ALDINE – A spirited livestock auction was held last Friday night at Campbell Center. The FFA students from all five high schools held their 60th Annual Livestock Show and Sale of Champions, with sales at approximately $180,000, down from last year’s total of $224,000. There were 63 lots, including artwork, buckles, cakes, and the animals that the students raised all year.
The top grand champion steer was raised by Nick Cain, and sold for $14,000. Cain also raised the GC steer last year. The buyer was First Construction Group.
Other notable sales were grand champion pig, raised by Zarius Johnson, and sold for $9000, an increase of $2000 over the previous year. The buyer was the Optimist Club. The grand champion goat was raised by Azaria Jackson, and sold for $5,500. The buyer was the AISD Operations Group.
At the beginning of the show, director Franklin Higgins introduced special guests, which included the new Superintendent LaTonya Goffney, and AISD board president Steve Mead. A special tribute was paid to last year’s Auctioneer Ed Phillips, long time participant in the Livestock Sale, who passed away last year. The new Auctioneer, a protege of Phillips, is Nicholas Hinze, who was introduced.
After the show, the Optimist club raffled sides of beef and pork. Winners were S. Borries and Dorah Andrews for the beef, and Sarah Williams and Ella Williams for the pork sides.