Maycee Potts, Sulphur Bluff FFA member and exhibitor of the Grand Champion Market Steer, began
Saturday's 2013 Sale of Champions, that featured 126 lots of local youth projects.

 

Record-Breaking Sale!!!

 

Local Business Invests Over $275,000.
In Future of Hopkins County
At Sale of Champions

 

by: Bobby McDonald

 

 

Local Hopkins County business and individual supporters invested over $275,000.00 in the future of Hopkins County, on Saturday afternoon, as they participated in the 2013 NETLA Youth Market Show Sale of Champions, purchasing 126 lots of youth projects. "It's our way of promoting the future of Hopkins County," expressed Brad Johnson, Manager of Northeast Texas Farmers Co-op and a longtime supporter of the NETLA Show and Sale. "The money we spend here at the sale funds college education, future projects, and along the way builds character, responsibility, and life skills. These kids are the kind of individuals who four, five, and ten years later will drop by your office and tell you how much your investment helped them to attain and reach their goals! It's some of the most important money we return to the community all year!"

Saturday's event first recognized each of the showmanship winners in the various species of the show and then followed with the introductions of Grand Champion and Reserve Champions of each show, who were presented with a trophy belt buckle.

 

2013 NETLA Youth Market Show Showmanship Winners

 

Youth winning Grand and Reserve Champions were presented with trophy buckles.

 

 

 

 

Next, was the presentation of the Jackie Gibson Memorial Award, for the student who had sold the most raffle tickets in support of this year's show. Winner of the buckle, presented in honor of longtime NETLA volunteer and founder of the buyer's pool of supporting the sale, was Kaylee Giles of the Cumby FFA.

The NETLA Organization then presented three youth from Sulphur Springs FFA, Sulphur Bluff FFA, and Hopkins County 4-H with College Scholarships, that were raised from the funds that everyone spent in the concession stand, during the show.

Kaylee Giles, Cumby FFA member, was presented with the Jackie Gibson Memorial Award, by Gibson's
son, Kevin Gibson, who is now president of the NETLA organization.

 

Kevin Gibson, presents two of the three scholarships that were awarded to youth participants in the
Market Show. 2013 NETLA Scholarship winners included Quincie Duncan, Sulphur Bluff FFA,
Zach Shepard, Miller Grove FFA, and not pictured, Colton Froneberger, Sulphur Springs FFA.

 

 

 

 

A special recognition was made next, as two longtime vocational agriculture teachers in Hopkins County have announced their retirement. Richard Watson will retire at the end of the school year and Johnny Lennon retired at the end of the fall semester. The two men have devoted countless hours, time, and instruction to the NETLA organization and counseled an untold amount of students who have participated in the NETLA shows since its inception. This is wishing both Richard and Johnny a great and enjoyable, as well as a much deserved, retirement!

 

Richard Watson and Johnny Lennon were recognized for their untold number of hours
devoted to the NETLA organization, since its inception, as they mark their retirement.

 

 

Exhibitor and FFA member, Madison Rater, leads the group assembled
in the "Star Spangled Banner" before the auction began.

 

Before the first lot entered the ring, the group paused as exhibitor and FFA member, Madison Rater, led the group in a beautiful rendition of the Star Spangled Banner.

 

 

 

Then, it was sale time, as volunteer local auctioneer, Joe Don Pogue, struck the gavel and the Grand Champion Steer, exhibited by Sulphur Bluff FFA member, Maycee Potts, entered the ring. The 1165 pound red steer, bred on the Potts Farm, in the Dike Community of Hopkins County, continued to draw bids as Maycee presented an ever increasing smile. A syndicate of local businesses, made up of Agriland Farm Credit, Dr. Phil Jackson, and Nor-Tex Tractor, paid $5.40 cents per pound for the top animal in the sale.

 

 

 

 

 

The next lot in the sale was the Grand Champion of the Market Swine Show, exhibited by little Harli Watson, a junior member of the Miller Grove FFA, who wore a large smile on her face from the time she entered the sale arena. The 264 pound animal, a Hampshire crossbred, was purchased by another syndicate of buyers, comprised of Alliance Bank, Toliver Ford, and Northeast Texas Farmers Co-op and Friends, for a total price of $3600.00.

 

 

 

 

 

The Grand Champion Market Lamb, exhibited by Taylor Swinson of the Sulphur Springs FFA, was the third lot on the block, and received a total price of $2750.00, from the Hopkins-Rains County Farm Bureau, who bought the lamb and returned it back to the exhibitor, for breeding purposes.

 

 

 

 

 

The fourth animal on the auction block was the Grand Champion Market Goat, exhibited by Ashley Claxton, of the Miller Grove FFA. Claxton's animal was purchased by Cumby Telephone for a total price of $2100.00, to be used for future projects and a college education.

 

And, the final Champion to be presented was the Grand Champion Market Broilers, exhibited by Sulphur Springs FFA member, Quinton Joslin. The pen of three birds, that had won top honors on Friday morning, were purchased for $2000.00 by R&L Foster Construction.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Reserve Champion entries were presented next in the sale, with the following exhbitors, prices, and buyers:

 

Reserve Champion Steer, Cheyenne Gray, Cumby FFA, $4.20 cents per pound, by Sulphur Springs Dodge Chrysler Jeep.

Reserve Champion Swine, Allie Eason, Miller Grove FFA, $2100.00, by Hopkins-Rains Farm Bureau.

Reserve Champion Lamb, Bryce McQueen, Sulphur Springs FFA, $1900.00, Friday Law Firm.

Reserve Champion Goat, Phillip Rater, Miller Grove FFA, $2000.00, Dr. Phil Jackson.

Reserve Champion Broilers, Hayden Joslin, Sulphur Springs FFA, $1500.00, R&L Foster Construction.

 

 

Bidding by local businesses continued to be "brisk" throughout the sale as local supports purchased lots and lent their support to the hard work and dedication of the youth of Hopkins County, totaling over $265,000.00. Front Porch News Texas purchased the lot #20 Market Broiler entry of D.J. Lackey, a member of the Cumby FFA chapter, in support of the youth.

As the motto of the NETLA organization, penned by longtime youth support Cal Farley of Farley Boy's Ranch, said, "A Man Never Stands So Tall, As When He Stoops to Help a Boy!"

 

 

 

And the future looks bright for these future NETLA exhibitors
and Hopkins County continues to put youth and the future
as a top priority.......

 

 

Thank You, Hopkins County Business,
For Supporting the Future of Hopkins County!!!

 

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