Southeast Texas FFA students urge community support for their auction, spotlighting its importance for funding college and rewarding hard work.
KOUNTZE, Texas — Southeast Texas members of the Future Farmers of America are preparing for upcoming livestock auctions and calling on the community to step in as buyers.
The sales, part of the Hardin County Youth Project Show, are more than competitions. Organizers and students say the auctions are an investment in their futures.
“It is a big responsibility, but I like it,” said Sidney Dunham, a Lumberton FFA student.
Many of the students say the program not only teaches discipline but also helps them raise money for college.
“I’ve always had a really big passionate feeling for animals. I think it will also help me a lot in the end,” said Karli Watters. “I plan on going to college for FFA. I plan on majoring in animal science and everything else. I want to be a vet.”
From early mornings to late nights, FFA members spend months caring for their animals.
“Just my love for animals and to help for scholarships in college… I just like taking care of them,” said Ellie Ozment of Lumberton High School.
Michael Brinkley, president of the Hardin County Youth Project Show, said the auctions provide students with a way to recover the money and time they have invested.
“The auction will commence for these kids, these hardworking kids, to pay off for their, their, uh, six to eight months, sometimes a year worth of work for these animals,” Brinkley said.
He added that students usually cover the costs themselves, with only occasional help from parents.
“They purchase the animals with, with their own money most of the time. Maybe a parent helps out and then the feed, you know, for a steer, uh, they’re probably looking at $2,500 to $3,000 worth of feed to feed out one of these steers,” he said.
Watters said she hopes to use her auction earnings to help pay for veterinary school and to compete at the Fort Worth Major Livestock Show.
“It feels really good to know that people care about you enough to come down here and even though they may have never talked to you before, like they’re willing to come down here and support our local FFA,” she said.
The Hardin County Youth Project Show is scheduled for Saturday, Oct. 11, at the Hardin County Forestry & Agricultural Youth Association Show Barn in Kountze.