Leon County 4-Hers Dash for Cash in San Antonio

The San Antonio Livestock Exposition, Inc. has always understood that education is vital to the American agriculture industry. For 59years, they have supported Texas youth by providing them a venue for competition and a market for their junior agricultural and livestock projects. This year Leon County 4-H was represented by a record number of exhibitors in the Market Poultry, Swine, Goat and Beef competitions. Also representing Leon County 4-H was the Junior 4-H livestock Judging Team which consist of Cody Oden, Brittany Beggs, Korley Wilson, and Daryl White. Representing the county with market poultry were 4-Hers Jana Richmond and Kourtney Hibbard. In the Market Swine division were Kourtney Clark, Edmund Clark, Kastin Martin, Nic Martin and Logan Cummings. In the Market Goats were Logan Freeman and Natalie Freeman. To close out the show those exhibiting Market Beef animals were A. T. Robertson, Makinzie Hamilton, Mason Jonas, Macey Jonas, Travis Powers, Tyler Johnson, Savannah Pistone, Dylon Pistone, and Justin Pistonie. This group of exhibitors were a fine representation of our county and three of them Justin Pistone, Dylon Pistone, and Nic Martin were chosen to participate in the premium sale for their efforts. All of these exhibitors will also have a shot at a scholarship from San Antonio when graduating from high school. In 1984, an innovative SALE Executive Committee began to think about encouraging 4-H and FFA high school students to continue their interest in agriculture by pursuing agricultural careers in college. So was born the San Antonio Livestock Exposition, Inc. Scholarship Fund which awarded fifteen four-year scholarships in the amount of $90,000 to students entering Texas colleges in the fall of 1984. From that modest beginning, SALE has expanded its program so that over 4,300 Texas college students have now benefited from the SALE Scholarship Fund. Currently, there are 70 Texas counties that are represented by active students in the program. To date, the San Antonio Stock Show & Rodeo educational commitment exceeds $87 million with a record $8.5 million committed in 2008 in the form of scholarships, grants, endowments, auctions, a calf scramble program and show premiums paid to youth. Awards and scholarships for this year will add more than 300 new scholars to the program. Currently, there are more than 1,300 active scholarship recipients. The scholarships are represented by students in 67 colleges and universities throughout Texas.


Pic 1
Leon County 4-Her Logan Freeman exhibits his Market Goat at San Antonio.
















Pic 2
Senior Leon County 4-H member Travis Powers enters show ring at San Antonio for the last time.