The Fort Worth Stock Show and Rodeo spanned from Jan. 15-Feb. 6, and, despite the winter wonderland Texas was experiencing, the local FFA programs showed up and showed out.
“We bared the storm, and it's so nice to see them put all the hard work and dedication into the barn every single day,” Aubrey ISD ag teacher Blake Anderson said. “A lot of these projects started in the summer or even last spring, and to see their willingness to go and still compete is amazing.”
Anderson witnessed the students’ determined spirit firsthand and described how the weather led to an unexpected change in plans for many of the families.
“Some parents decided to travel back and forth, but a lot of them ended up getting hotels,' she said.
However, the decision was well worth it as the students placed high in several competitions, Anderson said.
In the students' Goat Show, Lexi Gravely placed first, with Zoe Fikes and Ella Watkins both placing fifth.
In the Breeding Lamb Show, London Gravely placed third and seventh, with Alyssa Waddell also placing seventh, and Maddox Rodriguez competed at what Anderson describes as “one of the toughest shows in the state.”
In the breeding Gilt Show, Naomi Welch placed fifth, and Camila Guitian, Brady Cassity, Odra Larman and Naylan Larman competed and did not place.
Anderson said the students “represented the chapter with pride and determination.”
In the Breeding Heifer show, Grace Collins and Kensie Bonnell earned first place honors, Elliott Wilkinson placed second, Cooper Wilkinson and Brandi Tovar placed third, and Evan Wilkinson placed fourth.
In the Market Lamb and Goat Show, Carmela Castiglione placed fifth, Brandan Waddell placed eighth and 12th, Brandi Tovar placed 10th, Alyssa Waddell placed 20th, and Peyton Fortner placed 21st and 22nd.
Sawyer Noles and Ashley Quarles also competed, “with grit and pride,” Anderson described.
Tioga ISD and Pilot Point FFA also endured the unpleasant winter weather to compete at the Fort Worth Stock Show.
The Tioga FFA junior division competed at the Fort Worth Stock Show and Rodeo in the Ag Robotics.
The students competed as a team and placed 4th out of 33 teams across Texas.
The competition doesn’t stop with the Fort Worth Stock show as many of these students compete several times a year. Anderson shared that the students are currently spread out, competing in different competitions, with some competing in the San Antonio Stock Show and Rodeo and others competing in the San Angelo 2026: Livestock Show & Rodeo.
Also, just wrapping up in the San Angelo Ag Mech mechanics contest was the Tioga ISD high school FFA program, taking nine different projects and 11 kids in total, all ranging in grade level. Although the road to San Angelo was no easy trek for the team, it was a great show of determination by the students and staff.
“On the way, we hit a speed bump (literally and figuratively),” according to the Tioga FFA Facebook page. “We blew a transmission in a truck and clipped a pole with our trailer. Within a few phone calls, we had a replacement truck on the way, welder to fix our trailer and many people reaching out to help any way we needed. After a brief delay, we were back on the road.”
Tioga agriculture teacher Tanner Hash shared on social media that four of the projects placed and received a blue ribbon, and the other five projects “impressed the judges” and received encouraging feedback.
Comments from Pilot Point ISD were not available by press time.
