Courtnee Odom, center, shows off her prize-winning barrow, McCrackin Joe at the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo. Bullard High School student Courtnee Odom has developed a strong heritage of livestock showing under the direction of agriculture teacher Stu Dildine.

Odom recently won the 2008 Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo Grand Champion Market Barrow.

"The students understand the principles of team work and it was certainly prevalent at the 2008 Houston livestock show. The students and representatives

of Bullard High School all contributed to Courtnee's success,

Dildine said.

The barrow (hog) that Courtnee took to the livestock show was a middle weight Hampshire barrow named McCrackin Joe.

Courtnee had been raising and training McCrackin Joe for about four months prior to the show.

The Houston Livestock Show is the largest exhibition of livestock in the United States.

The Livestock Show lasts for several weeks and barrows are only one of the many types of animals that are exhibited.

The animals are judged for characteristics that are required for the best market animals.

The barrow section of the Livestock Show includes nine different breeds.

The number of barrows at the show typically reaches between four and five thousand.

Due to the large number of barrows, the show is divided up by the different breeds. The different breeds are then divided by weight classes; light, middle and heavy. The weight classes are further divided into weight divisions for judging.

The section of the livestock show for the Hampshire breed began March 17 at 8 a.m. and lasted all day.

To win her weight division, Courtnee had to show against approximately 60 other barrows.

Courtnee was successful in winning her weight division and received a trophy for her efforts.

She next had to show for her weight class going up against three other barrows who had won their weight class. Again she was successful in winning her weight division and received an additional trophy.

Later in the afternoon she had to go up against the light weight and heavy weight Hampshire weight class winners for the Best of Breed Hampshire Barrow.

Once again she was successful and received the Best of Breed banner and belt buckle. At this point Courtnee was guaranteed $10,000 for her barrow.

The remainder of the week was consumed by the judging of the eight other breeds of market barrows.

The judging for the Grand Champion and Reserve Grand Champion market barrow began Thursday evening at 7 p.m.

The reserve Best in Breed barrows showed first to give those kids the opportunity to show their animals before the selection of the Grand Champion. After the Reserve Best in Breed barrows were removed from the arena, the nine best in Breed Barrows entered.

The local media was present and there was live coverage for the selection during the rodeo.

Courtnee's barrow was selected the 2008 Houston Livestock Show Grand Champion Market Barrow.

She was immediately surrounded by the Houston media and was able to give interviews after she wiped away the tears of joy.

Pictures of Courtnee , the Grand Champion Barrow, and the judges followed the interviews.

Courtnee received a large trophy, banner, and belt buckle for winning the Grand Champion.

By winning the Houston Livestock Show Grand Champion Market Barrow Courtnee was guaranteed $40,000.

The market barrow auction was held at noon the next day.

The Bullard FFA students carried the trophies, belt buckles and banners onto the auction stage at the beginning of the sale.

Courtnee then showed McCrackin Joe to the large crowed of potential bidders. Courtnee's Hampshire barrow brought a world record of $162,000 at the 2008 Houston Livestock Show.

The 16-year-old sophomore is the granddaughter of Steve and Faye Brewton.