In a highlight at the Houston Livestock Show, an 11-year-old’s Grand Champion Lamb fetched a record-setting $500,000 — and that certainly wasn’t the day’s only record. The event, originally established in 1931 as the Houston Fat Stock Show, has grown to more than 30,000 Texas 4-H and FFA entries, regularly setting world records at annual junior market show auctions.
The Junior Market Lamb and Goat Auction of The Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo was held March 8 at the NRG Arena. Donors from across the state participated in this record-breaking auction, changing the lives of young exhibitors and allowing them to move forward with their agricultural and educational goals.
Generous donors support the exhibitors’ livestock projects and also fund scholarships and educational programs for the youth of Texas.
Based upon placing, the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo establishes a guaranteed premium for each exhibitor who qualifies for a junior market auction. Once guaranteed premiums are paid to the exhibitors, the net proceeds from the auction are contributed to the Educational Fund to support the Show’s commitment to the youth of Texas and education.
The Grand Champion Lamb from Shepard Silvers of Junction FFA was sold at a record-breaking price of $500,000 to the Hildebrand family in honor of Jeff Hildebrand’s 65th birthday, who could not attend the auction. His daughter, Brittany Hildebrand, spoke in place of her father, thanking the HLSR for their impact on the youth of Texas by helping to further their education.
“The auction brings all of us together for one common goal,” Hildebrand said. “To promote agriculture, support Texas youth, and showcase Western heritage. He [Jeff Hildebrand] has often said, ‘There is no finer organization than the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo and their ability to support education.’
The Reserve Grand Champion Lamb, exhibited by 11-year-old Stratley Strube from Tom Green County 4-H, sold for $240,000 to Tea & Bill Pinkley, Fire Safe Protection Services L — Lizzy & Stephen McKinney, Melissa & Jimmy Guinn, and Skip Avara. This sale set a third record for the day, surpassing every previous Reserve Grand Champion Lamb sale at HLSR.
“This [auction] is for the youth of Texas. This is for kids trying to change the world,” said Jimmy Guinn. “You guys just witnessed history, and I don’t know what will happen next year, but we will be back.”
The Grand Champion and Reserve Goat Auction was just as exciting, setting two more sales records. Blaze Mock from Erath County 4-H entered with his Grand Champion Goat, Apollo Creed, and exited with a $305,000 sale to Amy and Mark Melton, the Hucherson and Townsend Family — in memory of Ken Hucherson, Mary Lee and Alan Stigall, and Tammy, Peyton, and Mitchell Barrier.
“We did this in memory of my dad,” said Scott Townsend, who attended with his mother and family. “He always said that he could invest in a lot of stuff, but the best investment is for the youth of Texas. … We’re not only shaping young kids’ lives. We’re making America a better place.”
The Reserve Grand Champion Goat, Mr. Butterscotch, added another record-breaking sale to the auction. Madden Wise said he got what you might consider a promotion, leaving as “Professor” Butterscotch after his $200,000 sale. The goat went to J Alan Kent Development — Julie and Alan Kent, Sherry and Connard Barker, Sheri, Rob Walker, and Andrea and Scott Fish.
Seventeen-year-old Wise is a member of Brown County 4-H, and his donors said they were “very fortunate” to be in their positions. The donors were proud to invest in the young man’s agricultural career, which he hopes to continue in college.
As supporting young people’s education and agricultural pursuits is a goal for the HLSR, this year’s auction exceeded the previous sales for the Lamb and Goat Auction in HLSR history. The overwhelming support from donors succeeded and surpassed all expectations for the young exhibitors, allowing them to pursue their educational and agricultural dreams.
Nine-year-old rookie Kate Behnke’s Grand Champion broilers sold to Mach Industrial — Kathleen & Tom Mach, Christine & Michael McWilliams, Andrea Bryant, Higginbotham Insurance – Mark Lee & Dudley Ray & Partners for $295,000. The first-time HLSR exhibitor from Fayette County 4-H plans to show lambs in the future and hopes to get some fun out of the experience.
“It’s all about the kids. We always worry about our future, but all we have to do is look at these young [kids], I might add rookie, and we know our future is in good hands,” said Tom Mach, speaking on why they continue to come back and donate to these young students.
With his Reserve Grand Champion broilers, Michael Jochen, a fifth grader from Needville FFA who hopes to show steers in the future, made a $115,000 sale with his birds. Donors Kristina and Paul Somerville are adamant about supporting the youth of Texas in getting their education, being supporters of the HLSR auction for years.
Seventh grader and gymnast Kathryn Johnson from Alpha Omega Academy FFA won Grand Champion with her turkey; Her Majesty sold for a $125,000 prize from Lauren and Darrell Palmer, Holly and John Knudsen IV, Dr. Hannah Lindskog, and Jonathan Rhoads, and Joshua Harrison.
“Is there a better place to be on a Saturday morning? Raising money to send kids like this to school?” said a donor. “It’s a great cause. Everyone in this room knows it, so thank you for your support.”
Kayla Ehler, the Reserve Grand Champion Turkey, exhibitor, entered with her turkey, Timothy. Ehler left the Houston Livestock Show with her family, who rushed down to Houston to support her with a $100,000 donation from Bridgette and John Grimes, Aimee and JP Monteverde, Robert and Bobby Shockley, and Ginger Brown and Romeo Saenz.
The Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo continues to support young Texans’ educational and agricultural goals, and the 2024 Poultry Auction did just that. Donors and exhibitors can change America by supporting and participating in agricultural organizations across the state. Donors said these children are the future of agriculture.
»Related: A visual walk through livestock show trends: 1900s to 2020s
