First ever Hope Livestock Show Champion Drive held Feb. 18

  • Pictured are, left to right, Jonah Hermes, Dagan Jobb, Emilie Hotz, Dagan Pfuhl, Zosha Hallbrook , Brenden Henke, Noah Henke, Zachary Henke, Nathan Henke, Jaxon Hanson, Colton Kopecky, Brooklyn Schoeneman, Slade Vacek, Destiny Medina and Konnor Kopecky.
    Pictured are, left to right, Jonah Hermes, Dagan Jobb, Emilie Hotz, Dagan Pfuhl, Zosha Hallbrook , Brenden Henke, Noah Henke, Zachary Henke, Nathan Henke, Jaxon Hanson, Colton Kopecky, Brooklyn Schoeneman, Slade Vacek, Destiny Medina and Konnor Kopecky.

    Proposed and implemented by three local Hallettsville 4-Hers, Brenden, Zachary and Nathan Henke, and unanimously approved and adopted by the Hope Livestock Show Board, the First ever Hope Livestock Show Champion Drive was held on Saturday, February 18, 2023.  So what is the Champion Drive?
    The purpose of the Champion Drive is to provide special needs youth in Lavaca County and surrounding communities the opportunity to participate first-hand, in a livestock show experience without having to raise an animal.
    Special needs exhibitors participated in a traditional multi-species show using cattle, pigs, lambs, and rabbits. These exhibitors chose what animal they wanted to show and were paired with a 4-H/FFA high school buddy based on the physical and emotional needs of the exhibitor.
    While Nathan introduced each exhibitor, the buddies helped the exhibitors show ‘their’ animal while the judge, Mr. Boswell, asked them questions about their animal.  While some animals were a little more excited to be shown than others, they all cooperated very well for the exhibitors with their buddy’s help!  
    “To see the smile on the special needs exhibitors is well worth the effort of putting on this program for our community,” said Brenden Henke.
    Those smiles got even bigger when these special exhibitors were presented with their Champion Drive belt buckles!
    Through generous donations received by local individuals and businesses, both exhibitors and buddies received a shirt, each exhibitor in the show received a belt buckle, a monetary scholarship, and a delicious hamburger meal for themself and their family. A few lucky exhibitors, with parent approval, even received a bunny to take home donated by Mr. Brandes.  All of this was made possible by our wonderful sponsors: Grafe Chevrolet GMC, Crossroads Bank, Turtle Wing Foundation, Guy and Michele James, Crossroads Financial Services LLC, K.J.T. St. Martin #43-Wied, Chris and Sheila Henke Family, E-Barr Feeds, Janak Packing, Lavaca County Office Supply/South Texas School Furniture, Sacred Heart FCU, Dr. Everett Renger and Hoffer’s Drive-In Grocery.
    All the exhibitors, their family, and sponsors are invited to the buyer’s appreciation dinner on March 26.
    If you would like to be a sponsor or have your child participate in the Champion Drive next year, check with your child’s school and watch the newspaper starting in October or call the extension office for Champion Drive contact information.