North Forest High School held their 49th Annual FFA Livestock Show & Sale, last Thursday night, April 21.
Students showed 24 projects, and raised about $17,700 in direct purchases, and another $4000 in add-ons to the bids. The total of about $22,000 was less than last year when the department showed 30 projects and raised about $43,500. However, the district and the AG department are in a rebuilding mode, and this was considered a reasonable show. Next year will be the 50th Anniversary of the FFA show, which started in 1963 with AG teacher Travis Batson and the help of the Rotary Club.
This year’s show was under the direction of the new AG Advisor, Larry Matthew Florence. There are 19 members of the FFA this year.
Before the sale started, awards were presented to students Jonathan Wagner, Edmound Petties, and Cristina Hernandez for showmanship, and to the retired AG teacher, Bill Dodd, for 38 years of service at North Forest district. These presentations were made by the acting superintendent, Edna Forté assisted by Larry Florence and Bill Dodd.
The auctioneer this year was Justin Beckendorff, the son of Glenn Beckendorff, who has been the auctioneer for 26 of the past 28 years of FFA shows at North Forest.
The number of projects or exhibited animals was down this year, a reflection of the economy and the district’s reorganization efforts, including hiring a new AG Science Teacher.
The auction took place at the AG barn, on the campus of the original Smiley High School on Mesa Drive. Judging the swine and poultry this year was Shane Weldon.
Bidders this year included Fort Bend Mechanical, Beasley Tire, Capital Bank, Bill & Margaret Ginder, Elvin & Ann Franklin, Larry & Lacey Prince, John McNeil, Bill Dodd, Bryan Simmons of Entec, Penny Pinchers, and McCauley Lumber.
Add-ons, a monetary contribution in addition to the auction bids, were made by Capital Bank, CTE, Penny Pinchers, NF Edna Forté, Beasley Tire, Nakisha Myles, Caldwell Companies, and others.