TEXAS — If you’re in San Antonio, you’re likely hearing a lot of “Let’s Rodeo, San Antonio” lately.
It’s rodeo season in the Lone Star State, and Future Farmers of America (FFA) students are making their way to the San Antonio Stock Show & Rodeo to show their animals. For many of these kids, who come from Medina Valley, Castroville, Mineral Wells and more, this is just one stop on the rodeo circuit.
“We’re traveling from Fredericksburg, Texas,” said Brody Beyer. “It’s about and hour and 45 minutes from here.”
Sarita Ewing, a student who is showing off her pigs, has known that raising animals is something she wanted to do since middle school.
“I’ve been showing my pig since freshman year, so around two years,” Ewing said. “These two are mine. Dolly is 285 pounds and Cookie is 265 pounds.”
In another stable down from her is Anika Webb. Showing animals is in her blood, with her explaining how her parents raised her alongside livestock.
“I’ve been showing animals since my freshman year. I really enjoy it,” Webb said. “I’ve grown up around livestock my whole life. My parents auction off goats. They’ll raise and sell them.”
Cody Davenport, San Antonio Stock Show & Rodeo CEO, said he looks forward to this event every year.
“We will have every county in the state of Texas showing with us,” said Davenport.
One of the primary goals of the competition is to walk away with an award.
“It’s highly competitive, especially on the livestock side of things,” Davenport said. “Sometimes, they will specifically take an animal, have it at it’s prime and ready the month of February to come to San Antonio. Quite frankly, we’re not taking any credit. This place has been here since 1949, but being able to take a buckle, or a ribbon, or any form of competitive win inside of San Antonio is literally known across the nation as a major win.”
That’s what 11-year-old Luke O’quin is working towards with his not-so-little pig named Zippy.
“She’s a Chester White, and we raised her since she was born,” said O’quin.
Beyer has been showing animals for 13 years. Like others, he will make the rounds to other stock shows across the Lone Star State.
“Sometimes we go to Houston, Austin and our county,” said Beyer.
After that, FFA students get ready to do it all over again next year. The 2026 San Antonio Livestock & Rodeo show is running from Feb. 12 to March 1 and is expected to bring 1.5 million visitors to the state, according to Visit San Antonio.