Monday, April 12, 2004 Grand champion birds attract top dollar in Houston Special Champion broilers: Payton Warmke, center, showed the Grand Champion Pen of Broilers at the recent Houston Livestock Show & Rodeo. The broilers brought in $151,000 at auction, breaking last year's record by $1,000. With Warmke are, left to right, Jennifer Bosch, Robin Ganske, Trevor Eckert and Doug Bosch. Special Champion turkey: Bridget Penshorn, fifth from left front row, showed the Grand Champion Turkey at the Houston Livestock Show & Rodeo. The turkey received $120,000 at auction. With Penshorn are, left to right, front row, Greg Miller, Kim Pryor, Taylor Penshorn, Beverly Wren, (Penshorn), Deedra Penshorn, B.J. Boothe and Patsy Turner; back row, Wayne Turner and David Boothe. HOUSTON -- The Grand Champion Pen of Broilers received a record $151,000 at the recent Houston Livestock Show & Rodeo here. The show is a 501 (c)(3) charitable event, "committed to benefiting youth and supporting education throughout Texas." The funds are used toward scholarships. Doug and Jennifer Bosch of Brenham, Texas, bought the birds at the Junior Market Poultry Auction March 18. The purchase bypassed last year's record amount by $1,000. Payton Warmke, 9, also from Brenham, raised the broilers. "We're really buying into the education of youth," Jennifer Bosch said. "When we saw that Payton is from Brenham, we knew we had to buy his broilers." Doug Bosch added, "I imagine that I've spend about $1 million -- mostly at the poultry auction -- over eight years." The Grand Champion Turkey sold for $120,000 at auction to David and B.J. Boothe, Gregory Miller, Patsy and Wayne Turner and Beverly Wren. Bridget Penshorn, 17, of La Vernia, Texas, raised and sold the turkey. Buyer David Booth said, "You see these kids walk across the stage; you see the quality that's turned out from these scholarships -- it makes it all worthwhile." The Houston Livestock Show uses a guaranteed payment program in which exhibitors receive a guaranteed price and excess auction funds go to the Houston Livestock Show & Rodeo Educational Fund. The Grand Champion Pen of Broilers and Grand Champion Turkey exhibitors each receive $30,000. Other poultry purchases at the show included: Reserve Grand Champion Pen of Broilers -- $100,000, raised by Jessica Stoelke, 14, of Katy, Texas. Through the guaranteed payment program, Stoelke will receive $15,000. Reserve Grand Champion Turkey -- $55,000, raised by Mathew Murdoch, 10, of Seguin, Texas. Murdoch also will receive $15,000. For more information, go to http://www.rodeohouston.com. Originally published Monday, April 12, 2004