Wednesday, May 8, 2024
AZLE — The Fort Worth Stock Show and Rodeo is a time-honored tradition for cowpokes, ag enthusiasts and spectators alike. For Azle High School students, the event’s competitions offer a chance to prove their skills, make some money and get a foothold in the world of professional animal husbandry. For Landrie Lain, an AHS sophomore, winning Market Lamb Grand Champion meant the world.
“To say she has been dreaming of this day is a(n) understatement,” Lain’s father said in a Facebook post. “You did it Landrie Grace!!! Everything she has worked for and dreamed of came true Sunday right here at home, in Cowtown!! A huge thank you to Chad Walker for trusting in Landrie, and constantly pushing her to do her best.”
The lamb, named Panda, was bred by Chad Walker Livestock and sired by a ram named Mr. Brown. Grand and Reserve Champion livestock were sold at live auction on the last day of the rodeo, Feb. 3. Last year’s sale raised a record $7.3 million. Lain’s welter lamb, “Goose” won Reserve Grand Champion (second place) last year and went for $70,000 at auction. This year, Lain’s Grand Champion Lamb sold for $100,000. To go from Reserve Grand Champion in her freshman year to Grand Champion her sophomore year was no small feat according to Lain.
“The HARD work, dedication, blood, sweat and tears this all takes is truly worth it,” Landrie Lain said in a Facebook post. “To see everything that you’ve worked for payoff is a blessing, but I couldn’t have done it without my dad Scott Lain. He has pushed me harder with this sheep than he has with any other. He saw the outcome “Panda” could have and he helped me make it happen. Also, a big thank you to Chad Walker for trusting me with this special guy. To the rest of the Chad Walker group, my friends and family that have supported me. THANK YOU!”
Lain was not alone in her success. Other Azle student lamb and market goat exhibitors saw their hard work pay off with many landing a respectable place in the rankings.
Trystin Ellis won 16th place for his Class 1 goat and 17th place for his Medium Weight Dorper. Cheyanne Redd won eighth place with her Class 10 goat. Kaileigh Slough won 13th place in the Medium Weight Fine Wool category. Madeline Lemley won 12th place in the Medium Weight Southdown category. Talon Slough won 15th place in the Medium Weight Dorper category.
Rodeo Team member Laurel Allred won a $1,500 scholarship in Youth Pole Bending as part of the horse shows.
Numerous Azle FFA participants also won blue ribbons in the Agricultural Mechanics Show. Azle FFA had four projects earn blue ribbons, a gooseneck trailer, front bumper, headache rack, and a round bale hauler. They were built by Kasen Scarlato, RJ Rutledge, Koen Remley, and Caden Cox. This was the first time Azle FFA has shown any ag mech projects at a major show since the late 1990s.
“I was extremely proud of all of our ag mech students that showed a project this year and look forward to seeing how well they compete at the Tarrant County Junior Livestock show later on this month,” FFA advisor and CTE teacher Brad Merck said. “We had students compete in the following shows, Ag Mechanics, Gilts, Goats, Lambs and Barrows. We are proud of all the hard work put in by all of our students and how well they represented Azle Schools at the Fort Worth Stock Show.”
