Students Compete to Prepare for Big Livestock Shows

by Ronnie Zamora/LFCISD

Spring is livestock show season for dozens of Los Fresnos CISD students participating in FFA.

Many took part in the Willacy County Livestock Show in Raymondville and the RGV Champion Showdown Prospect Show in Mercedes, both held in January.

Upcoming are the Cameron County Livestock Show, held in conjunction with the Los Fresnos PRCA Rodeo and Livestock Show Feb. 16-18. The biggest show is the the Rio Grande Valley Livestock Show and Rodeo in Mercedes March 8-18.

At the Prospect Show, students prepared their animals by trimming and fitting them to make them look their best in the show arena. They then competed with their animal projects.

Among the contestants that participated were:

• Lane Thomae, Los Fresnos High School: Overall Champion Commercial Heifer, Reserved Overall Champion Registered Heifer, 3 Breed Champions with his Heifers.
• Hunter Wernecke, Liberty Memorial Middle School: Reserve Breed Overall Champion, Chester hog; 3rd place, Duroc hog.
• Josie Flores, Liberty Memorial: 4th Pure Breed (OPB) hog; 2nd, Dark Cross hog.
• Ramon Gonzales III, Los Fresnos United: 1st in class, Hampshire hog.
• Jorge Moya, LFHS: Breed Champion, Santa Gertrudis steer.
• Maddison Stumbaugh, Los Fresnos Elementary: Overall Champion, lightweight goat.
• Victoria Garcia, LFHS: 1st in class, Light Cross hog.
• Dillon Crouch, LMMS: Reserve Breed Champion, Dark Cross hog.
• Abigail Atkinson, LFU: Breed Champion, Dorper lamb.
• Cade Stumbaugh, LFE: 3rd in class, medium weight goat
• Daniel Medrano, LFHS: 5th, goat.

Two other students who are FFA members but show under 4H were:

• Corbin Cruz, LFHS: Corbin Cruz, 1st in class Dark Cross hog, 1st in class Light Cross, Breed Champion Light Cross hog and Overall Champion, Hog show.
• Caitlyn Cruz, LFU: 2nd. Hampshire Hog; 1st, Light Cross Hog.