The 67th annual Aldine ISD FFA Livestock Show Breaks Records

Disponible en: Español

The 67th annual Aldine ISD FFA Livestock Show wrapped up another record-breaking year, continuing a tradition of showcasing student excellence in agriculture since 1959.

One of the district’s largest annual events, the livestock show features students from Aldine ISD’s Agriculture Career and Technology Education Program. The event highlights not only their animals but also the leadership, responsibility, and resilience they have developed throughout the year. The weeklong event included competitive exhibitions, scholarship awards, and hands-on leadership experiences that reflect the culture of Aldine’s Career and Technical Education programs.

The 2026 show concluded with a record-setting $242,000 raised — the highest total in event history. The sale was headlined by Carmella Espinoza’s Grand Champion Steer from MacArthur High School, which sold for $15,000 to First Construction Group.

FFA campus leaders and CTE directors worked throughout the week alongside long-time FFA agriculture teacher Chad Reese to ensure the event’s success.

Reese acknowledged the demanding pace but said it provides meaningful insight into the students’ growth.

“I saw a side of the students that I didn’t know,” Reese said. “They’ve shown a different resilience, and I’m especially proud of the alumni support. We’ve seen growth in alumni participation over the years, especially during the livestock show. They come back to share lessons about how agriculture has helped their life or the experiences and opportunities it has opened up for them.”

For junior David Jimenez, this year marked his first involvement in FFA. He said a social media post initially sparked his interest.

Now fully committed, Jimenez described the discipline required to balance livestock responsibilities with schoolwork.

“The discipline is something I learned this year,” Jimenez said. “You have to wake up early to feed and take care of the animal, and then be at school and get your work done. As soon as I got out of school, I went to the barn to feed and train my lamb — it was a full-time job.”

Competitive results reflected strong participation across the district:

Grand Champion Artwork: Alicia Champion, Davis High School — $4,250 (Superintendents Group)
Grand Champion Steer: Carmella Espinoza, MacArthur High School — $15,000 (First Construction Group)
Grand Champion Pig: Emma Villafana, MacArthur High School — $5,750 (Superintendents Group)
Grand Champion Goat: Meagan Hatter, Eisenhower High School — $4,500 (Optimist Group)
Grand Champion Lamb: Hugo Campa Jr., MacArthur High School — $4,250 (Superintendents Group)
Grand Champion Turkey: Kabarie Lee, Davis High School — $3,250 (Aldine Buyers Group)
Grand Champion Broilers: Jackson Dodd, Nimitz High School — $3,250 (Beasley Tire)

Reserve Grand Champion winners included:

Steer: Alyssa Martinez, MacArthur High School — $11,000 (East Aldine)
Pig: Riley Haiduk, Nimitz High School — $4,250 (Office of Transformation)
Goat: Brenda Reyna, Eisenhower High School — $3,500 (Optimist Group)
Lamb: Jayden Viera, MacArthur High School — $3,000 (Timothy Barnes)
Turkey: Leyah Nash, Eisenhower High School — $3,250 (First Construction Group)
Broilers: Lizbeth Padron, Eisenhower High School — $2,200 (Huckabee)
Artwork: Delilah Perez, Blanson CTE High School — $3,750 (First Construction Group)

Scholarship banners were awarded to Eisenhower FFA seniors ($1,100, Eisenhower Vertical) and Davis FFA seniors ($1,000, Davis Vertical).

Beyond the record sales and banners, district leaders emphasized that the true impact of the livestock show lies in student development. From early mornings at the barn to late nights preparing for competition, students demonstrated commitment, accountability, and pride in their work.

As the 67th annual show closes, Aldine ISD’s FFA program continues to grow, fueled by student dedication, alumni engagement, and a community invested in the next generation of agricultural leaders.