Leading the sale were the pairs. The 179 pairs averaged $1,382 and were followed by 136 bred females that averaged $1,083 per head. Thirty-two open heifers averaged a very impressive $866 per animal. Buyers from these states wasted no time in quickly taking the offering: Texas, Louisiana, Arkansas, Mississippi, Oklahoma, Kansas and Virginia.

In the pen judging (five females to a pen), noted commercial and purebred cattlemen, Sloan Williams, V8 Ranch, Hungerford, Texas, Joe Jones, Briggs Ranches, Bloomington, Texas and BBU Director of Field Services John Newburn officiated. Grand Champion pen went to the Chaparrosa Ranch, La Pryor, Texas and was purchased by Jaime De Los Santos, Kingsville, Texas for $1,650 per head. Reserve Grand Champion went to Nolan Ryan Ranch, Gonzales, Texas and was purchased by Lee Adair, Corpus Christi, Texas for $1,375 per head. Both Grand and Reserve Champion pens came from the pairs' class.

The champion bred pen was consigned by M.F. Adams of Alice, Texas and was purchased by Dr. Ruben Pechero, McAllen, Texas for $1,450 per head. The champion open pen was consigned by Pam Colvin, Seguin, Texas and was bought by Arlen Pantel, Goliad, Texas for $975 per head.

Other high selling pens were pairs consigned by Collier Farms, Brenham, Texas and sold to Don Moore, Three Rivers, Texas for $1,575. Whitwell Ranches, Cotulla, Texas sold a pen of breds for $1,375 to Farrell Woods of Gueydan, La. for $1,375. V7 Ranch, Melvin Scherer, Jr. of Tynan, Texas sold two pens of open heifers to Trent Cromer of Axton, Va. for $950 each. Lorenzo Lasater of San Angelo, Texas, paid $1,300 for a pen of bred heifers from Rother Brothers of Shiner, Texas.

Volume buyers were: Lee Adair, Corpus Christi, Texas; Lorenzo Lasater and Sean Kendrick, K&L Partnership of San Angelo, Texas; Trent Cromer of Axton, Va.; and Dr. Ruben Pechero, McAllen, Texas. Dr. Pechero and K&L were represented at the sale by ISA Cattle Co., San Angelo, Texas.

The large crowd and number of states represented by the buyers were a great indication of the acceptability of the Beefmaster commercial female. The Certified E6 Female Program was the �brainchild� of BBU Executive Vice President Wendell Schronk. Schronk was also responsible for initiating the Brahman F-l Program.

In releasing the sale figures, Schronk commented, �Our BBU Commercial Marketing Committee and consignors to this sale are the reasons we were so successful with our first National Sale for these E6 females. When I saw the quality of our offering and the outstanding calves-at-side of the pairs, I knew we had accomplished what we set out to do.� Schronk continued, �Our Committee has already made the decision to hold the second National E6 Beefmaster Female Sale next spring. Time and date will be announced shortly. I do want to thank our consignors and many sponsors for this event.� Schronk also commented that the committee was extremely grateful to chairman Melvin Scherer, Jr.and sale manager Anthony Mihalski and his staff for managing this most successful event. In addition, Tim and Debbie Chapman, Whitsett, Texas worked extremely hard prior to the sale by making sure the consignors and buyers had plenty of good shrimp and sausage to eat at a reception on Friday evening.