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The Texas Side Of Things

published: January 22nd 2010
by: Jim Banner

It’s possible that some of you don’t know it but a very important annual event is ready to begin in just two weeks.  And for some of you that haven’t seen the billboards strategically placed all over San Antonio or the ads on TV or heard about it on the radio, I’m getting ready to remind you that the San Antonio Livestock Show and Rodeo will begin on February 4th!  Voted the “Best Large Indoor Rodeo of the Year” for the fifth consecutive time, a feat that has never been done before, we are very fortunate to have an event of this quality in San Antonio.
    Once again the San Antonio All Breed Sale is proud to be helping Duane Heady and the rodeo ticket committee with their effort to send wounded soldiers from Iraq and Afghanistan not just to the rodeo but provide them a Rodeo Star Experience.  You may recall that last year we were involved with this outstanding program and collected funds at the San Antonio All Breed Sale, San Antonio Rose Beef-master Sale and the San Antonio Deer Auction.  We asked for donations from the crowd by passing a box around and you helped raise over $10,000.  The emotional experience I received from this endeavor was unbelievable and it confirmed what I already knew… people in agriculture are some of the most patriotic and giving people in the United States and you proved it.  The money donated ranged from $100 down to loose change…I think all of us were touched when we saw that someone had given all they had including their loose change.  
    Let me refresh your memory a little about the Wounded Service Member Program.  With the contributions to this program a wounded service member and a guest are provided a visit to the rodeo in style.  Active duty Purple Heart recipients and wounded and injured active duty military personnel are invited to come and enjoy the Rodeo Star Experience which means they get to enjoy a nice steak dinner, visit with the guest performer at that nights performance and treated like the heroes they really are.
    Our goal this year is to raise $75,000 so that we can send over 350 of our wounded sons and daughters to the San Antonio Rodeo with honor and respect.  Plus all of the rodeo ticket money goes into the scholarship fund which is then awarded to some of our finest and brightest students that participate in the stock show.  What a great way to reward some outstanding Americans and we need you to once again help us make this happen.  If you would like donate to this great cause you can send your donation payable to: S.A.L.E., Attn: Rodeo Ticket Committee, P.O. Box 200230, San Antonio, Texas 78220.  Please identify Wounded Service Member Project on your check.
    But if you would like to come out to the All Breed Sale or the Tuesday night dinner and make a donation that will be alright too!  Let me tell you a little bit about this year’s sale…an unbelievable group of bulls and females!  After the horrible year we’ve just experienced, I wasn’t expecting our consignors to provide the same quality of cattle as in years past but was I mistaken.  No doubt our consignors take more pride in their cattle than most people do in their brand new truck.  Look through the special section of the paper and see for yourself the quality and condition of this year’s consignments.
    Once again we will be selling about 50 bulls and over 500 head of pairs, bred and open heifers.  All of these cattle have been screened for quality and structural soundness and I challenge you find a better set of cattle in the sate of Texas.  Past buyers of the San Antonio All Breed Sale have always been impressed with the quality of the cattle but also the hospitality we proudly present.  If you are looking for an outstanding set of quality bulls and females, I’d like to personally invite you to be our guest at the 19th Annual San Antonio All Breed Bull and Female Sale.  Come out on Tuesday and attend the cattlemen’s seminar beginning at 3:00 p.m., receive some CEU credits, enjoy dinner with us and look at some great cattle.  That’s what the San Antonio Livestock Show and Rodeo is all about and we are proud to be a small part of it.