2025 Maverick County Junior Livestock Show Registers $504,072 in Sales
By: Ricardo E. Calderon, Eagle Pass Business Journal, Inc., Copyright 2025
The 2025 Maverick County Junior Livestock Show and Sale held on Saturday, January 25, 2025 registered $504,072.70 in gross sales on the sale of 140 animal projects (heads), announced Armando De La Cruz, President of the Maverick County Junior Livestock Show Association.
The 2025 Maverick County Junior Livestock Show and Sale enjoyed another successful year with a multitude of activities and programs throughout the month of January 2025 thanks to volunteers, sponsors, local and out-of-town businesses, community support, and the finest 4-H and FFA youth members in the state of Texas, added De La Cruz.
The 2025 MCJLS was dedicated to two local businessmen, Adan Ortiz, Jr. of Brown Chevrolet Buick GMC of Eagle Pass and Rodney Winn of Ancira Ford of Eagle Pass, for their extraordinary support and contributions to the MCJLS and the youth of Maverick County before the start of the traditional MCJLS Sale on Saturday, January 25th.
The Top 10 Buyers of the 2024 MCJLS Sale were recognized before the MCJLS Sale and presented with a plaque of appreciation. Local Tejano recording artist, Jessica Sanchez, sang a beautiful rendition of the National Anthem. Renowned Auctioneer Oscar San Miguel of Del Rio, Texas once again presided over the MCJLS Sale.
After the formalities, the 2025 MCJLS Sale opened with a bang as the Grand Champion Market Steer shown by Desiree Tovar drew the buyers interest into a bidding frenzy and when the dust settled the winning bid of $16,500 by Empire Industrial Park, LLC and Dubai Enterprises, LLC, represented by Beyer Junfin, Sonia Valdez-Junfin, and Dr. Sergio Zamora, won the day and kicked-off the sale with fireworks.
Following the initial bid for the Grand Champion Market Steer, the MCJLS Sale followed with the sale of the Grand Champion Market Lamb exhibited by Ivanna Tovar and drew a high bid of $5,000 from perennial Top 10 Buyer Minit Convenience Stores of Uvalde, Texas.
Next followed the Grand Champion Market Hog shown by Makaelyn Aranda and buyers scrambled to out bid one another with the winning bid coming in at $9,300 from, once again, Minit Convenience Stores of Uvalde.
The Grand Champion Market Goat shown by Kael Ruiz raised the blood of the buyers, making them get into a bidding war with the final winning bid coming in at $12,500 from perennial Top 10 Buyer Ruiz & Associates, Attorneys at Law, of Eagle Pass.
The Reserve Grand Champion Market Steer exhibited by Kaylee Gaytan was purchased for $6,100 by 12 M Enterprises, LLC, while the Reserve Grand Champion Market Lamb shown by Reyes Lopez sold for $7,700 to Maverick Hospice, LLC of Eagle Pass, the Reserve Grand Champion Market Hog exhibited by Ximena Castillo sold for $7,000 to IBC Bank of Eagle Pass, and the Reserve Grand Champion Market Goat shown by Andrea Ruiz was purchased for $10,000 by a buyers consortium including Dora and Morris Libson, La Cantera Real Estate, Dr. Hector Alvarez, Texas Lonestar Title Company, and Realtor Vanessa Jimenez.
An additional 132 animal projects (heads) were sold at the 2025 MCJLS Sale, totaling 140 overall, with the gross sales revenues totaling $504,072.70, said De La Cruz. “We genuinely appreciate the outstanding support for our Maverick County 4-H and FFA youth from our local, regional, and national buyers who purchase these animal projects raised by our students,” added De La Cruz. “We also thank the Eagle Pass Independent School District and its Superintendent Samuel Mijares, Board of Trustees, Teachers, parents, and students for their strong support of the MCJLS and Sale each year,” De La Cruz said.
Local businessman and philanthropist, Adan Ortiz, Jr., said it best when he told this reporter that “It is not the kid that raises the animal, but rather the animal raises and educates the kid in becoming a better citizen and productive member of society.” The primary purpose of the MCJLS and Sale is the education of Maverick County youths.
