary through high school ages exhibiting the show animals they’ve raised and trained this year. The young exhibitors put their animals through their paces and stayed cool when the animals did the unexpected.
Scholarship Recipients
Awards, presented Saturday, also included one special presentation — of scholarships for students who have participated in the Junior Market Livestock Show for at least two years, and who meet all of the requirements outlined in a scholarship application. Scholarships are funded through individual donations, a portion of the entry fee and proceeds from the Showmanship Animal raised for sale by the end of the Sale of Champions.
This year, the committee selected 10 Hopkins County students who will be graduating in this spring to receive scholarships ranging from $1,500 to $2,500, in honor and memory of Larry Spradlin and Bobby McDonald. Recipients inlcuded:
• Jayden Arledge, Sulphur Springs FFA — $1,500;
• Kathryn Taylor, Miller Grove FFA — $1,500;
• Coen Bell, Sulphur Springs FFA — $2,000;
• Karrigan McQuay – Hopkins County 4-H $2,000;
• Kate Monk – Hopkins County 4-H $2,000;
• Braddox Rawson – Sulphur Springs FFA $2,000;
• Caroline Coker – Sulphur Springs FFA $2,500;
• Ethan George – Miller Grove FFA $2,500;
• Mika Gray – Miller Grove FFA — $2,500; and
• Rhayne Thomas – Como-Pickton FFA — $2,500.
Grand and Reserve
Champions
Hopkins County 4-H members Gregory Smith and Samantha Smith, respectively, won the Grand and Reserve Champion titles in the poultry category.
Sulphur Springs FFA member Madison Kellogg’s pig earned the Grand Champion title and Miller Grove FFA’s Serenity Albritton was named Reserve Champion in the swine category.
North Hopkins FFA member Keegan Callihan’s lamb took the Grand Champion title, while Ramsey Ragan of Hopkins County 4-H earned the Reserve Champion title with her lamb.
Isaac Taylor of Cumby FFA and his goat took home the Grand Champion prize, while Laken Callihan of North Hopkins FFA received the Reserve Champion title.
North Hopkins FFA’s Rory Bettes’ steer earned the Grand Champion title, while Hopkins County 4-H member Dodge Chamness’ steer took the Reserve Champion title.
Coen Bell of Sulphur Springs FFA earned the Grand Champion title with his heifer, and Kaitlyn Myers of North Hopkins FFA won the Reserve Champion title with her heifer.
Showmanship
Livestock showmanship winners included:
Goats — Jadee Jennings, North Hopkins FFA, Junior Class; Olivia Kelley, Miller Grove FFA, Intermediate Class; and Isaac Taylor, Cumby FFA, Senior Class; Heifers — Caroline Melton, Miller Grove FFA, Junior Class; Katie Alexander, MGFFA, Intermediate Class; Coen Bell, Sulphur Springs FFA, Senior Class.
Lambs — Keegan Callihan, North Hopkins FFA, Intermediate Class and Preslie Brown, Sulphur Springs FFA, Senior Class.
Poultry — Avery Hinton, Sulphur Springs FFA; Maggie Flemens, Como-Pickton FFA; and Karrigan McQuay, Hopkins County 4-H .
Steers — Rory Bettes, North Hopkins FFA, Junior Class; Lila Bettes, North Hopkins FFA, Intermediate Class; and Mika Gray, Miller Grove FFA, Senior Class.
Swine — Serenity Albriton, Miller Grove FFA, Junior Class; Jenna Murray, Como-Pickton FFA, Intermediate Class; and Kindal Shackelford, Senior Class.