Small Shop. Big Win. West Hardin.
West Hardin Ag Mech celebrates their Grand Champion win.
West Hardin FFA Members Haul Home Grand Champion Glory in San Antonio
The crowd at the San Antonio Livestock Show & Rodeo watched as hundreds of projects rolled through the arena, but one 38-foot deckover gooseneck trailer stood above the rest.
Out of 845 entries, Colten Brackin, Braden Perkins, and Kade Schroeder didn’t just compete; they dominated.
Under the guidance of advisor James Merrifield, the West Hardin FFA members first earned a blue ribbon. Momentum quickly followed. Their trailer claimed Grand Champion Gooseneck Trailer and then the highest honor of all: Grand Champion Overall Project. Each member earned an $8,200 scholarship for their part in this success.
Built to Win
The 38-foot deckover gooseneck trailer wasn’t just big; it was built with precision and craftsmanship that impressed judges at every level. From weld quality to structural integrity and finish work, the project reflected months of planning, fabrication, and teamwork.
Merrifield explained that judges look at “first and foremost safety while building, also safety while presenting the project. After that, they look at your finish, weld quality, and design.”
The build demanded time and discipline. Brackin said the toughest part was engineering the dovetail support. “The most challenging part of the project was the cantilever system under the dovetail,” he said. “As a person, I put in about 670 hours. As a team, we dedicated over 2,000 work hours.”
Raising the Bar
Winning a blue ribbon is an accomplishment. Winning Grand Champion in a division
Sponsor and team get ready for judging.
is elite. Winning Grand Champion Overall out of 845 projects is extraordinary.
For a small, rural school competing against some of the largest programs in Texas, the title carried even more weight. Many schools they faced operate state-of-the-art shops with expansive budgets. West Hardin works from a smaller facility, but that did not limit the outcome.
“For a 2A school to compete at that level against major 6A schools says a lot about the work ethic of our students,” Merrifield said. He called the honor “a testament to the dedication and sacrifice that the kids out here in the shop are making. It’s not only sacrificing time, but also investing in their future.”
More Than a Trailer
For the three students, the win represented far more than awards and scholarships.
“A lot of emotion was going through my mind,” Brackin shared. “I couldn’t stop thinking about how God had led us to this point from the time I was a sophomore until now as a senior.” He also credited their advisor, saying they are “lucky to have the ag teacher that we do, that pushes us hard every day.”
“Coming from a small rural school and even competing against 6A schools pushes us to challenge ourselves,” Brackin added. “Winning something this big means a lot.”
Hardware from a hard won victory.
From blue ribbon to Grand Champion Overall, these West Hardin FFA members proved that hard work, teamwork, and craftsmanship still turn heads and haul home the highest honor in the show.
