TEXAS \u2014 If you\u2019re in San Antonio, you\u2019re likely hearing a lot of “Let\u2019s Rodeo, San Antonio” lately.<\/p>\n
It\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019re traveling from Fredericksburg, Texas,”\u00a0said Brody Beyer. “It\u2019s about and hour and 45 minutes from here.”<\/p>\n
Sarita Ewing, a student who is showing off her pigs, has known that raising animals is something she wanted to do since middle school.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ve been showing my pig since freshman year, so around two years,\u201d Ewing said. “These two are mine. Dolly is 285 pounds and Cookie is 265 pounds.”<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ve been showing animals since my freshman year. I really enjoy it,” Webb said. “I\u2019ve grown up around livestock my whole life. My parents auction off goats. They\u2019ll raise and sell them.”<\/p>\n
Cody Davenport, San Antonio Stock Show & Rodeo CEO, said he looks forward to this event every year.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe will have every county in the state of Texas showing with us,\u201d said Davenport.<\/p>\n
One of the primary goals of the competition is to walk away with an award.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s highly competitive, especially on the livestock side of things,” Davenport said. “Sometimes, they will specifically take an animal, have it at it\u2019s prime and ready the month of February to come to San Antonio. Quite frankly, we\u2019re 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.”<\/p>\n
That\u2019s what 11-year-old Luke O\u2019quin is working towards with his not-so-little pig named Zippy.<\/p>\n
\u201cShe\u2019s a Chester White, and we raised her since she was born,\u201d said O\u2019quin.<\/p>\n
Beyer has been showing animals for 13 years. Like others, he will make the rounds to other stock shows across the Lone Star State.<\/p>\n
\u201cSometimes we go to Houston, Austin and our county,\u201d said Beyer.<\/p>\n