The Fort Worth Stock Show Syndicate was founded in 1980 by a small group of Fort Worth businessmen led by Don Weeks and Frank Neve. The group had attended the prior year's livestock sale at the Fort Worth Stock Show and recognized that the prices being paid for the animals owned and exhibited by 4-H and FFA youth were below market price. They agreed that these prices were not fairly compensating these young exhibitors for their hard work and dedication over the previous year, and they deserved better results at the greatest livestock show in the world. At the Sale of Champions on the last Saturday of the Stock Show, these youngsters would bid their beloved animals farewell in exchange for dollars that would ultimately pay college tuition or fund their next agricultural project. Our founders believed that the youth exhibitors deserved to be rewarded.

The original Syndicate members went to the sale planning to spend $13,000 on livestock. The kids got the best of them and the group spent $20,000.  The next year hey established a 501(c)(3) charitable organization, began soliciting friends and business partners for contributions, and in 1981 they bought 59 steers and paid $130,000.  The game was on.

The contributions grew at an astounding rate each year. In 1983, James M. "Jim Bob" Norman took on leadership of the Syndicate and preached the mission of providing these young agricultural leaders funding for secondary education.  Jim Bob’s term was cut short when he died from Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever. His vision lived on when Frank Neve assumed the Chairmanship and held the first fundraiser to establish the James M. Norman Scholarship Fund. On that night in 1985 the Syndicate raised $76,000 and a fund was established to provide scholarships to FFA and 4-H participants who were pursuing an agricultural or life sciences degree at a Texas college.

In 1992, under the leadership of Terry Dallas, the Syndicate broke the $500,000 mark at the Sale of Champions, purchasing 204 steers. In 1997, Gary Ray led the Syndicate to the sale and walked out with 259 animals at a price tag of over $1 million.   Another milestone was reached in 2003 when Bob Merrill wrote a check to the Fort Worth Stock Show for $1.5 million in exchange for 270 of the finest cattle, sheep, goats and pigs in the world.  Lead by chairman Fln Neve in February 2004, a new record was set with the purchase of 269 animals for $1,753,125.

Today, the Stock Show Syndicate boasts a membership of 100 businessmen who volunteer their time and energy to realize the vision established 25 years ago. With over 400 gracious sponsors who recognize the value of our mission, we have raised over $16 million for the youth exhibitors of the Fort Worth Stock Show and provided over $300,000 in scholarships for 4-H and FFA members.

Join us in supporting these great American youth on their journey to further American agriculture.