Years ago when buying syndicates formed to support the Cuero Livestock Show, some were concerned that individual contributions would slack off.
With the final tally of livestock sales more than doubling in the last seven years, the CLS Board can let go of those concerns.
“Nearly every business in town is part of some syndicate,” CLS President Greg Gossett said. “Or they're buying on their own or several syndicates. We're lucky to have so much financial support for these kids” This year, the “all-time high market price for cattle” also helped the show’s bottom line, according to Anthony Netardus, the DeWitt County Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Agent.
The 2025 grand total sales were $1,468,599 with commercial heifers totaling $603, 275, a $145,503 increase from last year.
Netardus said he has colleagues whose livestock shows are trending downward.
“One thing that I really am proud of with this show and sale is – it's a sale. It is a sure enough sale,” Netardus said.
He said at some livestock shows, such as Yoakum’s, the youth go around on their own and sign up buyers for their animals. Then the list is simply announced rather than a real auction taking place.
“It's basically a fake sale,” Netardus said. “But I don’t want to knock it because a lot of them do it.”
He said one reason the Cuero show continues to grow is its reputation for animals selling high. The average minimum for rabbits and poultry is $2,600; goats $3,800; lambs $4,000; swine $4,500 and steers $6,500.
Netardus said he recently overheard an FFA student from the coast excited about his first place lamb selling for $1,200. “That would be BAD here,” he said.
Also helping to the show’s growth are the updated facilities, which were completed in 2023. Local supporter Harvey Mueller, who made a no-interest loan and donated matching funds last year to help the CLS pay off the loan, was honored this year with the Honorary Contributor Award.
“It (total sales) started taking its big jumps when we moved into the new building,” Gossett said. “You've got a better atmosphere, climate control, things like that.”
Netardus described how the homemaking exhibits usedtobecrammed in a small upstairs area, but now they have room to really spread out and set up exhibits.
And even the baked items sell big. The last seven items auctioned are the food exhibits and the syndicates bid all the funds they have left over. That’s how a winning cheesecake sells for $5,000.
The homemaking exhibitors get to keep $500 of their sale, and the rest goes into the building fund. Now that the loan is paid, the building fund supports maintenance and expansion at the complex. Last year the arena was paved, where it had previously had a dirt floor, costing approximately $50,000.
Future projects may include upgrading the kitchen, building a new wash rack, and potentially expanding the commercial heifer facilities.
Also unique to this year’s Commercial Heifer sale was the auctioning of steak dinner parties to support the travel of De-Witt County’s 4-H livestock judging team to international competition in Scotland. The fundraiser brought in $21,000 toward their trip, about a third of the needed funds.
“We’re so very proud of Stacy (Finney) and Amanda (Luddeke) and what they were able to do with those kids,” Netardus said. “Those are feats that don't come around very often at all.”
In fact, 30 years ago, Netardus was just starting out as the new DeWitt County extension agent when he accompanied AmandaLuddeke,current team coach and competitor mom, to the national livestock judging competition in Kansas City.
All these years later, Gossett commends Netardus for his diligent organization and data tracking that helps the board make decisions and guide the show.
“Anthony's awfully dedicated to his work,” Gossett said, “Not only this, just anything that he does is done in a first class way, but we're blessed. The kids are blessed. I think the community is blessed.”
Netardus gives credit to the hardworking volunteers who are everywhere visible during the show.
“Cuero is just a very good giving community,” he said. “It's not a problem to get a bunch of volunteers together and run a show like this, or probably anything else. We're very blessed.
