MERCEDES — Several students from local school districts participated in the 72nd annual Rio Grande Valley Livestock Show over the last two weeks, coming home with a number of awards.

Sharyland Independent School District Sharyland 4-H winners include: Daniel Hinojosa, grand champion medium wool market lamb; Evan Acevedo reserve grand champion Brahman heifer; Meaghan Welch reserve champion market goat division; John Kroeker reserve champion market goat in the medium to heavy weight division; Sarah Labus, second place market goat.

Sharyland FFA winners were: Gabriel Gomez, grand champion horticulture; In the breed grand champion division, Teah Barrientes took top honors with her ABC steer; Nathan Bentsen and Michael Pippinger grand champion home and garden bed set; Nathan Bentsen and Michael Pippinger, reserve grand champion home and garden mesquite table set; Seth Carter, reserve breed champion with his OBP hog; Katherine C. Torres, reserve breed champion status for her light cross hog; Evan Acevedo, reserve grand champion Brahman heifer; Lauren D. Gonzalez, first place ABC market steer; David Treviño, second place Simbrah market steer; Horacio “Trey” Garza, first place Duroc market hog; Christopher G. Mendiola, second place Yorkshire market hog; Katherine Torres, second place AOB market steer; Trent W. Jones, second place dark crossbreeds market hog; Justin R. Casarez, eighth place Californian market rabbit. Livestock team of Trey Garza, Kristi Kelly and Justin Casares took first place. Agriculture mechanic awards include: Jazette Hagne, first place picnic table, Isaac Rosales, first place shop equipment; Megan Nelson, first place  home interior; Austin Bickerton, first place table top cutting board; Kevin Falcasantos, first place wildlife equipment; Katherine Torres, first place taxidermy.

La Joya Independent School District students also earned several top awards. Juarez-Lincoln FFA member Carlos Ramirez placed as breed champion with his fine wool cross market lamb. In the calf scramble, Carlos Ramirez from Juarez-Lincoln FFA took first place.

In the Mission Consolidated Independent School District, students from both schools took home awards.

In the Veterans Memorial FFA awards included: Jordan Guerra, grand champion Zebu heifer; Zenaida Alaniz, supreme ram champion; Alyssa Carrera, breed champion Brahman market steer; Brando Cordova, breed champion fine wool market lamb; Matthew Borrego, reserve breed champion Yorkshire market hog; Christopher Martinez, first place purebred market hog; Taylor Campos, first place medium wool market lamb; Steven Farias, first place Yorkshire market hog; Kevin Borrego, second place Hampshire market hog; Rolando Moreno, second place ABC market steer; Oscar Cardova, second place medium wool market lamb. In shop projects: Rolando Moreno placed first and Jorge Longoria earned superior project. In photography: Roy Guerrero earned first and second place; Alyssa Carrera earned first place, Jordan Guerra earned second place; Bella Alaniz earned second place.

Mission FFA winners: Dulce Alvarez, reserve breed champion with Southdown market lamb; Manuel Alvarado, reserve breed champion with Santa Gertrudis market steer; Jennifer Quintero first place fine wool market lamb; Justin Cerda, first place medium wool market lamb; Juan Martinez, first place market goat; Eric Mora, second place fine wool cross market lamb; Alyssa Flores, second place Santa Gertrudis market steer; Kayla Mora, second place Southdown market lamb; Dulce Alvarez, second place  market goat; Aissa Villegas, second place Yorkshire market hog; Kayla Mora, second place Yorkshire market hog; Alyssa Flores, second place dark crossbreeds market hog.