Aldine ISD FFA students eclipse $120,000 mark at 48th Annual Livestock Show

Nimitz High School’s Amanda Ruscher shows off her grand champion steer. First Construction Group purchased the steer for a record-setting $18

For the second consecutive year, a new sales record was established at the 48th annual Livestock Show and Country Fair, held Feb. 9 at the M.O. Campbell Educational Center. Members of the Aldine community pledged $120,400 for various projects, eclipsing last year’s mark of $100,000.
“We want to thank the community and our own employees for their generous support of the Aldine ISD Livestock Show,” said Franklin Higgins, director of career and technology education. “We had another successful show because so many people and groups made a special effort to support our students as buyers.”

The money raised by the students is theirs to use for college scholarships or to fund future FFA projects during the 2007-08 school year.
Nimitz High School’s Amanda Ruscher raised the grand champion steer, which was purchased by the First Construction Group for a record-setting $18,000 (last year’s grand champion steer sold for $16,000). The reserve grand champion steer was raised by Ashlee Palermo of Nimitz High and was also purchased by the First Construction Group for $9,5000.
The grand champion pig was raised by Ebony Bouldin of Nimitz High and was purchased by the Retirement Benefit Group for $6,000. The reserve grand champion pig was raised by Derek Lloyd of Nimitz High and was purchased by the Aldine Buyers Group for $4,000.
The grand champion goat was raised Kristi Bielamowicz of Aldine High and was purchased by W.G. Burchfield & Bro. for $4,000. The reserve grand champion goat was raised by Jonathan Willis of Aldine High and was purchased by the Retirement Benefit Group for $3,250.
The grand champion lamb was also raised by Bielamowicz and was purchased by the Aldine Buyer’s Group for $4,000. The reserve grand champion lamb was raised by Blake Clement of Aldine High and was purchased by the Eisenhower Vertical Group for $3,000.
The grand champion Turkey Tom was raised by Jennifer Weikel of Nimitz High and was purchased by First Southwest for $2,500. The reserve grand champion Turkey Tom was raised by Stephon Tillis of Nimitz High and was purchased by the Nimitz Vertical Group for $2,250.
The grand champion turkey hen was raised by Blake Clement of Aldine High and was purchased by the Aldine Vertical Group for $2,250. The reserve grand champion turkey hen was raised by Ebony Bouldin of Nimitz High and was purchased by Beasley Tire Service, Inc. for $2,250.
The grand champion broilers were raised by Ashlee Palermo of Nimitz High and were purchased by Texas Southwest for $3,000. The reserve grand champion broilers were raised by Jennifer Weikel of Nimitz High and were purchased by Republic Central Realty, Inc. for $2,250.
The grand champion fryer rabbits were raised by Joel Hickman of Aldine High and were purchased by UBS Financial Services for $2,500. The reserve grand champion fryer rabbits were raised by Willis Tillis of Nimitz High and were purchased by the Superintendent’s Group for $2,250.
The grand champion horticulture project was produced by Kristi Bielamowicz of Aldine High and was purchased by the Nimitz Vertical Group for $2,000. The reserve grand champion horticulture project was produced by Katie Sullivan of MacArthur High School and was purchased by the MacArthur Area Group for $2,100.
The Aldine High scholarship cake was purchased by the Aldine Vertical Group for $1,000, while the Eisenhower High scholarship cake was purchased by North Houston Bank for $700.