Photo: Lot 16: Champion American Steer Exhibited by Anna Beth and Aimry Blackwell, Smith 4-H/Raleigh FFA. Buyers: Southern AgCredit; McDonald Trucking, Inc.; MS Land Bank; Mississippi Cattlemen’s Association.

RIDGELAND, Miss. – Southern AgCredit recently participated in the purchase of several animals at the 2019 Sale of Champions at the Dixie National Junior Round-up Livestock Show on Feb. 7, helping to celebrate the sale’s 50th year.

More than 1,600 4-H and FFA members from across Mississippi competed in this year’s Dixie National Junior Round-Up Livestock Show, showing 2,263 head of various livestock including pigs, sheep, cattle and goats. Of these entries, 45 animals were sold and 37 scholarships were awarded.

Southern AgCredit partnered with other organizations to purchase the:

• Champion American Steer owned by Anna Beth and Aimry Blackwell, Raleigh FFA
• Reserve Champion Duroc Hog owned by Holden Lane Brown, Jasper County 4-H
• Reserve Champion Division 1 Lamb owned by Mary-Hayden Blaylock, Montgomery County 4-H
• Reserve Grand Champion Goat owned by Tyler Branch, Holmes County 4-H

Southern AgCredit also donated toward the scholarship fund.

“The 4H and FFA youth programs do a fantastic job of developing the next generation of leaders in Mississippi,” said Southern AgCredit CEO Joe Hayman. “We firmly believe that it is our responsibility to invest in these young people who have demonstrated strong work ethic, responsibility and an interest in life outside the city limits. The leadership skills learned through their involvement in these programs are simply life changing for them and for those with whom they will come in contact with from here on.”

This year, the sale of 45 winning animals grossed $382,775. In addition, 37 scholarships will be awarded.

Southern AgCredit is a full-service cooperative lender that specializes in financing rural land and agricultural operations in Mississippi and Louisiana. It is a member of the nationwide Farm Credit System, the nation’s largest source of loans for agriculture, agribusiness, rural real estate and country homes.