The San Antonio Livestock Exposition, Inc. has always understood that education  is vital to the American agriculture industry. For 59years, we have supported Texas youth by providing them a venue for competition and a market for their junior agricultural and livestock projects.

In 1984, an innovative SALE Executive Committee began to think about encouraging 4-H and FFA high school students to continue their interest in agriculture by pursuing agricultural careers in college. So was born the San Antonio Livestock Exposition, Inc. Scholarship Fund which awarded fifteen four-year scholarships in the amount of $90,000 to students entering Texas colleges in the fall of 1984.

From that modest beginning, SALE has expanded its program so that over 4,300 Texas college students have now benefited from the SALE Scholarship Fund. Currently, there are 70 Texas counties that are represented by active students in the program.

To date, the San Antonio Stock Show & Rodeo educational commitment exceeds $87 million with a record $8.5 million committed in 2008 in the form of scholarships, grants, endowments, auctions, a calf scramble program and show premiums paid to youth. Awards and scholarships for this year will add more than 300 new scholars to the program. Currently, there are more than 1,300 active scholarship recipients. Our scholarships are represented by students in 67 colleges and universities throughout Texas.

In addition, support has been provided for continuing career education for Extension Specialists through the highly successful SALE Leadership Extension Programs. Texas colleges and universities have been supported with direct grants to various agriculturally related programs. SALE is involved in youth development and curriculum programs through the 4-H, FFA and by direct contact with specific schools.

During the Stock Show & Rodeo, School Tours Guides, selected from area high schools, provide educational agricultural awareness tours to elementary students and other visitors to the grounds. The Rural Youth program honors students in 4-H and FFA that display exemplary skills in leadership and a potential to develop career awareness in the field of agriculture. Participants in each of these programs have the opportunity to receive a $1,000 award.

These successful educational programs are made possible by the efforts of over 4,000 dedicated volunteers as well as a very loyal and generous group of sponsors who are the nucleus of the SALE family. Together, they contribute countless hours of talent and hard work, in addition to many dollars to make our event one of the best entertainment and educational values in San Antonio.

SALE recognizes that many young people and educators today come from urban backgrounds and have little knowledge of the opportunities available to them in the world of agriculture. Our goal is to promote awareness of such programs.

In the future, SALE will continue to expand and enhance public education and information efforts during the San Antonio Stock Show & Rodeo. SALE is committed to the betterment of the community and furthering the organization's mission: "A volunteer organization that emphasizes agriculture and education to develop the youth of Texas."