Student livestock show nets 200K

SMITH COUNTY, – The Smith County Junior Livestock Show concluded with its annual sale day, where FFA and Four-H students auctioned animals they raised over the past year. According to our news partner KETK, the event raised more than $200,000 to support student projects and future education for the upcoming year or for graduating seniors to use toward their higher education.

The sale marks a year of work for participants who raise and show their animals before selling them to local buyers.

Local business and community leaders from around the area attended the auction to bid on the animals. Dustin Rounsavall, vice president of the Livestock Show Board, said the event serves as a tangible reward for the students’ efforts throughout the year.

“This is where they get the reward,” Rounsavall said. “You’ve got business leaders and community leaders coming out and actually spending their hard-earned money on these kids to show them how they respect the hard work that they did on their projects.”

Participating students are responsible for the daily care of their animals for an entire year before the show. Rounsavall noted that the exhibitors typically tend to their projects twice every day to ensure the livestock are properly maintained.