Saturday, March 15, 1997

Houston show set many records despite rains

By J.T. SMITH / Farm Editor

Just as it did in our part of the world in February, it rained and rained on the 1997 Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo Feb. 14-March 2. But it didn't stop the world's largest livestock show from setting records.

Junior auction prices for livestock broke several records. In addition to 1.1 million rodeo tickets sold, three pay-per-view telecasts allowed the event to reach a nationwide audience as well as Canada.

- The entire stock show and rodeo recorded 1,788,437 in general attendance.

- Two rodeo performance attendance records were set as some 56,511 turned out on Valentine's Day to set an opening night record, and Go Tejano Day pulled in 61,969 to set a record for any Sunday rodeo performance.

- Four world records were set in the Junior Market Auction of livestock. The reserve grand champion steer sold for $195,000; the grand lamb fetched $130,000; the reserve grand lamb brought $63,000, and the grand barrow of the market swine show was auctioned for $85,000.

- This year's Junior Market Auction sales totaled $4,636,124.

- The Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo also hosted 2,656 guests from 71 countries. Many of the foreign visitors also bought livestock.

The Houston show's annual commitment to the youngsters of Texas now exceeds $8 million in scholarships, endowments, research and other funding.

Lazy pig wins

Entee Sublett, 14, of Rising Star showed the Reserve Champion Duroc honors with "Red" - his 264-pound barrow. But Sublett said he was surprised Red did so well.

"Red just likes to sit on his rear and stare at nothing," Sublett said.

Although Red may not getting excited about anything but his next meal, Nick Sublett, Entee's father, said his own reaction was "a pump of adrenaline."

By the way - Red was edged out by "Red Duke." Chasity Gass, 13, of O'Donnell, showed her 252-pound Red Duke for Champion Duroc of the Junior Market Barrow Show. (But I wonder if Chasity's grand barrow had a mustache?)

Meanwhile, Jarden Winfrey, 15, of Cross Plains had the Reserve Champion Spotted Poland China with "Ray" - a barrow he bought for just $100. Winfrey decided to save his money for a truck rather than buying an expensive pig.

"He's the cheapest pig I ever bought," Jarden allowed. "But he paid off big."

$3,444 per pound

Top chickens brought $3,444.44 per pound and a turkey sold for $1,050 per pound at the Houston show.

The 18-pound Grand Champion Pen of Broilers shown by Casey Motl, 17, of Kingwood, was auctioned for $62,000.

"These were the laziest chickens," Casey said. "I had to go out and wake them up and get them to walk around so they'd get hungry and eat. I usually used a fly swatter."

Lucy Canter, 16, of Tomball raised the grand turkey. The 40-pounder (live weight) sold for $42,000 in the auction after reaching $40,000 in 52 seconds!

Jack Heard, Jr., I.W. Marks, Paul Somerville, and Charlene Q. Thompson bought the chickens.

Warren Electric Group - which included owner Cheryl Thompson-Draper, John T. Draper, and Claude Thompson - bought the grand turkey.

The exhibitors received $20,000 each for the grand chickens and top turkey. The money above those auction caps went for Houston collegiate scholarships.

And that's what Houston is all about.

"It's for the kids. The Houston show is to raise money to send them to college," explained Cheryl Thompson-Draper, the champ turkey buyer. "I want young people to have the opportunities in life that I had to fight to get."

Thompson-Draper's Warren Electric, based in Houston, is the world's largest female-owned electrical supply company.

Jack Heard, Jr., a Houston investor and entrepreneur, also took part in buying the reserve grand barrow the following day for $40,000. When asked why he keeps coming back and giving more money to youngsters, Heard's voice broke with emotion.

"My wife and I believe the future of the state of Texas is these kids," Heard responded. "And whatever we can do to give them a chance to fulfill their dreams is what we need to be doing."