Some adults say youth need encouragement to be their best, but a special group of those Mississippians are preparing to put their money where their mouths are. An elite group of winners will receive the top monetary awards following the livestock show at the Sale of Junior Champions on Feb. 8. For the buyers of those animals, the ultimate goal is rewarding a young person for lots of dedication and hard work on their livestock project. The sale concludes the 2000-2001 livestock season. Animals bring considerably more than the market value because the buyers are there primarily to support quality youth.
Buyers come from many organizations, businesses and backgrounds.
Alton McRee, chief executive officer for the Federal Land Bank Association of South Mississippi, said they have a long tradition of supporting the Sale of Champions. Buyers can provide direct support to programs that develop character and produce leaders. A lot of what 4-H and FFA stand for is leadership development. McRee, himself an alumni of the Clarke County 4-H livestock program, said many of the youth set the money aside for their college education or put it back into their livestock programs. David Waide, president of Mississippi Farm Bureau Federation, is chairman of the Sales Promotion Committee.