By Diego Hernandez Co-Editor-in-Chief
The 48th Annual Walter Gerlach Livestock Show and Sale raised over 1.1 million dollars in scholarships for Agriculture students announced on February 8, 2021 for the fourth year in a row. The show occurred from January 23-30th and the live auction took place via Livestream and in-person limited on January 28, 2021. Several students won recognition for raising livestock and building Agricultural Machinery products.
The winners of Gerlach’s awards include senior Matthew Escobedo for Ag Mechanics Grand Champion for restoring a tractor and FFA member Emily Felty for the Reserve Grand Champion. Freshman Krista Sifuentes received Grand Champion for Goats while sophomore Reagan Crick gained Reserve. Member Kiley Murry earned Grand Champion title along with reserve for rabbits awarded to FFA. Ian Diaz gained Grand Champion title for Swine while Reserve GC went to senior Aiden Charo. The title of Grand Champion for Steer went to senior Erica Perales along with Reserve Steer winner junior Courtney Burrell. Senior Victoria Weynand received the Grand Champion title for Lamb and senior Reague Chavez the Reserve. Senior Avery Felton acquired the Grand Champion title for Turkey as freshman Jace Burkholder for Reserve. Grand Champion title for Broilers went to seventh grade FFA member Gianna Hivnor of Atonement Academy and Reserve winner senior Gavin Spears.
Agriculture students involved in raising animals were awarded in other ways as well.
“It’s all worth it when you see the friends you’ve made and the fun you’ve had with your animals. And never be afraid to ask the teachers questions, they are there to help you and when it comes to raising your own animal, it is important you know everything that needs to be known about your animal so you can be more successful with raising and in other parts of ag,” FFA member senior Samantha Wright said.
Other Ag students shared similar experiences.
“Ag has been an important part of my life because it has taught me so many valuable lessons over the years. I have learned responsibility, hard work, leadership, and more. It has also allowed me to make many important friendships and connections that will help me out in my adult life and career,” senior Madison Crick said.
Students overcame several challenges this year, pandemic and communication-related issues and more.
“It was also harder to keep prepared for the uncertainties of my animals as well as in my Ag teams as I am unable to go everywhere I needed to go to get supplies, feed and many other things,” Wright said.
Other students faced some of the same challenges.
“My year raising was a mix of very fun and very stressful. I did not have any extracurricular activities besides ag this year due to Covid, so I was able to put a lot more focus into my goat projects. I was worried that the livestock shows would be canceled, but I was very grateful because most of them still happened, and my hard work paid off in the end,” senior Madison Crick said.
They also were able to experience rewards, such as seeing the results of their four years of hard work involved in the Ag program and prepare them for their future.
“When I got the letter saying I had gotten the Gerlach Scholarship, I was ecstatic. I had worked very hard and was very involved with FFA these past four years, so I had felt all that hard work had paid off and I was very thankful for Gerlach for their consideration of me for this scholarship. After high school, I will attend Texas A&M University and major in Animal Science in hopes of becoming a veterinarian,” Wright said.
Other scholarship winners were overjoyed as well.
“I was so excited to find out that I earned my scholarship! It meant so much to me because of how much time and effort I had put into the application, as well as my FFA and 4H career over the years, to be able to get this scholarship. Next year, I will be attending Texas A&M University, and majoring in Agricultural Communications,” Crick said.
Second-year FFA member junior Lillian Stagner shared her experience this year raising goats was a fun and challenging experience.
“I had the honor to receive Division Champion of Light Weight Goats. I felt so proud, as all of my hard work paid off,” Stagner said.
Stagner is also looking forward to participating again next year, her senior year she plans to raise a pig, and Heffer.
“I’m jumping head first into this as I have never raised these animals before, but I am just so excited to learn from them,” Stagner said.
Scholarships were awarded to several Agricultural students including seniors Elizabeth Barnett, Abigail Flores, Samantha Wright, Caitlin Castro, Victoria Weynand, Mason Pouncy, Erica Perales, Emaleen Cain, Madison Crick, Riley McGovern, Shelly Padalecki, and Jordan McCullough.
