Miller Grove FFA member, Cayle Watson, is presented with his award by Eddie Lampp,
president of the NETLA organization, prior to Saturday night's Sale of Champions.

 

Local Business "Gives the Green"
Saturday Night at Sale of Champions

 

by: Bobby McDonald

 

Madison Rater, center, a member of the Miller Grove FFA, sings "The Star Spangled Banner" as everyone
paused to remember our freedoms, before Saturday night's sale.

 

Tough economic times calls for "tightening the belt," but local businesses "stepped up to the plate" and invested over $210,000.00 in Hopkins County Youth in Saturday night's Sale of Champions for the NETLA Youth Market Show. "We didn't have as much to spend this year, as last year," advised one local businessman. "But, we attempted to spread the money we had around to help more youth in furthering their college educations and financing projects for next year. Hopefully, this ol' economy is bounce back and things will look different, next year!"

 

 

Brynden Andrews' Grand Champion Steer was the first animal in the ring and was purchased by
Northeast Texas Farmers Co-op.

 

 

Saturday night's sale was below the record sale set in 2009, but organizers and youth were pleased with the results, following the down-trend in the local economy. "Certainly, we would have liked to have had just as good of a year as we did last year, but we know that local business is not as good as in years before," expressed a grateful Eddie Lampp, President of the local, sponsoring NETLA organization. "We understand that the economy is tough out there and that local businesses did their best to support the youth of Hopkins County in this effort!"

Each of the champion and reserve champion exhibitors, as well as the showmanship winners were called forward and presented with buckles and show bags, prior to the sale, all donated by local business. Then, the sale started with the Grand Champion Steer, exhibited by Brynden Andrews, a member of the Hopkins County 4-H. Andrews' 1265# steer circled the ring and demanded a top bid of $3.35 per pound, paid by Northeast Texas Farmers Co-op, to take the "good eating" home, for some juicy steaks!

 

Morgan Lampp proudly parades her Grand Champion Swine project before the buyers
as it is purchased by Attorney Frank Long.

 

 

 

Attorney Frank Long was awarded the Grand Champion Swine entry of Morgan Lampp, as he paid $1900.00 for the top pig in the sale. And, Hopkins County Abstract and Advantage Copy "pooled" their money together and purchased Tanner Swinson's Grand Champion Lamb at a price of $1600.00. MooLa Trucking and Northeast Texas Farmers Co-op purchased Miller Grove FFA member, Cayle Watson's Grand Champion Market Goat for a price of $2750.00 and Sulphur Springs FFA member, Cabo Sanvig's Grand Champion Pen of Broilers was purchased by Pen 4 Cattle Company for $1700.00.

 

Tanner Swinson poses his Grand Champion Lamb for the buyers, as is it purchased by
Advantage Copy and Hopkins County Abstract .

 

Cayle Watson gets a little bit of help from his little sister, as he displays his Grand Champion
Market Goat in the sale ring. It was purchased by MooLa Trucking and Northeast Texas Farmers Co-op.

 

 

The Reserve Grand Champion Steer, owned by Miller Grove FFA member, Macen Howle, was purchased by Dairy Health Services for a total price of $3011.25, and Miller Grove FFA member Chase Taylor's Reserve Champion Market Hog was purchased by the Hopkins Rains Farm Bureau for a price of $1700.00. Taylor Swinson's Reserve Grand Champion Lamb was purchased for $1600.00 by A&S Air Conditioning, while Jacoby Feed and MooLa Trucking paid $1800.00 for Madison Rater's Reserve Grand Champion Market Goat. Brookshire's Food Store will "have a sale" on dressed chickens this week, as they paid $1200.00 for Maegan McMorris' Reserve Grand Champion Pen of Broilers.

 

Cabo Sanvig, right, holds his broiler and gets a little bit of help from Talon Bell, as his entry is
purchased by Pen 4 Cattle Company.

 

 

 

Bidders paid over $170,000.00 for the animals through the sale ring, with another over $40,000.00 being given in "add-on" money to the projects, for the youth!

Once the "dust is settled" and the books are finalized, we will have a complete listing of the buyers and the projects they bought, giving credit to those local businesses who took the time and effort to make an investment in the youth of Hopkins County! Most importantly, drop by these businesses and let them know just how much you appreciate their participation and patronize them with your services to show your appreciation! Shopping locally enables the businesses of Hopkins County to contribute back to their community, with their profits, and support the youth!

 

Enjoy these additional photos from Saturday night's Sale of Champions:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Thank You to Those Hopkins County
Businesses Who Invest in Our Youth!!!

 

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