San Antonio Stock Show


San Antonio Stock Show & Rodeo Continues Commitment to Education


This year the San Antonio Stock Show & Rodeo committed $11.3 million to education. This amount represents scholarships, grants, en- dowments, auctions, a Calf Scramble program, and show premiums paid to youth. This brings the total amount that the organiza- tion has committed since inception to $171.4 million. Texas cutting youth competed for a total of $10,000 in scholarships awarded February 10-11. Each year exhibitors from the ages of 14-18 compete for a $10,000 scholarship. The scholarship is awarded to the rider with the top average score from two youth classes. That scholarship was awarded to Lance


Cooper, who took 1st place in the 14-18 age di- vision. Riding the horse, I’m Struck On You, or “Captain,” Cooper scored a 151 in both of his classes. From Weatherford, TX, he is a soph- omore at North Hills Private School. Outside of school, he enjoys spending his free time in the saddle.


The 2017 San Antonio Stock Show & Ro-


deo held its fourth annual Youth Rodeo from February 13-15. Every year FFA students and 4-H members come from all over Texas to compete in 7 speed and roping events for a to- tal of up to $70,000 in scholarship awards. This year, a finals round was added to the Youth Ro- deo. The top 10 contestants in each event were brought back to compete head-to-head for


AQHA English Erin McCluskey


NCHA Cutting Lance Cooper


YR Goat Tying Mersadie Martin


scholarships and other awards. Carly Staggs, riding Sail Along Lil Lew, had a time of 20.253, winning her the $10,000 scholarship for pole bending. A junior from Teague, TX, Staggs is part of the Teague FFA and outside of rodeo also enjoys running track. She hopes to attend Sam Houston State Uni- versity to become a nurse. In ribbon roping, Weston Livanec rode


Taz and achieved a time of 4.87. A former High School State Qualifier, Livanec rode through an ankle injury to get to first place and couldn’t believe it when he won. Currently a junior in El Campo FFA, he spends his free time hunt- ing and fishing, and hopes to start at Wharton County Junior College to get an agriculture degree.


The breakaway roping recipient, Neilon Reitz, rode his horse Abilene to a time of 1.93. Reitz, from Goliad, TX, is currently a senior and a member of the 4-H club ASKM. Upon winning the scholarship, Reitz stated, “It felt wonderful! I’m happy to help my parents!” After graduating, Reitz plans to attend Texas A&M to study construction science. Trevor Kernick, the tie-down roping re- cipient, rode his horse Ice Man and came in at 9.08 seconds. A junior from Big Spring, TX,


APHA All Around Sabine Lazo


Kernick is part of Howard County 4-H. This award means a lot to him as it is a great help to his goals of attending junior college, then transferring to Stephenville. Mersadie Martin achieved first place during the long round of the Youth Rodeo, securing her place in the top ten in the Goat Roping. Then, in the finals, she achieved a time of 7.60, securing herself a double win on her horse Sugar. A senior of Central FFA in Lufkin, TX, she was very thankful and overjoyed for the award. With this scholarship, Martin plans to attend Wharton County Junior College and wants to major in either dental hygiene or physical therapy.


On the heading side of the team roping, Kirby Blankenship rode his horse Trey to a time of 6.46. Blankenship is a senior in the Lampasas FFA and outside of rodeo, enjoys golfing and water polo. He felt that it was a great honor to have won this award, and is very appreciative of the scholarship. Using the scholarship, he plans to attend Weatherford Ju- nior College to major in Ag Business. Garett Chick, on the heeling side of the team roping, has already won some jackpots on his horse Cotton, but he is very thankful to have won this scholarship. He is a junior, and a member of Salado 4H. Like his team roping partner, Chick also enjoys golf when he isn’t roping. Chick and Blankenship will split the $10,000 scholarship, taking $5,000 each, and with his half, Chick plans to attend Hill Junior College.


The sixth annual Horse Skill- athon ran February 18. The Horse Skillathon is a contest for 4H and FFA students to demonstrate their knowledge about horses and the equine industry.


May 2017 SouthWest Horse Trader


Continued on page 10 7


Don Trout


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