Farm & Ranch

Crafton and Davis named champions at Houston Livestock Show

Published

9 years ago

March 20, 2015

NTFR

Houston, Texas, March 13, 2015: Two Henrietta FFA members, Lindsey Crafton and Keaton Davis capped off a successful year long beef heifer project by having their calves being selected as supreme champions during the 2015 Houston Livestock Scramble Heifer Show. Lindsey Crafton’s, daughter of Shane and Valarie Crafton, Charolais heifer was selected as both the All European Breeds Supreme Division Champion & Reserve Overall Supreme Champion Scramble Heifer. Keaton Davis’, son of Don & Lisa Davis, Black Angus heifer was selected as the All British Breeds
Supreme Division Champion.
Along with Crafton and Davis, three other Henrietta FFA members were involved in this year scramble show and placed well in their respective judging classes. Josey Cleveland, daughter of Scott and Sherry Cleveland, had a fourth place Red Angus. Corby Henry-Morrison, son of Stuart and Amy Berend, was sixth with his Red Angus heifer. Laramie Dunn, daughter of Bandon and BJ Dunn, was seventh with her Black Angus heifer.
These five Henrietta students started their individual scramble project a year ago after catching a calf in the world’s greatest calf scramble held during a performance of the 2014 Houston Rodeo. After being declared a winner, each member received a purchase certificate valued at $1,500. Certificates where then use to purchase a registered beef heifer. Throughout the course of this past year, these FFA members caringly feed and raised their project animals and concluded with a return back to Houston to exhibit it during this year’s livestock show. Throughout the previous year, each scramblers also maintained accounting records, submit monthly progress reports to their donors and complete two informative essays. By completing all these requirements and returning back Houston to exhibit their heifer, each scrambler received an additional $250 each for their efforts.
The Houston Calf Scramble Program began in 1942 and is designed to encourage enterprise, offer opportunity, and teach responsibility to the young participants. The Calf Scramble Program contributes more than $600,000 to the youth of Texas each year.
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Farm & Ranch

Hazards of Backyard Poultry

Published

4 days ago

April 21, 2024

NTFR

By Barry Whitworth, DVM

Having backyard poultry is a popular agriculture enterprise. According to the United States Department of Agriculture, 0.8 percent of all households in the United States have chickens. People keep chickens for a variety of reasons with table eggs being one of the more common reasons.

Unfortunately, some of these poultry producers are not aware of the hazards that come with keeping poultry because many times they carry pathogens but appear healthy.
Chickens are carriers of several zoonotic diseases. These are diseases that can be passed from animals to humans. According to a recent survey in Pennsylvania, a majority of backyard poultry producers were aware of the dangers of avian influenza. However, this study also revealed that far fewer producers were aware of the risk of possible exposure to Salmonella and Campylobacter.

The lack of knowledge about the hazards of raising poultry likely contributes to the continued issues of Salmonella outbreaks associated with backyard poultry. In 2023, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported 1,072 illnesses of Salmonella linked to backyard poultry, and 272 of those patients required hospitalization. Oklahoma reported 43 individuals with the disease.

To read more, pick up a copy of the April issue of NTFR magazine. To subscribe by mail, call 940-872-5922.